Attala County

Key demographics — Attala County, Mississippi (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates; rounded)

• Population: ~18,600
• Age:
  • Median age: ~40 years
  • Under 18: ~23%
  • 18–64: ~59%
  • 65 and over: ~18%
• Gender:
  • Female: ~52%
  • Male: ~48%
• Race/ethnicity (Hispanic is any race):
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~55%
  • Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~41%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~2–3%
  • Two or more races: ~1–2%
  • Other (Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, etc.): <1%
• Households:
  • Number of households: ~7,200
  • Average household size: ~2.56
  • Family households: ~66% of households (married-couple ~44%)
  • Individuals living alone: ~29% of households (65+ living alone ~12–14%)
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–78%

Here’s a grounded estimate for Attala County, MS:

• Estimated email users: 12,000–14,000 residents. Method: ~18.7k total population; ~75–77% adults; most U.S. adults use email (Pew), but lower rural broadband lowers effective use.
• Age pattern: Very high among 18–49 (95% use), slightly lower 50–64 (90%), and lower but substantial among 65+ (~75–85%).
• Gender split: Roughly even (about 50/50), tracking the county’s population balance.
• Digital access trends: About two-thirds of households have a home broadband subscription (typical for rural MS per ACS), with notable smartphone‑only reliance (roughly 15–25%). Public Wi‑Fi (libraries/schools) supplements access for some households. ACP’s phase‑down may reduce affordability and adoption in 2024–25; pandemic‑era growth in telehealth/education helped normalize email use.
• Local density/connectivity: Attala is rural, ~25 people per square mile (Census), which raises last‑mile costs. FCC broadband maps show more consistent fixed service in/near Kosciusko and patchier coverage in outlying areas; mobile 4G/5G generally covers main corridors but can be weaker in low‑density pockets.

Notes: Figures are estimates synthesized from Census/ACS, FCC broadband data, and Pew research on email adoption, adjusted for rural Mississippi conditions.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Attala County, Mississippi (focus on what differs from the state)

User estimates (orders of magnitude; modeled from ACS/Pew rural patterns and FCC availability)

• Population base: roughly 18–19k residents; about 13.5–14.5k adults.
• Mobile phone users (any cell phone): about 12–13k adults (≈88–92% of adults), a few points lower than Mississippi’s overall rate due to the county’s older, more rural profile.
• Smartphone users: roughly 11–12k adults (≈78–85% of adults), again a bit below the statewide average because of higher shares of seniors and lower-income households.
• Mobile-only home internet: approximately 1,400–1,800 households rely primarily on cellular data at home (on the order of 20–25% of households), noticeably higher than the state average, reflecting patchy wired broadband outside Kosciusko.

Demographic patterns behind usage

• Age: Younger adults (18–44) approach near-universal smartphone use, but the 65+ group is a larger slice of Attala County than the state average and shows substantially lower smartphone adoption. This drags the countywide rate below Mississippi’s.
• Income: Lower median household income and more cost-sensitive plan selection mean heavier use of prepaid and budget carriers/services than in metro Mississippi markets.
• Race/ethnicity: Black residents make up a large share of the county. As in many rural areas, Black households are more likely than White households to depend on smartphones as their primary internet connection where fixed broadband options are limited—so smartphone dependence is elevated relative to the state as a whole.
• Rural vs town: Usage splits between Kosciusko (more consistent 4G/5G and app-heavy use) and outlying rural areas (more voice/text reliance and conservative data use where speeds/coverage vary).

Digital infrastructure notes (what stands out locally)

• Coverage mix:
  • 4G LTE is the baseline and is generally reliable in and near Kosciusko and along main corridors (US-12, MS-35, Natchez Trace), but coverage thins and speeds drop faster than the state average once you move into forested or low-density parts of the county.
  • 5G availability is present but uneven. T-Mobile’s low- and some mid-band 5G tends to be the most visible in/near Kosciusko; AT&T and Verizon provide broad low-band 5G but less mid-band capacity than in larger Mississippi metros. Net result: fewer places with “big city” 5G speeds than the statewide picture suggests.
• Backhaul and capacity: Outside town centers, more sites depend on microwave or limited fiber backhaul, so peak speeds and consistency are below Mississippi’s urban counties; congestion is noticeable at school let-out and evenings.
• Carriers present: All three national carriers (AT&T/FirstNet, T-Mobile, Verizon) plus regional C Spire operate here; C Spire has a footprint in central Mississippi but 5G capacity is still more town-focused than rural.
• Home internet alternatives: Because cable/fiber options are limited outside Kosciusko, fixed wireless and cellular home internet (e.g., T-Mobile/Verizon) play a larger role than at the state level. This drives higher smartphone tethering and SIM-based home gateway use.
• Public/anchor connectivity: Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings in Kosciusko are important Wi‑Fi anchors; reliance on these is higher than in more wired Mississippi counties.

How Attala County differs from Mississippi overall

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption (age/rural effect), but a higher share of households that rely on mobile data as their primary home connection.
• More pronounced urban–rural performance gap: good 4G/5G in and near Kosciusko vs noticeably weaker coverage/speeds in outlying areas; fewer mid-band 5G-capacity nodes than the state average.
• Greater dependence on prepaid/budget offerings and cellular home internet due to limited fixed broadband competition outside the county seat.

Notes on uncertainty

• Figures are estimates derived from rural Mississippi adoption rates, ACS 5-year device/connection patterns, and FCC availability; for planning, validate with the latest FCC National Broadband Map, carrier coverage maps, and ACS S2801 for Attala County.

Below is a concise, local-first snapshot. Figures are estimates for Attala County, MS, based on its population profile (ACS) and Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social-media adoption benchmarks, adjusted for rural usage. Treat numbers as directional ranges.

Quick snapshot

• Population: ~18.5–18.8k; about 15.5–16k are age 13+
• Social-media users (13+): ~11–12k (roughly 70–80% of 13+; 60–65% of total population)
• Gender among users: ~53% women, ~47% men
• Mobile-first, rural usage pattern; Facebook is the community hub

Adoption by age (any social platform, estimated)

• 13–17: ~90–95%
• 18–29: ~85–90%
• 30–49: ~80–85%
• 50–64: ~65–70%
• 65+: ~40–50%

Most-used platforms (share of 13+ residents; estimated ranges)

• YouTube: 75–85% (nearly universal with teens; strong for how-to, church, sports)
• Facebook: 65–75% (highest daily use; especially 30+)
• Instagram: 30–40% (strong in 13–34; Reels growth)
• TikTok: 25–35% (fast growth among teens/20s; short local clips perform well)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (messaging-first among teens/young adults)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews female; recipes, home, crafts)
• X/Twitter: 12–18% (news, sports; niche)
• WhatsApp: 12–18% (group comms; smaller base)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (professional niche; lowest rural penetration)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook = community infrastructure: local news, schools, churches, youth sports, civic info, yard-sale/Marketplace. Events and buy/sell groups drive high engagement.
• Short-form vertical video surge: Facebook Reels/Instagram Reels/TikTok clips under 30 seconds with captions perform best (mobile data constraints). Posting peaks evenings.
• Messaging over feeds: Facebook Messenger and IG DMs are key for inquiries and customer service; teens lean on Snapchat for day-to-day chat.
• YouTube as “how-to + Sunday” channel: DIY, small-engine/auto repair, outdoor/hunting content; many churches stream sermons; family watches on smart TVs.
• Generational split:
  • Teens/20s: TikTok, IG, Snapchat; Facebook used for events/Marketplace more than posting.
  • 30–49: Facebook daily; IG rising; video-first content works.
  • 50+: Facebook dominates; photo/text updates, community news, Marketplace.
• Commerce habits: Marketplace is a go-to for local services and seasonal items (back-to-school, hunting seasons, holidays). “Call/Message now” CTAs outperform web forms.
• Content that travels locally: faces/places people recognize, local sports highlights, school/faith events, weather/road updates, and practical tips. Evenings (7–10 pm), early mornings (6–8 am), and weekend mid-days are reliable engagement windows.

Note on methodology: County-level platform stats aren’t published directly; figures above align Pew’s 2024 U.S. adoption by platform with Attala’s age mix and rural usage patterns to produce local estimates.