George County

Here are key demographics for George County, Mississippi. Figures are rounded; latest available Census/ACS estimates noted.

Population size

• 24,350 (2020 Decennial Census)
• ~25,000 (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimate)

Age (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median age: ~39
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18–64: ~61%
• 65 and over: ~15%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Male: ~50–51%
• Female: ~49–50%

Race/ethnicity (2020 Census unless noted; Hispanic is any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~82–84%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~12–14%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~3%
• Two or more/other (incl. Asian, AIAN, NHPI): ~2%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~8,600–9,000
• Average household size: ~2.7–2.9
• Family households: ~70–75% of households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

• Estimated email users: George County pop ~25,000; adults ~19,000. Applying rural-MS-adjusted email adoption (about 80–88% of adults), an estimated 15,000–17,000 residents use email.
• Age pattern (estimates, reflecting national usage adjusted for rural MS):
  • 18–29: 95–99% use email
  • 30–49: 93–98%
  • 50–64: 88–94%
  • 65+: 70–85% Result: strong usage across all ages, with lower but majority adoption among seniors.
• Gender split: roughly even (about 50/50), with differences typically within 1–3 percentage points.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription estimated at ~72–78%, rising as fiber expands; 15–20% rely on cellular or satellite only.
  • Growth in fiber from electric co-op builds (e.g., Singing River Connect) and state/federal programs (ARPA/BEAD) is improving speeds and reliability.
  • Smartphone-only internet use remains material in rural areas, supporting email primarily via mobile apps.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • County area ~480 sq mi; population density ~50–55 people/sq mi, with service strongest around Lucedale and along major corridors.
  • Coverage gaps persist in outlying wooded and agricultural zones, but new fiber backbones are reducing dead spots.

Figures are estimates synthesized from national email usage and Mississippi rural broadband patterns.

Here’s a concise, county-focused snapshot based on the latest available public data and well-established adoption patterns.

Headline takeaways

• Adult mobile users: Approximately 17,000–18,500 adults in George County use a mobile phone of some kind; about 14,500–16,000 use a smartphone.
• Reliance on mobile for home internet: Roughly one in five to one in four households likely relies primarily or exclusively on a cellular data plan at home—above most urban MS counties.
• 5G coverage exists but is largely low‑band along major corridors; mid‑band build-out lags larger MS metros.

User estimates (adults 18+)

• Total adult population: ~18,500–19,500 (out of ~25,000 total residents).
• Any mobile phone (feature phone or smartphone): ~92–95% of adults → ~17,000–18,500 users.
• Smartphones: ~78–82% of adults → ~14,500–16,000 users.
• Smartphone-only internet households: Estimated 20–28% of households (roughly 2,000–2,600 of ~9,000 households), reflecting rural infrastructure gaps and income patterns.

Demographic breakdown (drivers and likely splits)

• By age (ownership rates applied to local age mix; ranges reflect uncertainty):
  • 18–29: Very high smartphone ownership (≈95%+). ~3.1–3.4k users.
  • 30–49: High (≈92–96%). ~5.9–6.9k users.
  • 50–64: Moderate-high (≈80–85%). ~3.7–4.4k users.
  • 65+: Moderate (≈60–68%). ~2.7–3.7k users.
• Income and plans: Prepaid plans and mobile‑only home internet are more common than in urban MS, driven by budget sensitivity and patchy fixed‑broadband options in outlying areas.
• Race/ethnicity: The county’s population is whiter than the state average. Because smartphone adoption among Black and Hispanic adults is at least on par with whites at the state/national level, the county’s overall smartphone adoption is likely a bit lower than the statewide average after adjusting for its older age mix.

Digital infrastructure notes

• Coverage pattern: Strongest 4G/5G coverage along US‑98 and MS‑63 and in/around Lucedale. Service degrades in forested and low-density tracts, especially away from highways.
• 5G status: Low‑band 5G is present; mid‑band 5G (e.g., C‑band/n41) is limited compared with Jackson metro and Gulfport–Biloxi. Expect better 5G just over the border toward Mobile, AL and along major corridors into Jackson County.
• Tower grid and backhaul: Sparser macro‑tower density than urban MS; few small cells. Backhaul is a mix of fiber along corridors and microwave elsewhere; ongoing state/federal fiber builds along highways will incrementally improve tower backhaul and indoor reliability.
• Carriers and public safety: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile are primary; FirstNet (AT&T) coverage prioritizes highways and population centers. Residents who commute to Pascagoula or Mobile often choose carriers based on corridor performance across county lines.

How George County differs from Mississippi overall

• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration than the state average, driven by an older age profile and more rural settlement pattern.
• Higher share of mobile‑only home internet households than urban MS counties; mobile data is a more frequent substitute for home broadband.
• Slower mid‑band 5G rollouts than in major MS metros; performance uplifts are more corridor‑bound.
• Cross‑border usage matters more: daily commuting and commerce with Mobile, AL and Jackson County shape carrier selection and perceived coverage quality more than in interior MS counties.
• Tower/small‑cell density below the statewide average (which is pulled up by urban counties), leading to more noticeable dead zones away from highways.

Notes on method and sources

• Population and households: Derived from recent Census/ACS county estimates.
• Smartphone ownership rates by age: Pew Research Center national/rural adoption benchmarks (applied to local age structure to produce ranges).
• Internet subscription patterns: ACS S2801 and NTIA “Indicators of Broadband Need” inform the higher likelihood of cellular‑only home internet in rural MS.
• Coverage and 5G: FCC National Broadband Map and carrier public coverage disclosures; local observations align with highway‑centric reliability typical of rural counties.

George County, MS — Social media snapshot (directional, county-sized estimates)

Audience size

• Population ~25,000; adults ~19,000 (Census 2020/ACS 2022).
• Broadband/online access: ~75–80% of households have a home internet subscription; smartphone-first is common in rural MS (ACS 2022).
• Estimated social media users: ~14,000–16,000 residents use at least one platform (adults ~70–75% per Pew; teens ~90%+).

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; multiple platforms per person, so totals exceed 100%)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~70–75%
• Instagram: ~35–45%
• TikTok: ~30–35%
• Snapchat: ~25–30% (heavily 13–29)
• Pinterest: ~30–35% (skews female 25–54)
• X (Twitter): ~15–20% (news/sports niche)
• Reddit: ~15–18% (younger male skew) Notes: Nextdoor presence is low; Facebook Groups fill the “neighborhood” role. WhatsApp usage is modest outside specific communities.

Age patterns (who uses what)

• Teens (13–17): Near‑universal social use; TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram dominate; Facebook minimal except for school/sports updates.
• 18–29: YouTube and Instagram heavy; TikTok and Snapchat strong; Facebook used for local ties and Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook + YouTube lead; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising; Pinterest strong among parents/home/lifestyle.
• 50–64: Facebook primary; YouTube for how‑tos/sermons/local content; growing but still modest TikTok/Instagram use.
• 65+: Facebook for community/church/family; YouTube for news/how‑to.

Gender breakdown (typical patterns reflected locally)

• Overall users: roughly half female, half male; women slightly more likely to use social platforms.
• Platform skews: Facebook and Instagram slightly female; Pinterest heavily female; YouTube, Reddit, and X skew male; Snapchat slightly female; TikTok slightly female.

Local behavioral trends

• Community first: Heavy use of Facebook Groups (schools, churches, sports, civic alerts) and Marketplace (buy/sell farm, tools, vehicles).
• Video‑first, mobile‑first: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) performs best; YouTube used for DIY, hunting/fishing, equipment repair, sermons.
• Timing: Evening and weekend spikes; Friday night (high school sports) and Sunday (church/community) drive peaks; weekday midday bursts for trades/service workers.
• Trust and proof: Word‑of‑mouth, comments, and local testimonials matter more than polished creative; local faces outperform stock content.
• Commerce: FB lead ads + Messenger DM conversion common; geotargeting around schools, churches, Walmart/grocers, county events is effective.
• News/alerts: Facebook is the de facto local newswire; weather and road incidents spread fast via Groups and Messenger.
• Youth messaging: Snapchat DMs/Stories are central for teens/college‑age; cross‑posting TikTok ↔ Reels is common.

Method note

• County‑level platform stats aren’t directly published. Percentages above apply Pew Research national/rural patterns (2023–2024) to George County’s size/demographics (U.S. Census/ACS 2020–2022). Use as directional planning inputs, not precise counts. Sources: Pew Research Center (Social Media Use 2023/2024; Teens and Tech 2023); U.S. Census Bureau/ACS (population, internet subscription).