Coahoma County

Coahoma County, Mississippi — key demographics

Population size

• 21,390 (2020 Census). Ongoing decline; ACS 2018–2022 5-year estimate ≈ 21k.

Age

• Median age: ~36 years
• Under 18: ~25%
• 18–64: ~61%
• 65 and over: ~14%

Gender

• Female: ~53%
• Male: ~47%

Race/ethnicity (share of total population)

• Black or African American: ~75%
• White: ~22%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Other races and multiracial combined: ~1–2%

Households

• Number of households: ~8,000–8,500
• Average household size: ~2.5–2.6
• Family households: ~60% of households; average family size ~3.2
• Homeownership rate: ~55%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates). Figures rounded; ACS values are estimates with margins of error.

Coahoma County, MS snapshot (estimates; based on Census/ACS internet access patterns and Pew email adoption):

• Estimated email users: ~14,000–16,000 residents (about 65–75% of the population), translating to roughly 80–85% of adults.
• Age pattern:
  • 18–29: ~90–95% use email
  • 30–49: ~95%
  • 50–64: ~90%
  • 65+: ~75–80%
• Gender split: Approximately even; men and women use email at similar rates, with only minor differences in daily use.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription is likely in the mid‑60% range—below the U.S. average—with a higher‑than‑average share of mobile‑only internet users.
  • Affordability and coverage gaps persist outside the main town, so libraries, schools, and public Wi‑Fi remain important on‑ramps.
  • Ongoing state/federal investments (e.g., BEAD/ARPA‑funded builds) are improving fixed broadband and fiber reach.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population ~21,000; density ~38 people per square mile (largely rural Delta county).
  • Clarksdale (the county seat) has measurably better fixed‑line options than outlying areas; unserved/underserved pockets remain in low‑density zones.

Use this as a planning baseline; validate with the latest ACS/FCC map updates before committing to targets.

Below is a county-focused snapshot built from recent ACS 5‑year data (2019–2023), FCC deployment filings, and national research (e.g., Pew). Figures are estimates and shown as ranges where county‑level microdata are sparse.

Overview

• Population and households: About 21,000 residents and roughly 8,300–8,700 households (anchored by Clarksdale).
• Context: Lower median income and higher poverty than Mississippi overall; predominantly Black; largely rural outside the city. These structural factors shape how and why residents use mobile phones.

User estimates (mobile and internet)

• Adult smartphone users: ~13,500–14,500 adults (≈83–88% of ~16k adults). Comparable to statewide ownership, but used more often as the primary internet connection.
• Households with a smartphone: ~88–92% (MS statewide typically ~92–95%).
• Households with any internet subscription: ~70–75% (state: ~80–83%).
• Households with a cellular data plan (any use): ~70–75% (state: ~66–70%).
• Cellular‑only home internet (no cable/DSL/fiber): ~25–30% of households (state: ~15–18%).
• No home internet subscription: ~22–26% (state: ~15–18%).
• Desktop/laptop ownership: ~55–60% of households (state: ~70–74%), reinforcing heavier mobile dependence.

Demographic breakdown (how usage differs by group)

• Race/ethnicity: Coahoma is majority Black (≈70%+ vs ~38% statewide). Nationally, Black adults report higher rates of smartphone‑only internet access than White adults; that pattern aligns with the county’s above‑average cellular‑only share.
• Age: Near‑universal smartphone ownership among younger adults; sharply lower adoption and more basic‑phone use among seniors than statewide averages. Seniors are disproportionately in the “no internet” or “mobile‑only” groups.
• Income: With lower median household income and a higher share under the poverty line, cost sensitivity is high. Expect:
  • More prepaid/MVNO lines and family plans;
  • Higher “phone‑only” households (smartphone but no home broadband/PC);
  • Greater churn when subsidy programs change (see ACP note below).

Digital infrastructure points

• Mobile networks: All nationals (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) plus C Spire operate here.
  • Coverage: Solid along US‑61/US‑49 and in Clarksdale; sparser in agricultural tracts and along the river levee. Low‑band 5G is common on primary corridors; mid‑band 5G capacity pops up in and around Clarksdale but thins quickly outside town.
  • Typical performance: LTE roughly 5–40 Mbps in rural stretches; 5G mid‑band 100–300 Mbps where available; congestion is notable at peak times in town.
• Fixed broadband: Cable and some fiber in the core of Clarksdale; much of the county relies on older DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. This patchwork availability is a key driver of cellular‑only adoption.
• Public/anchor access: Heavy use of school hotspots, library Wi‑Fi, and community centers indicates substitution for home broadband, especially after school/work.
• Programs and funding:
  • ACP lapse (mid‑2024): The end of Affordable Connectivity Program funding likely pushed some households off fixed subscriptions toward mobile‑only arrangements or hotspot‑based access.
  • BEAD and state BEAM initiatives: Fiber expansion is planned/underway but will take multiple build seasons to materially shift county‑wide fixed availability.

What’s different from Mississippi overall

• Higher cellular‑only reliance: Coahoma’s share of households using a phone plan as their only home internet is roughly 1.5× the state average.
• Lower fixed broadband adoption: A larger “no subscription” gap remains even after accounting for smartphone prevalence.
• Fewer PCs, more phone‑centric computing: Desktop/laptop ownership trails the state by 10–15 percentage points; tasks that elsewhere happen on PCs shift to smartphones here.
• Greater cost sensitivity: More prepaid/MVNO use, more shared data plans, and higher churn tied to subsidy programs.
• Sharper urban–rural divide: Clarksdale sees better mid‑band 5G and some fiber/cable; outlying tracts depend on LTE/fixed wireless with variable speeds and coverage gaps.
• Demographic drivers: A majority‑Black, lower‑income profile aligns with national patterns of higher smartphone‑only access, amplifying the county/state contrast.

Data notes and sources

• ACS 2019–2023 5‑year (tables such as S2801 “Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions”) for county vs. state comparisons of smartphone presence, internet subscription by type, and computer ownership.
• FCC broadband availability and carrier filings for 4G/5G and fixed deployments.
• Pew Research Center (2023–2024) for national smartphone ownership and “smartphone‑only” internet trends by income and race, used to interpret local patterns.
• Local observations (schools, libraries, community centers) align with national evidence on substitution effects when fixed broadband is costly or unavailable.

Here’s a concise, practical snapshot. Note: There’s no official, county-level social media census; figures below are estimates using Pew Research U.S. usage rates, adjusted for rural Mississippi internet access and Coahoma’s demographics (majority Black, mobile-first).

Headline stats (adults unless noted)

• Population: ~21,000; adults 18+: ~15,500
• Internet access: roughly 70–75% of households have home broadband; high mobile reliance
• Social media users (18+): ~10,500–12,000 (68–75% of adults)
• Teens (13–17) on social: ~1,000–1,300; total 13+ social users: ~11,500–13,300

Age split (share using at least one platform)

• 18–29: ~90–95%
• 30–49: ~80–85%
• 50–64: ~65–70%
• 65+: ~45–55% Implication: The active user base skews 18–49, but Facebook keeps 50+ engaged.

Gender breakdown (of users)

• Women: ~55–58%
• Men: ~42–45% Notes: County skews slightly female, and women over-index on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest.

Most-used platforms in Coahoma County (approx. share of adults using monthly)

• YouTube: ~70–80%
• Facebook: ~55–65% (dominant for 30+, community groups, churches, schools)
• Instagram: ~35–45% (strong with under-40; visuals, Reels)
• TikTok: ~25–35% (younger adults; short-form video)
• Snapchat: ~20–30% (teens/20s; messaging + Stories)
• Pinterest: ~25–35% (women, DIY/recipes/home)
• X/Twitter: ~10–18% (sports, live events, news)
• LinkedIn: ~10–15% (smaller professional set)
• Nextdoor: ~5–10% (neighborhood chatter; limited footprint outside denser blocks)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first on Facebook: local news, church announcements, school and high-school sports, obituaries, city/county updates; Facebook Groups matter.
• Heavy Facebook Marketplace use for local buying/selling.
• Video-forward: Short, mobile-shot clips (TikTok/Reels/Stories) outperform static posts; Facebook Live common for church services and events.
• Mobile-native communication: Messenger, Instagram DMs, and Snapchat are key contact channels; fewer email clicks.
• Timing: Evenings (7–10 pm CT) and weekend mornings see the strongest engagement.
• Trust and voice: Local figures (pastors, coaches, small business owners, musicians) drive reach more than “corporate” pages.
• Content that works: Local faces, behind-the-scenes, high-school spotlights, weather and public-safety updates, practical info (utility changes, road closures).
• Cross-posting reality: Most businesses keep Facebook as home base; Instagram secondary; TikTok experimentation growing among younger owners/creators.

Notes on method

• Estimates derived from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. platform usage by age/gender, adjusted downward slightly for rural broadband access and upward for mobile reliance; population and household connectivity informed by recent ACS/Census profiles for Coahoma County.