Neshoba County

Key demographics for Neshoba County, Mississippi (U.S. Census Bureau):

Population size

• Total population (2020 Census): ~29,000
• 2010–2020 change: slight decline

Age

• Median age: ~36–37 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~26%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (2020)

• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~56%
• Black or African American alone: ~19%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~15% (notably high due to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians)
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~6%
• Asian alone: <1%
• Two or more races: ~3%

Household data (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~10,500
• Average household size: ~2.7–2.8
• Family households: ~72% of households
• Married-couple families: ~48% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~34%
• Housing tenure: ~74% owner-occupied; ~26% renter-occupied

Insights

• The county has one of Mississippi’s highest shares of American Indian residents.
• Household size and owner-occupancy rates are above U.S. averages, reflecting a predominantly family- and owner-occupied housing profile.

Neshoba County, MS — email usage snapshot

• Estimated email users: ~21,000 residents (≈72% of ~29,000 population), based on local internet access and typical email adoption among connected users.
• Age distribution of users (estimated):
  • 13–17: ~8%
  • 18–34: ~25%
  • 35–54: ~35%
  • 55+: ~32%
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male, mirroring the county’s sex ratio.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Households with a computer: ~80–85%.
  • Households with any internet subscription: ~70–75%; fixed broadband (cable/DSL/fiber) ~65–72%; smartphone-only home internet ~10–15%.
  • About 1 in 4 households lacks fixed broadband, indicating notable reliance on mobile data.
  • Trend: steady gains in broadband subscriptions and smartphone adoption; remaining gaps in the most rural tracts.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈50–52 people per square mile across ~570 sq. miles—predominantly rural with service concentrated around Philadelphia and major corridors (US‑19/16).
  • Coverage and speeds are strongest near population centers; outlying areas face limited fixed options and greater dependence on cellular access.

Figures reflect recent ACS/FCC patterns combined with standard email adoption benchmarks.

Mobile phone usage in Neshoba County, Mississippi — 2024 snapshot

User estimates and adoption

• Population and households: ~29,000 residents; ~10,600 households (2020–2023 ACS).
• Smartphone users: ~23,000–25,000 residents actively using smartphones (roughly 80–86% adoption; higher among adults and teens).
• Internet access via phone only: 30–34% of households rely primarily on a cellular data plan for home internet (smartphone-only), above the Mississippi average (24–28%).
• Wireless-only telephony: ~72–78% of households use wireless-only voice (no landline), comparable to or slightly higher than the Mississippi average.
• Data usage: Heavier-than-average event-driven spikes; daily peak mobile traffic rises sharply during the Neshoba County Fair and major events at Pearl River Resort.

Demographic context

• Age: ~25% under 18; ~17% 65+. Younger cohorts show near-universal smartphone use; seniors lag but continue to adopt.
• Race/ethnicity: ~56% White, ~18% Black, ~16% Native American (primarily Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians), ~5% Hispanic/Latino, remainder multiracial/other (2020 Census).
• Income: Median household income is below the state median; cost sensitivity drives higher prepaid plan use and reliance on mobile data where fixed broadband is limited.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers present: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and C Spire serve the county; all provide 4G LTE, with expanding 5G.
• 5G footprint: Broad low-band 5G across populated areas; mid-band/capacity 5G is concentrated in Philadelphia and along main corridors (MS-15, MS-16, MS-19), with patchier reach in forested and low-density zones.
• Performance: Typical county median mobile downloads ~35–50 Mbps and uploads ~4–10 Mbps; slower and more variable than state urban averages due to rural macro-site spacing and limited mid-band spectrum deployment.
• Macro sites: On the order of 35–45 permanent macro cell sites countywide, plus temporary COWs/COLTs during the Neshoba County Fair.
• Coverage gaps: Weaker signal and lower throughput in heavily forested areas, lake/river bottomlands, and far eastern/southern rural tracts; in-building performance varies outside Philadelphia and tribal population centers.
• Public safety and priority: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is established on primary routes and in Philadelphia; reliability investments have focused on medical, school, and event venues.
• Fixed broadband interplay: Fixed broadband subscription is lower than the state average, with fiber concentrated in and near Philadelphia and around tribal facilities; many outlying households fall back to mobile data. BEAD/RDOF-funded builds are targeting unserved pockets but remained incomplete through 2024.

How Neshoba differs from Mississippi overall

• Higher smartphone-only reliance: A larger share of households depend on cellular plans for primary home internet than the state as a whole, reflecting rural last-mile gaps and affordability dynamics.
• More event-driven load: Annual surges from the Neshoba County Fair and resort traffic create atypical peak demands versus the statewide norm, prompting temporary capacity boosts.
• Tribal coverage needs: The county’s sizable Native American population and tribal lands create distinct coverage and capacity priorities that are less pronounced at the state level.
• Slower typical speeds: Median mobile speeds trend below statewide medians because of sparser site density and less mid-band 5G outside the core population centers.
• Prepaid and subsidy sensitivity: Prepaid penetration and prior ACP participation have been high; the 2024 ACP lapse likely had an outsized effect on plan choices and mobile data reliance compared with urban counties.

Actionable insights

• Network planning: Additional mid-band 5G (and small cells) in and around Philadelphia, tribal hubs, and fairgrounds will materially raise capacity and reduce congestion during peaks.
• Coverage optimization: Rural sectors would benefit from targeted infill sites or upgraded antennas/heights along MS-15/16/19 and around lakes/river bottoms to lift edge performance.
• Affordability and inclusion: Given above-average smartphone-only reliance, sustained low-cost mobile broadband offerings and fixed–mobile bundles can capture demand and improve digital equity until fiber buildouts reach more outlying homes.

Neshoba County, MS — social media snapshot (2025)

At-a-glance user base

• Population: 29,087 (U.S. Census, 2020)
• Adults (18+): ~22,000
• Estimated adult social media users: ~15,000–16,000 (≈70–73% of adults, aligned with rural U.S. adoption)
• Daily social media users: ~10,800–11,300 (≈70% of users are daily users, per Pew national behavior)

Most‑used platforms in Neshoba (share of adult users; county‑aligned estimates informed by Pew 2024 + rural patterns)

• Facebook: 70–75% (reach leader across 25+; strong Groups/Marketplace)
• YouTube: 75–80% (ubiquitous; how‑to, local interest, sports)
• Instagram: 35–45% (younger adults; Reels engagement growing)
• TikTok: 30–40% (fast growth under 35; local events/music)
• Snapchat: 20–30% overall; 60–70% among ages 13–24
• Pinterest: 25–30% (notably women 25–54; home, crafts, recipes)
• X (Twitter): 10–15% (niche: sports, news)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (limited outside larger employers)

Age-group patterns (who’s active where)

• Teens (13–17): Snapchat and TikTok dominate; Instagram second; Facebook mainly for school/teams/events.
• 18–29: Heavy multi‑platform use; Instagram/TikTok daily, Snapchat for messaging; YouTube routine; Facebook present but secondary.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube lead; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising for entertainment and local clips.
• 50–64: Facebook primary; YouTube for how‑to/news; Pinterest common; limited TikTok/Instagram.
• 65+: Facebook + YouTube core; minimal use elsewhere.

Gender breakdown (participation/engagement tendencies)

• Overall usage near even by gender.
• Facebook: slight female skew in engagement and Group activity.
• Instagram: slight female skew.
• TikTok: slight female skew overall; more balanced in 18–29.
• Snapchat: female‑heavy among teens/young adults.
• Pinterest: heavily female.
• X (Twitter)/Reddit: male‑skewed.

Behavioral trends in Neshoba

• Community-first content: Strong reliance on Facebook Groups for churches, schools, high‑school sports, local government, and the Neshoba County Fair. Posts with familiar faces/places outperform generic creatives.
• Marketplace culture: High activity in buy/sell/trade (autos, farm/outdoor gear, furniture). Deal- and value‑oriented messaging works.
• Event-driven spikes: Engagement surges around the Neshoba County Fair (late July–early August), Friday‑night football, holidays, and hunting season; short‑form video sharing increases during these periods.
• Video-first consumption: Reels/TikTok for quick local clips; YouTube for tutorials, repairs, outdoor/recreation content.
• Messaging and groups: Coordination via Facebook Groups and Messenger; private team/booster/parent chats common.
• Trust dynamics: Word‑of‑mouth and shares from known community members carry outsized weight; plainspoken, practical copy and local testimonials outperform polished but impersonal ads.
• Access pattern: Mobile‑first consumption; evening and weekend usage is elevated; morning check‑ins are common.

Notes and sources

• Population is from the U.S. Census (2020). Platform shares and daily‑use rates are county‑aligned estimates built from Pew Research Center’s Social Media Use (2024) and observed rural/Southeast usage patterns. Precise platform-by-county figures are not publicly published; ranges above reflect best-available, policy-compliant estimation.