Lincoln County

Note: In Louisiana, “counties” are called parishes. Figures below refer to Lincoln Parish (county-equivalent), Louisiana. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program).

Population size

• Total population: 48,396 (2020 Census)
• 2023 population estimate: ~49.6k (PEP)

Age

• Median age: ~28.4 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~20.7%
• 18–24: ~22.9%
• 25–44: ~27.0%
• 45–64: ~16.6%
• 65 and over: ~12.8%

Gender

• Female: ~51.4%
• Male: ~48.6%

Racial/ethnic composition (Hispanic can be any race; ACS 2019–2023)

• White: ~55.3%
• Black or African American: ~38.2%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3.1%
• Asian: ~1.7%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.4%
• Two or more races: ~2.8%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023 unless noted)

• Total households: ~18,900
• Average household size: ~2.51
• Family households: ~57% of households; average family size ~3.12
• Households with children under 18: ~27%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~58% (renter-occupied ~42%)

Insight

• The presence of Louisiana Tech University contributes to a young median age and a comparatively large 18–24 population share.

Lincoln Parish (LA) email usage snapshot

• Population and density: 48,396 residents (2020 Census) across ~472 sq mi; ~103 people per sq mi. Core population is concentrated along the I‑20 corridor (Ruston–Grambling).
• Estimated email users: ≈38,000 residents age 13+ use email regularly (derived from local age structure and national adoption rates).
• Age distribution of email users (approx. counts): 13–17: 2,700 (7%); 18–24: 8,200 (22%); 25–44: 11,800 (31%); 45–64: 9,500 (25%); 65+: 5,700 (15%).
• Gender split among email users: Female 52% (19,800); Male 48% (18,200), mirroring the parish sex ratio.
• Digital access and trends (ACS 2018–2022): About 90% of households have a computer; roughly 83–86% have a broadband internet subscription (includes cellular data plans). A notable share rely primarily on smartphones for access; a small minority lack any internet service. Student-heavy Ruston and Grambling drive higher adoption and daily email use.
• Local connectivity facts: Presence of Louisiana Tech University (Ruston) and Grambling State University (Grambling) adds a combined student population well over 15,000, increasing email penetration. Fixed broadband is most robust in and around Ruston/Grambling, with lower uptake in rural areas, where mobile broadband fills gaps.

Scope note: Louisiana uses parishes rather than counties. The figures below refer to Lincoln Parish (the county-equivalent that includes Ruston, Grambling, Choudrant, and surrounding areas).

Executive snapshot (2023–2025)

• Population: ~49,000 residents; ~18,600 households.
• Two large campuses anchor usage: Louisiana Tech University (11,000–12,000 students) and Grambling State University (5,000–5,500).
• Estimated adult smartphone users: ~35,000–37,000 (≈90–94% of adults), higher than the Louisiana average due to the unusually large 18–24 population.

User estimates and usage patterns

• Adult smartphone users: ≈36,000. Derived by applying current U.S. adult smartphone adoption (~90% overall; ~97% ages 18–29; ~85% ages 50–64; ~60–65% ages 65+) to Lincoln Parish’s age mix, which is younger than the state because of the two universities.
• Mobile-only households (cellular data plan but no fixed home internet): ≈4,000–4,500 households (≈21–24% of households). This is several points higher than the Louisiana statewide share (≈17–19%), reflecting student and renter-heavy neighborhoods in Ruston and Grambling.
• Multi-line plans and prepaid: Prepaid and month-to-month plans skew higher than the state average in student ZIP codes (e.g., around campus), while family plans dominate in suburban tracts along US‑167 and LA‑33.
• Peak-load behavior: Noticeable evening and event-driven surges around Joe Aillet Stadium (Louisiana Tech) and Eddie G. Robinson Stadium (Grambling State), with carriers using temporary capacity boosts or small cells during home games.

Demographic breakdown tied to mobile usage

• Age structure (approximate): 0–17 ≈21%; 18–24 ≈19–21%; 25–44 ≈24%; 45–64 ≈20%; 65+ ≈14–16%. The 18–24 cohort is materially larger than the Louisiana average (~13%), which raises overall smartphone adoption and mobile data consumption per capita.
• Race/ethnicity (approximate): White ≈53–56%; Black ≈38–42%; Hispanic ≈2–4%; Asian and other ≈2–3%. Compared with the state (Black ~33%), Lincoln Parish’s higher Black share—together with student concentration—correlates with above-average reliance on smartphones for internet access in certain tracts.
• Income and housing: Median household income trails the state due to the student population; renter share is higher in Ruston/Grambling. Both factors are associated with greater “smartphone-only” connectivity versus fixed broadband, a divergence from many non-college parishes.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Carriers present: AT&T, T‑Mobile, and Verizon all provide 4G LTE and 5G across the Ruston–Grambling corridor; regional and national MVNOs piggyback on these networks.
• 5G footprint:
  • Urban core (Ruston, Grambling, I‑20/US‑167 corridor): Broad 5G coverage from all three carriers, with mid‑band (e.g., n41/n77/C‑band/5G+) active in and around city centers, campuses, and along I‑20. Typical outdoor median speeds range ~150–300 Mbps on mid‑band 5G.
  • Rural fringe (northern/southern parish): Predominantly LTE with pockets of low‑band 5G; median speeds more often ~10–50 Mbps, with occasional sub‑10 Mbps in sparsely populated or forested areas and inside older structures.
• Capacity enhancements: Dozens of macro sites serve the parish, augmented by small cells/DAS on or near campus and high-traffic venues. Since late 2021, carriers have added or upgraded mid‑band 5G sectors along I‑20 and around university facilities, improving capacity more than raw coverage.
• Reliability notes: Coverage is strongest along I‑20, US‑167, and within the Ruston–Grambling urbanized area. Indoor performance in older brick and metal buildings often relies on Wi‑Fi calling or in‑building solutions; carriers target these gaps during major campus events.

How Lincoln Parish trends differ from Louisiana overall

• Younger, more mobile-centric: A markedly larger 18–24 population drives higher smartphone penetration and heavier app‑based usage than the state average.
• Higher smartphone-only reliance: Mobile-only household share is several percentage points above the statewide figure, especially in student-dense neighborhoods; this gap widens at the start of academic terms and during athletic seasons.
• Usage volatility and micro‑targeting: Event-driven capacity planning (small cells, temporary spectrum refarming) is more pronounced than in typical Louisiana parishes without Division I campuses.
• Coverage quality vs. breadth: While statewide narratives often focus on expanding basic 5G coverage, Lincoln Parish’s differentiator is capacity and mid‑band performance along the I‑20 university corridor; rural pockets still resemble state rural norms with LTE-dominant service.

Key takeaways

• Expect ~36,000 adult smartphone users and roughly one in five households relying primarily on cellular data.
• All three national carriers deliver robust 5G in town and along I‑20, with mid‑band performance that exceeds many Louisiana rural and small‑city areas; the rural periphery remains LTE‑heavy.
• Compared with the state, Lincoln Parish is more mobile‑dependent, more event‑sensitive, and benefits disproportionately from mid‑band 5G upgrades focused on campuses and the interstate corridor.

Social media usage in Lincoln County, LA (Lincoln Parish) — 2025 snapshot

Population base

• Total population: ~48,400 (U.S. Census 2020). Adults (18+): ~36,800.
• Adult social media users: ~29,000–30,000 (≈80% of adults; rural/suburban U.S. adoption rate applied).
• Note: Louisiana Tech University in Ruston (~11,000 students) raises the 18–24 share vs. typical rural counties.

Age groups (share of adult social media users)

• 18–24: ~24% (elevated due to the university)
• 25–34: ~20%
• 35–54: ~34%
• 55+: ~22%

Gender breakdown (adult social media users)

• Women: ~53–55%
• Men: ~45–47%
• Skews: Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X.

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adult social media users; multiple selections common)

• YouTube: ~82%
• Facebook: ~70%
• Instagram: ~50%
• TikTok: ~38%
• Snapchat: ~36% (notably high in 18–24)
• Pinterest: ~30% (majority female)
• X (Twitter): ~20% (sports/news heavy)
• LinkedIn: ~20% (lower than national average but rising among students/young professionals)
• Reddit: ~15%
• Nextdoor: ~10% (concentrated in Ruston neighborhoods)

Behavioral trends

• Community-first on Facebook: Heavy use of Groups for churches, civic clubs, buy/sell/marketplace, local government updates, and weather/disaster information. Event promotion and school announcements drive engagement spikes.
• Student-driven visual platforms: Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat dominate among 18–24 for campus life, sports, local food/entertainment, and creator content. Short-form video outperforms photos for reach.
• Video utility: YouTube is broadly used for how-to, home/auto repair, hunting/fishing/outdoors, and local sports highlights. Long-form tutorials and game recaps sustain steady watch time.
• Commerce and local discovery: Facebook Marketplace is the go-to for local resale; Instagram/TikTok power discovery of boutiques, eateries, and events. Hashtags and geotags tied to Ruston/LA Tech perform well.
• Sports and real-time chatter: X usage concentrates around Louisiana Tech athletics, high school sports, weather alerts, and breaking news; engagement is spiky rather than daily.
• Messaging over broadcasting for youth: Snapchat is preferred for day-to-day communication and ephemeral updates; public posting is less frequent than private stories.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 p.m.) and weekends; student audiences are most active late evenings. Local news, weather, and sports drive morning check-ins on Facebook and X.
• Content tone: Authentic, community-oriented posts outperform polished ads. Posts featuring familiar places, local faces, or school spirit see the highest share rates.

Method notes

• Counts and percentages are localized estimates derived from U.S. Census/ACS population structure, the area’s university profile, and current U.S. platform adoption benchmarks (Pew Research Center, 2023–2024), adjusted for rural/suburban patterns common in North Louisiana. These reflect adult usage; teen usage is higher on TikTok/Snapchat than adult rates shown.