De Soto County

Quick clarification: Did you mean DeSoto Parish, Louisiana (Louisiana uses parishes, not counties)? If yes, do you want the latest ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates, or 2024 population estimates?

Summary for DeSoto Parish (De Soto County), Louisiana

• Estimated email users: 18,000–19,500 residents (ages 13+), based on local population (26,000) and regional adoption rates.
• Age distribution (share using email):
  • Teens 13–17: ~80–85%
  • 18–34: ~92–96%
  • 35–54: ~90–94%
  • 55–64: ~85–90%
  • 65+: ~70–80% (lower in the most rural areas)
• Gender split: Roughly even (female ~51%, male ~49); email usage is near parity, with women slightly more likely to check email daily.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscription estimated at ~70–78% of households; smartphone-only internet access ~12–18%.
  • 20–25% of households may lack a fixed home subscription; many rely on mobile data and public/library Wi‑Fi for email.
  • Adoption is rising, driven by state/federal rural broadband builds (fiber expansions) and increasing smartphone penetration, especially among older adults.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ~30 people per square mile (rural spread raises last‑mile costs).
  • Best coverage along I‑49/US‑171 corridors and in Mansfield, Stonewall, and Logansport; patchier service in outlying wooded/low‑lying areas.
  • Schools, libraries, and government sites serve as key connectivity anchors for residents without reliable home internet.

Figures are estimates derived from census-based population and typical rural Louisiana adoption patterns.

Below is a concise market-style snapshot of mobile phone usage in De Soto Parish, Louisiana (often called “De Soto County” informally). Figures are estimates synthesized from ACS 5‑year Computer and Internet Use data (S2801), FCC Broadband Data Collection releases, NTIA indicators, and carrier buildout announcements up to 2024. Use the ranges as planning estimates; verify with the latest ACS/FCC releases if you need exact point values.

Headline user estimates (De Soto vs Louisiana overall)

• Adults with a smartphone: De Soto ≈ 86–90%; Louisiana ≈ 90–92%.
• Households with a smartphone: De Soto ≈ 85–89%; Louisiana ≈ 88–92%.
• “Smartphone‑only” internet households (cellular data plan but no fixed home broadband): De Soto ≈ 27–33%; Louisiana ≈ 20–24%.
• Households with no internet subscription at all: De Soto ≈ 13–18%; Louisiana ≈ 9–12%.
• Mobile hotspot reliance for home connectivity (any use): De Soto ≈ 20–30% of households report using mobile data/hotspots as a primary or frequent backup; Louisiana ≈ 15–22%.

Demographic breakdown (how De Soto differs from the state)

• Age:
  • 18–34: Near‑universal smartphone adoption (>95%) in both, but a higher share in De Soto uses phones as the primary internet connection.
  • 65+: De Soto smartphone adoption ≈ 65–75% (a few points lower than statewide), with more basic/prepaid plans and older handsets in use.
• Income:
  • Under $35k: Smartphone‑only rates are notably higher in De Soto (≈ 35–45%) than statewide (≈ 30–36%), reflecting scarcer affordable fixed options.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Black and Hispanic households in De Soto show higher smartphone‑only reliance than White households, mirroring state patterns but with a larger gap than the Louisiana average.
• Geography within the parish:
  • I‑49/Stonewall–Mansfield corridor: higher 5G availability and better indoor coverage; greater postpaid/5G device penetration.
  • Western timberlands/Sabine River border: more coverage variability, higher prepaid use, and more hotspot/satellite substitution.

Digital infrastructure notes (local specifics)

• Coverage and technology:
  • 4G LTE: Broad coverage parish‑wide; strongest along I‑49 and US‑171.
  • 5G: Low‑band from major carriers is present; mid‑band (C‑band/n41) is concentrated near Stonewall, Mansfield, and along I‑49. Western/upland areas see patchier mid‑band availability.
• Fixed broadband context (drives smartphone‑only behavior):
  • Fiber: Limited pockets (newer subdivisions near Stonewall/commuter areas); not yet parish‑wide.
  • Cable: Town centers (e.g., Mansfield/Stonewall) covered; many outlying areas lack coax plant.
  • Legacy DSL remains in rural zones with sub‑25/3 Mbps service.
  • Fixed wireless: T‑Mobile/Verizon 5G Home available along main corridors; WISPs/CBRS fill some gaps; satellite (including LEO) is a notable fallback.
• Capacity and resilience:
  • New macro towers added 2020–2024 along growth corridors; far fewer small cells than urban parishes.
  • Weather events (ice/hurricanes) can disrupt backhaul; sites often have generators but fuel logistics affect uptime—residents keep mobile hotspots as contingency.
• Public/digital equity assets:
  • Library/school Wi‑Fi and school‑issued hotspots play a larger role than in most urban parishes.
  • FirstNet buildout improved public‑safety coverage on key corridors.

Trends that differ from Louisiana’s state‑level averages

• Higher smartphone‑only dependence: More households use mobile phones as their primary internet, substituting for limited/expensive fixed options.
• More prepaid and budget plans: Income mix and coverage variability push a higher share of prepaid and MVNO usage, with longer device replacement cycles.
• Slower 5G mid‑band penetration off the main corridors: Usable 5G exists, but performance advantages are localized; rural pockets remain LTE‑first.
• Greater reliance on mobile hotspots and multi‑carrier strategies: Coverage variability leads to hotspot use for home tasks and, for some users, carrying multiple SIMs.
• Wider digital divide across age and income: Gaps in adoption and quality of access by seniors and lower‑income households are more pronounced than the statewide pattern.

Notes and sources

• Estimates reflect ACS 2018–2022 5‑year S2801, FCC Broadband Data Collection through 2024, NTIA Indicators of Broadband Need, and carrier public coverage maps/press. Values are rounded ranges to acknowledge sampling error and recent network changes.

Scope and method

• Local, parish-level social media stats aren’t published. Figures below are modeled estimates for De Soto Parish based on its rural demographics (ACS) and U.S. platform adoption from Pew Research Center (2024 adults; 2023 teens). Treat ranges as directionally accurate, not exact.

Population snapshot (context)

• Population ~26K; roughly 75–78% adults.
• Gender: about 51% female, 49% male.
• Rural, mobile-first usage is common; broadband access is moderate compared with urban Louisiana.

Most-used platforms (adults 18+, modeled local share)

• YouTube: 75–85% use
• Facebook: 70–78% (slightly higher than the U.S. average in rural areas)
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 28–35%
• Snapchat: 22–30%
• Also-used: Pinterest 30–38%; X (Twitter) 18–25%; WhatsApp 18–25%; Reddit 15–20%; LinkedIn 18–25%

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): YouTube dominant (~90%+ nationally); Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok each ~60–70% nationally. In De Soto, expect Snapchat and TikTok for daily messaging/short video; Facebook mainly for school, sports, and community info.
• 18–29: Very high YouTube; heavy Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat. Facebook still widely used for events and Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook + YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising; Pinterest common among parents.
• 50–64: Facebook first; YouTube for news/how‑to; lighter Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube; minimal use of others.

Gender breakdown (tendencies)

• Women: More likely to use Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (strongly female‑skewed), and Snapchat; modest edge on TikTok.
• Men: More likely to use YouTube, Reddit, X (Twitter), and slightly more on LinkedIn.
• Engagement style: Women more active in local groups, events, and shopping; men more in sports/outdoors, how‑to, and news/opinion.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: school/church updates, local news, buy‑sell‑trade, lost & found, event promotion, high‑school sports streams.
• Marketplace is a top commerce channel for used goods, farm/ranch, tools, vehicles.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for tutorials, hunting/fishing, equipment repair, and highlights; TikTok/shorts for entertainment and quick tips.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger across adults; Snapchat for teens/young adults; group texts remain common.
• Posting vs viewing: Many “lurkers”; creation concentrated among younger users and small businesses.
• Peak activity: Evenings and weekends; mobile usage dominates; data-friendly, short videos and image posts perform best.
• Trust dynamics: Strong reliance on known local pages/groups; word-of-mouth and recommendations carry weight; misinformation checks often happen within groups.

Sources (for benchmarks)

• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adults).
• Pew Research Center, Teens, Social Media & Technology 2023 (U.S. teens).
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (demographics; rural context).