Claiborne County

Note: In Louisiana, “counties” are called parishes. The data below refer to Claiborne Parish, LA (FIPS 22027).

Population

• Total: 15,670 (2020 Census); roughly 15.0–15.3k in recent estimates.

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race/ethnicity (nonoverlapping; ACS)

• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~50%
• White (non-Hispanic): ~46%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%
• Other (incl. Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, two or more races, non-Hispanic): ~2%

Households

• Total households: ~6,300
• Average household size: ~2.35
• Family households: ~62% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~25–27%
• Individuals living alone: ~33%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 5-year estimates (most recent available, e.g., 2018–2022). Figures rounded for readability.

Claiborne Parish (LA) email usage snapshot (estimates)

• Estimated users: 9–11k (≈10k). Basis: population ≈15.5k; ~75–80% use the internet; ~90–95% of internet users use email (Pew). Includes teens 13–17.
• Age mix of email users:
  • 13–24: ~15–18%
  • 25–44: ~30–32%
  • 45–64: ~30–33%
  • 65+: ~20–22%
• Gender split: ~52% female, 48% male (tracks parish demographics; email adoption is similar by gender).
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription is likely in the mid‑60s to low‑70% range, below the Louisiana average.
  • Mobile‑only internet is common in lower‑density areas; some households lack any home broadband.
  • Gradual improvements from incremental fiber/cable buildouts in town centers and fixed‑wireless in rural tracts; affordability pressure increased after the Affordable Connectivity Program lapsed in 2024.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Rural parish with ~20 people per square mile across ~760 sq mi; dispersed housing raises last‑mile costs and slows upgrades.
  • Wired options are more available in and around Homer and Haynesville; outlying areas rely more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (libraries/schools) remains an access backstop.

Sources underpinning estimates: U.S. Census/ACS for population and device/broadband trends; Pew Research for email adoption.

Below is a concise, county-level (parish-level) snapshot for Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, emphasizing how local mobile usage differs from statewide patterns. Figures are best-available estimates based on ACS “Computer and Internet Use” patterns, FCC broadband/mobile filings, and national adoption research; exact counts can vary year to year.

Key takeaways vs Louisiana overall

• More mobile-dependent: A higher share of households rely on smartphones/cellular data as their primary or only internet connection than the state average.
• Slower, patchier 5G: 5G coverage is present mainly in/near towns and along major corridors; mid-band 5G capacity is notably thinner than statewide urban/suburban averages.
• Higher prepaid and subsidy reliance: Economic and rural profiles push more users to prepaid plans and Lifeline; the end of ACP increased bill pressure and mobile-only reliance more than in metro parishes.
• Coverage gaps persist: More dead zones and weak indoor signal away from highways compared with the Louisiana average.

User estimates

• Population and households: About 15,000 residents and roughly 5,800–6,200 households.
• Adult smartphone users: Approximately 9,000–10,000 adults own a smartphone (roughly 80–85% of adults). This is 1–3 percentage points below typical Louisiana metro rates, largely due to an older age mix and rural coverage/performance constraints.
• Households with smartphones: Roughly 4,700–5,300 households have at least one smartphone.
• Smartphone-/cellular-only internet households: Estimated 20–30% in Claiborne vs about 15–18% statewide, reflecting lower fixed-broadband availability/affordability and higher mobile substitution.
• Plan mix: Prepaid share is likely several points higher than statewide (think roughly one-third of lines vs closer to one-quarter in metro Louisiana), with notable Lifeline participation. The ACP wind-down has disproportionately affected Claiborne’s low-income mobile subscribers.

Demographic patterns that shape mobile usage

• Age: A larger 65+ share than the state average. Seniors own smartphones at lower rates than younger groups, pulling overall adoption slightly below statewide figures and increasing the importance of simple voice/text plans.
• Income: Lower median incomes and higher poverty rates than Louisiana overall. This correlates with:
  • Higher smartphone-only reliance (substituting for home broadband).
  • Greater use of prepaid and discounted plans (e.g., Lifeline).
• Race/ethnicity: A sizable Black population relative to the state average. Nationally, Black and Hispanic adults report similar or higher smartphone ownership but higher mobile-only internet reliance; this tends to lift Claiborne’s smartphone-only share relative to the state.
• Education: Lower bachelor’s attainment than the state average, which is associated with lower fixed-broadband adoption and more mobile-first connectivity.

Digital infrastructure notes (what’s different locally)

• Coverage pattern:
  • 4G LTE: Broad outdoor coverage along US-79, LA-2, and in/near Homer, Haynesville, and key communities; more gaps in sparsely populated or forested areas, with indoor signal challenges in older buildings.
  • 5G: Low-band 5G from major carriers reaches towns/corridors, but mid-band 5G (capacity/speed) is limited compared to Louisiana’s urban parishes; performance drops quickly outside town centers.
• Tower density and backhaul: Fewer macro sites per square mile than the state average; many sites rely on microwave backhaul with selective fiber-fed anchors along main routes. This constrains peak speeds and resiliency relative to metro areas.
• Performance: Typical rural 4G/low-band 5G speeds are serviceable for messaging, maps, and SD/HD streaming but often lag metro Louisiana. Congestion during school dismissal, evening hours, and events is more pronounced where sectors are lightly backhauled.
• Resiliency: Storm-related outages and extended power failures impact service more persistently than in metro areas; some sites have limited battery/generator coverage, increasing downtime risk off the main corridors.
• Public connectivity: Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings in Homer/Haynesville act as important Wi‑Fi hubs and charging points, a more critical role than in better-wired parishes.

Method and sources (for context)

• Benchmarks from ACS 5-year “Computer and Internet Use” tables (e.g., S2801 and related) inform smartphone and cellular-only household shares; parish-level demographics from ACS shape the age/income effects.
• FCC Broadband Data Collection and carrier public coverage disclosures inform 4G/5G availability and likely performance differences.
• Pew Research national smartphone ownership by age/income provides adoption anchors; rural rates are typically a few points below urban.

Quick note: Louisiana uses parishes. The figures below refer to Claiborne Parish, LA.

Headline estimates

• Adult social media users: ~70–78% of adults. With ~11–12K adults in the parish, that’s roughly 8–9.5K users.
• Access context: Mobile-first usage is common; rural broadband gaps mean adoption runs a few points below national averages.

Most-used platforms (share of adults using at least monthly; modeled estimates)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 30–45%
• TikTok: 20–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30% (skews under 30)
• Pinterest: 20–30% (skews female)
• X (Twitter): 15–25%
• LinkedIn: 10–18%
• Nextdoor: 5–10%

Age patterns (share within each age group using the platform; estimates)

• 18–29: YouTube ~95%; Instagram ~75–85%; Snapchat ~65–75%; TikTok ~55–65%; Facebook ~60–70%
• 30–49: YouTube ~90–95%; Facebook ~70–80%; Instagram ~45–55%; TikTok ~25–35%; Snapchat ~20–30%
• 50–64: Facebook ~60–70%; YouTube ~70–85%; Instagram ~25–35%; TikTok ~12–20%
• 65+: Facebook ~50–60%; YouTube ~55–70%; Instagram ~15–25%; TikTok ~8–15%

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women: Higher on Facebook (+5–10 pts), Instagram (+5–10), Pinterest (+20+)
• Men: Higher on YouTube (+5–10), X (+5–10), Reddit (+10+, small base locally)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: churches, schools, sports, local gov updates; Marketplace is heavily used; private groups drive engagement.
• Video-first habits: Short-form (Reels/TikTok) growing under 40; strong YouTube use for music, sermons, DIY, hunting/fishing, auto/tractor repair.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is default; SMS still prevalent; WhatsApp remains niche.
• Local commerce: Small retailers, food trucks, salons, and trades lean on Facebook/Instagram; live sales, giveaways, and event promos perform well.
• News/weather: Heavy reliance on Facebook for local alerts; engagement spikes around storms, school events, elections.
• Timing: Mobile-heavy; peaks 7–9 pm and weekend middays; data caps can dampen weekday video viewing.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption, rural usage adjustments, and the parish’s age mix from ACS. Expect ±5–10 point variation locally. For campaign planning, validate with a quick local survey or platform ad-reach estimates.