Claiborne County

Here are key demographics for Claiborne County, Mississippi, using the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data available (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 ACS 5‑year; 2023 Population Estimates). Figures rounded for clarity.

• Total population: ~8.9k (2023 estimate); 9.2k (2020 Census)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~37 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18–24: ~15%
  • 25–44: ~24%
  • 45–64: ~21%
  • 65+: ~18%
• Sex:
  • Female: ~52%
  • Male: ~48%
• Race/ethnicity (ACS, percent of population):
  • Black or African American: ~84–85%
  • White: ~13–14%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2%
  • Two or more races: ~1%
  • Other groups (Asian, American Indian, etc.): each <1%
• Households:
  • Number of households: ~3.4k
  • Average household size: ~2.5
  • Family households: ~62% of households (average family size ~3.1)
  • Nonfamily households: ~38%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5‑year estimates; 2023 Vintage Population Estimates.

Claiborne County, MS snapshot (estimates; based on ACS 5‑yr, Pew Research, FCC/BEAD planning; ranges reflect data lag)

• Population and density: ~8.5–9.5k residents; rural, ~18–20 people per sq. mile. Alcorn State University (Lorman) boosts connectivity among young adults.
• Estimated email users: ~4.8–6.2k residents use email at least monthly. Method: adults ≈75–80% of population; 65–75% have internet access (home broadband or smartphone); ≥90% of online adults use email.
• Age mix of email users:
  • 13–17: ~5–10% (school accounts)
  • 18–34: ~30–35% (university influence)
  • 35–64: ~50–55%
  • 65+: ~10–15% (lower but rising)
• Gender split among users: roughly even, ~48% male / ~52% female, mirroring county demographics.
• Digital access trends:
  • Fixed broadband subscription below state/national averages; higher reliance on smartphone‑only internet among low‑income households.
  • Better service in/near Port Gibson and anchor institutions; many outlying census blocks historically unserved/underserved on FCC maps; fiber expansion targeted via BEAD grants.
  • Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, campus) and mobile hotspots commonly used.
• Takeaway: Email is widespread among connected adults, but overall adoption is capped by limited fixed broadband and income constraints; access skews mobile-first.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Claiborne County, Mississippi

Scope note: Figures below are estimates based on recent Census/ACS demographics, Pew Research smartphone adoption patterns, and FCC/National Broadband Map trends through 2024. Use as directional, not as point-precise counts.

Headline user estimates

• Population base: roughly 8.5–9.0k residents; about 6.3–6.8k are adults (18+). Seasonal swings occur with Alcorn State University in session.
• Smartphone users: approximately 5.5–6.2k total users countywide.
  • Adult smartphone adoption: about 78–83% (lower than statewide due to rurality and income).
  • Teens (13–17): 90–95% adoption; adds ~0.45–0.60k users.
• Mobile-only home internet: an estimated 25–35% of households rely primarily on cellular hotspots or phone tethering for home internet (notably higher than the Mississippi average).
• Plan mix: prepaid/MVNO users likely exceed 50% of lines (higher than statewide) due to income volatility and credit constraints.

Demographic usage patterns

• Age
  • 18–24: near-universal smartphone ownership; heavy data/app use tied to campus life at Alcorn State; frequent hotspot use off-campus.
  • 25–44: high adoption but with tighter data caps and more prepaid plans than state average.
  • 65+: lower smartphone penetration (roughly 55–65%); greater reliance on voice/SMS and basic data; device upgrades less frequent.
• Race/ethnicity
  • The county’s population is predominantly Black; smartphone ownership rates by race are broadly similar, but plan type skews more prepaid among lower-income households.
• Income and housing
  • Higher poverty and lower median income than the state drive:
    • More prepaid/MVNO usage (Boost, Metro, Straight Talk, Cricket, etc.).
    • Greater device longevity (slower 5G handset turnover).
    • Shared devices and intermittent service for some households.
• Education/campus effect
  • Campus anchors (Alcorn State, K–12 schools) increase Wi‑Fi offload and create weekday daytime surges in mobile data around Port Gibson/Lorman, with off-peak quiet zones elsewhere.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Carrier landscape
  • All four major regional options are relevant: AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile, and Mississippi-based C Spire. C Spire’s presence is stronger here than in many states, with solid LTE and growing low-band 5G; AT&T coverage is generally reliable along US‑61 and for public-safety FirstNet. T‑Mobile’s low-band 5G reaches broad rural areas; Verizon performs well on major corridors but can be spotty off-route.
• Coverage and capacity
  • 5G: Primarily low-band (coverage-first) 5G along US‑61, Port Gibson, and parts of the Alcorn campus; limited mid-band capacity outside towns. Many interior areas remain LTE-only, with pockets of weak indoor signal.
  • Tower density: Sparse for the county’s area; long distances between macro sites produce variable speeds and occasional dead zones in wooded and low-lying areas.
  • Peak loads: Game days and events at Alcorn State and schools can strain sector capacity; speeds and latency fluctuate more than the statewide norm.
• Fixed broadband context
  • Fiber is present to anchors (campus, schools, government) and along select corridors; many outlying households remain unserved/underserved by cable/fiber. Fixed wireless and satellite fill gaps.
  • Ongoing state/BEAD-style grants target rural fiber builds, but timelines/street-level coverage remain uneven.
• Public safety and resilience
  • FirstNet adoption by local agencies improves corridor coverage, yet backhaul redundancy and power resiliency outside Port Gibson are more limited than state averages.

How Claiborne County differs from Mississippi overall

• Lower overall adult smartphone adoption (by a few percentage points) but near-universal adoption among 18–24 due to the university.
• Higher reliance on mobile-only home internet and hotspotting because fixed broadband is spottier than the state average.
• Greater prevalence of prepaid/MVNO plans and longer device replacement cycles tied to income constraints.
• Stronger relative role for C Spire alongside national carriers; carrier choice skews to those with better low-band rural coverage and budget plans.
• 5G availability is more coverage‑oriented (low-band) with less mid‑band capacity than seen in larger Mississippi metros, leading to greater variability in speeds.
• More pronounced event-driven congestion patterns around campus and schools, not as evident in many other counties.

Implications

• Programs that bundle affordable plans, hotspots, and device financing would likely see higher uptake than in urban MS counties.
• Mid-band 5G and additional macro/small-cell sites near campus, Port Gibson, and along school bus routes could meaningfully improve user experience.
• Coordinated fiber backhaul and fixed broadband expansions would reduce the county’s unusually high mobile‑only internet dependence.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot for Claiborne County, MS. Figures are estimates extrapolated from recent Pew Research Center social media benchmarks, rural-South patterns, ACS/Census demographics, and the local presence of Alcorn State University.

Headline user stats

• Population: ~9–10K residents; ~7.5–8.5K are age 13+.
• Social media users (monthly, 13+): ~5,000–6,200 (≈65–75% of 13+).
• Access notes: High mobile-first usage; broadband adoption below U.S. average; a noticeable share of “smartphone-only” users.

Age profile of social media users (share of local user base)

• 13–17: 8–10%
• 18–24: 18–22% (lifted by Alcorn State)
• 25–34: 18–20%
• 35–44: 14–16%
• 45–54: 12–14%
• 55–64: 10–12%
• 65+: 10–12%

Gender breakdown

• Female: ~54–57% of social media users
• Male: ~43–46%

Most-used platforms (share of local social media users; monthly)

• Facebook: 70–80% (dominant across 30+ and older)
• YouTube: 65–75% (how-to, music, sports highlights)
• Instagram: 35–45% overall; 60–70% among 18–29
• TikTok: 30–40% overall; 60–70% among under-30
• Snapchat: 20–30% overall; >50% among teens/college
• Pinterest: 20–25% (women 25–54)
• WhatsApp: 10–15% (international/student ties)
• X/Twitter: 10–15%
• LinkedIn: 8–12%
• Nextdoor: <5%

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: local groups, churches, school district updates, Marketplace (autos, yard sales), and local events.
• College effect: Content tied to Alcorn State (athletics, campus life, band) over-indexes on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube; Snapchat strong among students.
• Video-first engagement: Short, vertical clips (10–60s), game-day and church live streams, and captioned videos perform best (many watch with sound off).
• News via social: Residents often consume regional news through Facebook shares from Jackson/Vicksburg/Natchez outlets; weather alerts spike engagement.
• Timing: Peaks before work/school (6–8am), lunch (12–1pm), and evenings (7–10pm). Sundays are strong for faith, family, and sports content.
• Trust and tone: Posts from known local voices, coaches, pastors, and small business owners outperform polished ad creative. Community service and scholastic/athletic achievements get high shares.
• Access constraints: Optimize for mobile and variable bandwidth (short files, captions, minimal links); Messenger is widely used for inquiries; WhatsApp pockets exist around student communities.

Notes on methodology

• Estimates reflect rural-South and Mississippi patterns adjusted for Claiborne’s small population, majority-Black demographics, and university presence. For campaign planning, validate with platform ad-reach tools (county targeting) to refine counts in real time.