Franklin County

Note: Louisiana uses parishes, not counties. The following reflects Franklin Parish, LA.

Population

• Total: 19,774 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~40 years
• Under 18: ~23–24%
• 18–64: ~58–60%
• 65+: ~17–19%

Gender

• Female: ~51–52%
• Male: ~48–49%

Race and Hispanic origin (2020 Census; rounded)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~60%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~36–37%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%
• Other/Two+ races (non-Hispanic): ~1–2%

Households

• Number of households: ~7,700–7,900
• Average household size: ~2.45–2.55 persons
• Family households: ~65–68% of households
• Homeownership rate: ~70–73%

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (PL 94-171 Redistricting Data).
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S1101). Figures rounded for clarity.

Note: Franklin County, LA is Franklin Parish.

Estimated email users

• Population ~19–20k; estimated email users ~14–15k (based on adult share and typical rural LA adoption).

Age distribution of email users (approx.)

• 13–17: 7%
• 18–29: 18%
• 30–49: 33%
• 50–64: 24%
• 65+: 18%

Gender split

• Roughly even (about 51% female, 49% male); usage rates are similar by gender.

Digital access trends

• Household broadband subscription estimated ~65–70% (rural LA levels); a meaningful minority rely on smartphone‑only internet (≈15–20%).
• Older adults are less likely to use email than younger adults but continue to grow in adoption.
• Affordability and device access remain barriers for some households; libraries and schools are important access points.
• Ongoing state/federal investments are expanding fiber in rural northeast Louisiana, improving reliability and speeds over time.

Local density/connectivity context

• Franklin Parish has low population density (~30–32 residents per square mile) spread across >600 square miles, which raises last‑mile build costs and contributes to patchy fixed‑broadband coverage compared with urban parishes.

These figures are estimates derived from parish population, rural Louisiana broadband data, and national email adoption patterns.

Headline estimates (2025)

• Population base: roughly 19,000–20,000 residents.
• Residents using a mobile phone (any type): about 16,000–17,500 (≈80–88% of residents), a touch lower than Louisiana overall.
• Smartphone users: about 13,500–15,500 (≈70–78% of residents; ≈85–90% of mobile users).
• Active 5G users: roughly 6,000–9,000 (≈40–55% of smartphone users), below statewide share due to device age and patchier mid‑band 5G.

How Franklin Parish differs from Louisiana overall

• More mobile‑reliant, less home broadband: A higher share of residents rely on smartphones as their primary/only home internet, driven by lower fixed‑broadband availability and incomes. Smartphone‑only internet use is several points higher than the state average.
• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration but higher dependence: Because the parish is older and lower‑income than the state, total smartphone penetration trails Louisiana a bit, yet those who do have smartphones lean on them more for core tasks (school forms, telehealth, social services).
• Slower 5G uptake: Device upgrade cycles are longer and mid‑band 5G coverage is spottier, so the share of 5G users lags the state by several points.
• More prepaid and subsidy usage: Prepaid plans and Lifeline participation are higher than the state average. The lapse of ACP funding in 2024 increased price sensitivity and pushed more users toward lower‑cost prepaid data.
• Network performance less consistent: LTE is broadly available, but speeds and indoor coverage vary more than statewide, especially outside Winnsboro and major corridors.

Demographic breakdown (estimates)

• Age
  • 18–34: very high mobile and smartphone use (≈95%+ have a mobile, ≈90%+ have a smartphone); heavier social/video use than parish average.
  • 35–64: high mobile and smartphone use (≈90%+ mobile, ≈85–90% smartphone); work and school coordination drive usage.
  • 65+: lower smartphone adoption (≈70–80%), with more voice/SMS‑centric usage; growing telehealth use but constrained by device age and coverage.
• Income
  • Under $35k: slightly lower smartphone ownership rates than higher‑income peers, but much higher “smartphone‑only” internet reliance; prepaid plans dominate.
  • $35k–$75k: near‑state smartphone ownership, mixed prepaid/postpaid, rising hotspot use for homework.
  • $75k+: closest to state urban norms; higher 5G handset penetration.
• Race and ethnicity
  • The parish’s large Black population (roughly two‑fifths) shows similar smartphone ownership to the parish average but higher smartphone‑only internet reliance, reflecting historical gaps in fixed broadband access.
  • White residents (a small majority) mirror the overall parish averages; rural location is a stronger predictor of gaps than race per se.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Cellular coverage
  • 4G/LTE: Broad coverage from AT&T and Verizon along US‑425/LA‑15 and around Winnsboro; T‑Mobile LTE has improved but remains variable indoors in some metal‑roof structures and low‑lying areas.
  • 5G: Low‑band 5G is present from major carriers near towns and corridors; mid‑band 5G (C‑band/n41) is limited primarily to/near Winnsboro and specific sites, so real‑world 5G gains are uneven compared with Louisiana’s metro parishes.
  • Known weak spots: sparsely populated farm tracts and wetland edges show dead zones and capacity dips, especially during storms and harvest seasons.
• Backhaul and towers
  • Macro towers are spaced for coverage rather than capacity; several sites now have fiber backhaul near Winnsboro, but microwave still supports many rural sectors, which caps peak speeds versus state averages.
• Fixed broadband context (affects mobile dependence)
  • Cable/DSL options are mostly in‑town; rural addresses lean on fixed wireless and mobile hotspots.
  • Electric‑co‑op fiber builds (e.g., via Concordia Electric/partners) touch portions of the parish, but many outlying blocks remain pending BEAD‑funded builds slated through 2025–2027. Until those land, smartphone‑only households remain elevated.

Usage patterns to watch in 2025

• Data offload and hotspots: Schoolwork and telehealth continue to drive hotspot use; public Wi‑Fi at libraries/schools is a critical offload point.
• Device turnover: Slower replacement keeps many 4G‑only phones in use, dampening 5G adoption compared with the state.
• Seasonal load: Agricultural seasons produce short‑term network congestion along farm corridors and processing sites.

Notes on method and confidence

• Figures are estimates synthesized from recent state/rural adoption patterns, ACS/FCC coverage trends, and Pew mobile adoption benchmarks applied to Franklin Parish’s age/income mix.

How this was built

• Direct, verified county-level platform stats aren’t published. Figures below are best-available estimates using Pew Research Center 2024 U.S./rural trends mapped to Franklin Parish’s size and demographics. Treat as planning ranges, not precise measurements.

Quick user stats

• Population: ~19–20K; adults: ~14–15K.
• Estimated adults using at least one social platform: ~10–12K (about 70–75% of adults). Teen usage is higher (near-universal on at least one platform).
• Gender: slightly female-majority (~51–52% female).

Age mix and implications

• Skews a bit older than the U.S. average, which tilts usage toward Facebook and YouTube.
• 13–29: heavy on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram; still on YouTube and some Facebook (mostly for groups/events, less posting).
• 30–49: Facebook + Messenger and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising.
• 50–64: Facebook strongest; YouTube for news/how‑to; Pinterest common.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube primarily; limited Instagram/TikTok.

Most-used platforms (estimated share of adult population)

• YouTube: ~75–85%
• Facebook: ~65–75%
• Facebook Messenger: ~55–65%
• Instagram: ~35–45%
• TikTok: ~30–40% (higher among <30)
• Snapchat: ~25–35% (concentrated <30)
• Pinterest: ~25–35% (skews female)
• WhatsApp: ~10–20% (lower given regional demographics)
• X (Twitter): ~10–20% (niche; news/sports)
• LinkedIn: ~10–20% (professional niches)
• Reddit: ~10–15% (younger/male tilt)
• Nextdoor: low (<10%; sparse coverage in rural areas)

Gender patterns (local tendencies mirror national)

• Women: more likely on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok; heavy use of Facebook Groups/Marketplace.
• Men: more likely on YouTube, Reddit, X; strong presence in hunting/fishing, farming, sports communities.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the local hub: community groups, churches, schools, sports boosters, civic alerts, and Marketplace (buy/sell/trade) drive the highest engagement.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for how‑to, music, sermons, high school sports highlights; short-form video (TikTok/Reels) growing for entertainment and local promotions.
• Messaging gravity: Facebook Messenger is the default for event coordination and customer inquiries; SMS still common.
• Event-centric engagement: peak spikes around school sports, festivals, church events, weather/emergencies; local news often spreads via shares in Facebook Groups.
• Youth split: teens/20s spend more time in TikTok/Snapchat; they browse Facebook mainly for group info or family.
• Commerce: local boutiques, food/auto, trades, and outdoor/AG services lean on Facebook + Instagram; short-form video ads outperform static posts; weekday early evening and weekend mid-morning see good response.
• Nextdoor and LinkedIn matter less than in metros; X is niche for sports/news followers.