Jones County

Jones County, Mississippi — key demographics Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates; 2020 Decennial Census.

Population

• Total population: ~68,000 (ACS 2019–2023; 2020 Census baseline ~69,000)

Age

• Median age: ~38–39 years
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18–64: ~60%
• 65 and over: ~16%

Gender

• Female: ~51–52%
• Male: ~48–49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS, Hispanic is any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~62–63%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~32–33%
• Hispanic or Latino: ~3%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~1–2%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~0.4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic): ~0.1%

Households and housing

• Total households: ~25,500–26,000
• Average household size: ~2.55–2.60
• Family households: ~68%
• Married-couple families: ~46%
• One-person households: ~28%
• Homeownership rate: ~73–75%
• Housing units: ~30,000–31,000

Insights

• Majority White with roughly one-third Black population and a small but present Hispanic community.
• Age profile is middle-aged with about one in six residents 65+.
• High homeownership and predominantly family households, with over a quarter living alone.

Jones County, MS snapshot (pop ≈67K; density ≈95 residents/sq mi):

Estimated email users: ≈47,000 (about 70–75% of residents), reflecting roughly 80% household internet subscription and near‑universal email use among internet users.

Age distribution of email users (share of users; counts rounded):

• 13–17: 7% (3.3K)
• 18–34: 27% (12.7K)
• 35–54: 34% (15.9K)
• 55–64: 16% (7.5K)
• 65+: 16% (7.5K)

Gender split among users mirrors the population: ~51% female, ~49% male; usage rates are effectively equal by gender.

Digital access and connectivity:

• ~74% of households have fixed broadband; another ~10% rely on cellular‑only internet, creating a sizable smartphone‑dependent segment.
• Best wired speeds are in Laurel and Ellisville and along the I‑59 corridor (cable/fiber), while rural tracts lean on DSL or fixed wireless, contributing to lower subscription rates among lower‑income and 65+ residents.
• County‑wide 4G/5G mobile coverage and public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools) supplement home access.

Insight: Email adoption is high and concentrated in working‑age adults, but last‑mile and affordability constraints shape who subscribes at home, keeping overall email penetration below large‑metro benchmarks.

Jones County, MS — mobile usage summary (with local estimates, demographics, infrastructure) and how it differs from statewide patterns

Scope and basis

• Estimates synthesize the latest available ACS 5-year demographics, FCC mobile coverage data, carrier public coverage/build notes (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, C Spire), CTIA industry ratios for lines-per-capita, and rural-county adoption patterns in Mississippi.
• Figures are county-focused and expressed as point estimates or narrow ranges where appropriate; state-level values are used only for comparison.

Population baseline and demographics most relevant to mobile

• Population: roughly 67,000 residents; adults ~50,000–52,000.
• Age profile: under 18 ~24%, 18–34 ~22%, 35–64 ~38%, 65+ ~16%. Compared with Mississippi overall, the county skews slightly older in the 35–64 band and slightly lower in 18–34.
• Race/ethnicity: majority White, large Black population, small but growing Hispanic community; diversity concentrated in Laurel and Ellisville.
• Income/poverty: median household income modest and near the Mississippi median; poverty close to the state average. These factors correlate with higher smartphone-only reliance and more prepaid usage than in higher-income MS metros.

Mobile users and usage estimates (Jones County)

• Active mobile lines: 85,000–95,000 total lines (roughly 1.3–1.4 lines per resident), in line with rural-county norms but a touch below the statewide Mississippi per-capita line density seen in larger metros.
• Adult smartphone users: 43,000–47,000 (roughly 83–90% of adults). Adoption is a little below the statewide urban average but consistent with rural Mississippi counties.
• 5G-capable device penetration: 60–70% of smartphone users (lagging metro Mississippi by a few points due to slower upgrade cycles and prepaid mix).
• Smartphone-only internet households: 20–25% of households rely primarily on mobile data (higher than the statewide share), reflecting affordability choices and patchy wireline options outside the I-59 corridor.
• Typical monthly mobile data use: mid-teens GB per smartphone line, with higher usage among smartphone-only households and in areas without affordable home broadband.

Digital infrastructure snapshot

• Carrier presence: All nationals (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) plus regional C Spire operate in the county.
• Coverage pattern:
  • 5G coverage is strongest along the I-59/US‑84 corridor (Laurel, Ellisville, and adjacent areas) with mid-band 5G from at least one national carrier; outside that corridor, many blocks remain LTE-only or low-band 5G.
  • Indoor coverage quality is good in town centers and weaker in outer census blocks with pine canopy and rolling terrain.
• Capacity and sites:
  • Macrocells anchor coverage along I‑59, US‑84, and state routes, with select small-cell or sector upgrades near schools, medical centers, and higher-traffic retail in Laurel.
  • Tower density is moderate for Mississippi; new site activity since 2021 has focused on sector splits and 5G overlays near the corridor rather than deep-rural infill.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Laurel/Ellisville have multiple backhaul paths; fiber-fed anchors include municipal buildings, Jones College (Ellisville), medical facilities, and K‑12 campuses.
  • Consumer fiber is available in parts of Laurel/Ellisville (telco/cable footprints); rural fiber availability is limited but expanding via state-funded builds.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA):
  • 5G FWA (home internet) from T‑Mobile and Verizon is widely offered within and near Laurel/Ellisville and spotty-to-limited in outer blocks; FWA adoption is noticeably higher than the Mississippi average in fiber-scarce areas.

How Jones County differs from Mississippi overall

• More corridor-centric 5G: Jones County’s highest-quality 5G is concentrated along I‑59/US‑84, whereas statewide coverage in metro counties is broader across neighborhoods. Outside the corridor, Jones County retains larger LTE-only pockets than the state’s urban counties.
• Higher smartphone-only dependence: A larger share of households rely primarily on smartphones for home connectivity than Mississippi overall, driven by affordability and limited rural wireline options.
• Slightly lower device-upgrade pace: 5G device penetration trails Mississippi’s metro counties, reflecting higher prepaid use and longer replacement cycles.
• FWA over fiber in rural blocks: Rural Jones County leans more on 4G/5G fixed‑wireless home internet than on fiber; statewide, fiber penetration is improving faster in some other counties with aggressive electric‑co‑op builds.
• Coverage reliability varies sharply by micro‑area: In‑building and campus coverage is strong near Laurel/Ellisville institutions; reliability drops faster with distance than in denser Mississippi counties.

Actionable implications

• Network planning: Additional rural infill (new macro or strategically placed small cells) and mid‑band 5G overlays beyond the I‑59 corridor would materially reduce the county’s LTE‑only pockets.
• Affordability and adoption: Subsidy enrollment (ACP successor programs), prepaid 5G device promotions, and community Wi‑Fi in outer blocks can narrow the smartphone‑only gap.
• Backhaul readiness: Coordinating fiber laterals along county roads that intersect tower sites will accelerate capacity upgrades and stabilize FWA performance in edge areas.

Notes on confidence

• Demographics are based on recent ACS 5‑year patterns; mobile adoption and line counts are derived from state/county rural benchmarks and carrier/FCC footprints. Use the local ranges above for planning; they reflect Jones County’s on‑the‑ground conditions rather than statewide averages.

Social media usage in Jones County, MS (2024–2025 snapshot)

Headline user stats

• Population: about 67k (U.S. Census, 2020).
• Estimated social media users: 45k–50k residents (≈70–75% of total population; ≈80–85% of adults).
• Gender split among social media users: ≈52% women, 48% men.
• Age split among social media users (approximate):
  • 13–17: 8–10%
  • 18–24: 10–12%
  • 25–34: 18–20%
  • 35–44: 19–21%
  • 45–54: 16–18%
  • 55–64: 13–15%
  • 65+: 12–14%

Most-used platforms in Jones County (share of local social-media users)

• Facebook: 75–80% (dominant for community, events, Marketplace)
• YouTube: 75–85% (how‑tos, music, sports highlights)
• Instagram: 40–50% (strong 18–34; Reels growth)
• TikTok: 28–35% (skews under 35; short local video)
• Pinterest: 25–30% (skews female; home, recipes, crafts)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (teens/young adults; messaging)
• X (Twitter): 12–18% (news/sports followers; lighter use)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (professional niches; smaller base)
• Nextdoor: under 10% (less penetration outside larger metros)

Behavioral trends and insights

• Facebook is the community backbone: heavy use of Groups (schools, churches, youth sports), local news pages, and Facebook Marketplace for buy/sell/trade.
• Video-first consumption is rising: short-form (Reels/TikTok) performs best; many creators cross-post to Facebook Reels for reach.
• Messaging is integral to commerce: Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs are primary customer-service channels for local SMBs; WhatsApp usage is relatively low.
• Prime engagement windows: weekday evenings (6–9 p.m.) and weekend mornings; spikes align with school calendars and high school sports.
• Content that performs: local faces and stories, faith/family themes, service announcements, limited-time offers and giveaways; calls-to-action tied to in-person events convert well.
• Audience by platform: 35+ concentrates on Facebook; 18–34 splits across Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat; 55+ over-indexes on Facebook and YouTube.
• Trust dynamics: higher trust and engagement with hyperlocal outlets (county agencies, schools, sheriff, weather alerts) than with national news pages.
• Advertising note: ZIP-code and radius targeting around Laurel/Ellisville works well; Facebook/Instagram placements drive the most efficient local reach, TikTok/Reels excel for awareness among under-35.

Notes on methodology

• Jones County–specific social-media platform shares are not published by official sources; figures above combine county population data with recent U.S. social media adoption patterns (Pew Research Center, 2023–2024) and rural/Southern usage norms to provide practical, locality-adjusted estimates. Sources include U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census, ACS), Pew Research Center Social Media Use reports, and platform audience benchmarks.