Forrest County

Here are concise, recent demographics for Forrest County, Mississippi (best available from U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 Decennial Census and 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; figures rounded):

• Population: ~78.6K (2020 Census: 78,158)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~33
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 65 and over: ~14%
• Gender: ~48% male, ~52% female
• Race/ethnicity (share of total population):
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~53%
  • Black/African American (non-Hispanic): ~40–41%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~3%
  • Asian: ~1.5–2%
  • Two or more races: ~2%
  • Other (incl. AIAN, NHPI): <1%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~30K
  • Average household size: ~2.5
  • Family households: ~58–60% of households
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~55–57%
  • Households with children under 18: ~28–30%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Forrest County, MS email usage (estimates)

• Estimated users: 55,000–60,000 residents use email at least monthly (county pop ~78k).
• Age distribution (share using email):
  • 13–17: ~70–80%
  • 18–34: ~95%+ (boosted by the University of Southern Mississippi)
  • 35–64: ~90–95%
  • 65+: ~60–70% and rising with smartphone adoption
• Gender split among users: roughly even, about 51% female / 49% male.
• Digital access:
  • ~75–80% of households have home broadband.
  • ~12–18% are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • Hattiesburg’s urban core offers cable/fiber and strong 4G/5G; rural areas rely more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
  • Public Wi‑Fi via libraries, schools, and USM supports access for students and lower‑income residents.
• Trends: Increasing broadband speeds and coverage, growth in mobile‑only access, and rising adoption among seniors.
• Local density/connectivity facts: Population density ~165–170 residents/sq mi; email usage and connectivity concentrate around Hattiesburg and major corridors (I‑59/US‑49). State/federal broadband initiatives (e.g., BEAD/ARPA) are targeting remaining unserved pockets through 2026.

Notes: Figures are derived from Census/ACS, Pew, and Mississippi statewide patterns scaled to Forrest County.

Here’s a concise, county-focused snapshot based on recent population figures, national adoption benchmarks, and Mississippi-specific patterns. Figures are estimates; ranges reflect uncertainty where county-level statistics aren’t directly published.

Quick user estimates (Forrest County, MS)

• Population baseline: ~79–80k residents (Hattiesburg is the population center).
• Total mobile phone users (all types): ~60–62k people.
• Smartphone users: ~53–57k people.
• Smartphone-only internet households (no fixed home broadband): estimated 24–30% of households in Forrest County, vs roughly 21–27% statewide. The university/student presence pushes mobile-only reliance higher than the Mississippi average.

What’s different from Mississippi overall

• Higher smartphone adoption: Forrest County skews closer to national rates (adult smartphone ownership 88–92%) than the overall Mississippi average (80–85%).
• Better 5G availability and capacity: Hattiesburg’s urban core and major corridors have broader multi-carrier 5G than many Mississippi counties, reducing the share of LTE-only areas.
• More mobile-only internet reliance in the city core: Student and lower-income renters are more likely to depend on smartphones/hotspots rather than fixed broadband, nudging Forrest County above the statewide smartphone-only share.
• Higher per-user mobile data usage: Campus life, streaming, and app-heavy behavior among 18–24 year-olds lift average usage above the state norm.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: A larger 18–24 segment (University of Southern Mississippi) means:
  • Near-universal smartphone ownership in that group.
  • Higher use of unlimited plans, 5G mid-band capacity, campus Wi‑Fi offload, and app-driven services (ride-hail, food delivery, short-form video).
• Income and housing: More renters and shared housing in Hattiesburg correlate with:
  • Higher prepaid or budget postpaid plan adoption.
  • Greater smartphone-only internet reliance (hotspots/tethering).
• Race/ethnicity: A sizable Black population (roughly in line with the Mississippi average) combined with urban coverage means strong smartphone adoption, but affordability still drives plan selection and smartphone-only patterns in some neighborhoods.
• Urban–rural split: Hattiesburg and major corridors are well-served; outlying areas see more LTE fallback and variable indoor coverage, similar to rural Mississippi—but these weaker zones occupy a smaller share of Forrest County than in many counties.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• 5G footprint:
  • T-Mobile: Wide sub-6 GHz 5G (including mid-band) across Hattiesburg and along I‑59, US‑49, and US‑98.
  • AT&T and Verizon: C-band/5G coverage concentrated in the city and high-traffic corridors; LTE remains primary on rural edges.
• Backhaul and fixed broadband interplay:
  • AT&T Fiber and cable (e.g., Xfinity) cover much of Hattiesburg; C Spire Fiber is present in parts of the metro. Strong backhaul supports denser mobile capacity in town than many Mississippi counties.
• Capacity hot spots: University campus areas, Forrest General Hospital/medical district, retail corridors on US‑98, and the I‑59/US‑49 interchange see heavier small-cell or sector densification.
• Gaps and constraints: North/east fringes and low-density pockets can experience weaker 5G or building penetration issues, leading to LTE fallback and slower uplinks.
• Public/connectivity assets: University and library Wi‑Fi offload a meaningful share of student data; emergency services and traffic corridors are prioritized for coverage continuity.

Trends to watch

• Post-ACP affordability pressure: With federal broadband subsidies waning, some households are shifting from fixed broadband to mobile-only—likely more pronounced in student and low-income areas of Hattiesburg than statewide averages.
• Ongoing 5G mid-band build-outs: Continued carrier upgrades along I‑59/US‑49 should further widen Forrest County’s performance gap versus more rural Mississippi counties.

Method notes

• Population: recent Census estimates.
• Ownership and reliance rates: derived from Pew/national adoption benchmarks, ACS “Computer and Internet Use” patterns, and Mississippi’s documented higher smartphone-only tendency; adjusted upward for Forrest County’s university-driven urban profile.

Below is a concise, county-specific snapshot built from Pew/U.S. social media norms adjusted for Forrest County’s profile (college town anchored by the University of Southern Mississippi, regional media hub). Treat percentages as best-fit estimates; exact county-level platform shares aren’t directly published.

Quick profile

• Population: ~79–80k; large student presence (Hattiesburg), diverse mix of families and older adults.
• Estimated social media users (13+): ~55–60k people (roughly 70–75% of total population). Adults (18+) account for ~49–54k of these.

User mix (share of active social media users)

• By age
  • 13–17: 8–10%
  • 18–24: 22–26% (boosted by USM students)
  • 25–34: 18–20%
  • 35–49: 20–22%
  • 50–64: 18–20%
  • 65+: 8–10%
• By gender
  • Female: 52–55%
  • Male: 45–48%
  • Notes: Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X.

Most-used platforms (estimated % of local social media users who use each monthly)

• YouTube: 85%
• Facebook: 68–72%
• Instagram: 50–55%
• TikTok: 42–48%
• Facebook Messenger: 60–65% (as a messaging complement)
• Snapchat: 30–35% (strong among HS/college)
• Pinterest: 28–32% (female skew)
• LinkedIn: 20–25% (education/health sector presence)
• X (Twitter): 18–22%
• WhatsApp: 12–18% (pockets in international/student communities)
• Reddit: 15–20%
• Nextdoor: 10–15% (neighborhoods in/around Hattiesburg)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first Facebook: Heavy use of groups for churches, schools, civic updates, yard sales, and Marketplace. Local TV (e.g., WDAM 7) drives strong news engagement, especially during severe weather.
• Student-driven short video: USM students push Instagram Reels and TikTok usage for campus life, local food/nightlife, and events; Snapchat remains a daily comms tool.
• Video utility on YouTube: How-to content, music, sports, sermon streams, and high school/college athletics highlights get consistent views.
• Event/weather spikes: Hurricanes/tornado warnings and high school/college sports cause rapid surges on Facebook Live, YouTube, and station pages.
• Commerce behaviors: “DM to order/pick up” and cash app links are common for micro-vendors; Facebook/Instagram Shops and Marketplace dominate casual local buying.
• Timing: Evenings (6–10 p.m.) and weekends see the highest engagement; notable upticks around football season and back-to-school periods.
• Trust vectors: Local voices outperform national influencers. Campus athletes, pastors, teachers, and small-business owners function as micro-influencers.
• Cross-posting and ad practicality: Small businesses frequently post to Instagram and auto-share to Facebook; geo-targeted paid posts are cost-effective due to concentrated audiences.

How to refine locally

• Pull platform ad audience estimates geofenced to Forrest County/Hattiesburg for live reach figures.
• Survey USM students and local Facebook Groups to validate age-platform skews.
• Track engagement during weather events and sports seasons to tune posting windows and formats.