Wilkinson County

Wilkinson County, Mississippi – key demographics (latest U.S. Census/ACS)

Population

• Total population: 8,587 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~8,000 (continued decline from 2010)

Age structure (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median age: ~40 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Male: ~54%
• Female: ~46%
• Note: Elevated male share reflects group quarters (e.g., correctional facility)

Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census)

• Black or African American: ~69%
• White: ~28%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2%
• Two or more races and other: ~1%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~3,000
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~66%
• Households with children under 18: ~27%

Insights

• Small, majority-Black rural county with an aging population and population decline.
• Household sizes are modest; family households comprise about two-thirds of all households.
• Gender balance skews male due to institutional population.

Wilkinson County, MS (pop. ≈8,400) email snapshot

Estimated users: ≈5,900 residents use email at least monthly (≈70% of total; ≈83% of those age 13+).

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

• 13–17: ~300 (5%)
• 18–34: ~1,440 (24%)
• 35–64: ~2,880 (49%)
• 65+: ~1,280 (22%)

Gender split among users:

• Female ≈52% (~3,070)
• Male ≈48% (~2,830)

Digital access and trends:

• Household broadband subscription is in the low-60% range, below the Mississippi average; a notable share of homes are mobile-only internet users. This depresses email adoption among the oldest and most remote residents but smartphone-driven email use keeps overall adoption high among working-age adults.
• Fiber buildouts are progressing but coverage remains sparse outside population centers; many residents rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or cellular for primary connectivity.

Local density/connectivity facts:

• ≈12 people per square mile across ~688 square miles—very low density that raises last‑mile costs and contributes to patchy fixed broadband outside Woodville and Centreville.
• Connectivity is strongest along major corridors (e.g., US‑61); service quality drops in outlying wooded and hilly areas, shaping the county’s email usage patterns.

Mobile phone usage in Wilkinson County, Mississippi — 2022–2024 snapshot

Topline pattern

• Mobile phones are the primary on‑ramp to the internet for a larger share of Wilkinson County residents than in Mississippi overall. Fixed broadband adoption lags the state, and reliance on cellular data plans is notably higher, reflecting the county’s rural, lower‑income, majority‑Black profile.

User estimates

• Population and households: ~8,300 residents and ~3,300 households (2023 estimates).
• Mobile phone users: approximately 7,000–7,600 residents use a mobile phone of some kind.
• Smartphone users: approximately 5,800–6,600 residents use a smartphone.
• Cellular data–only households: roughly 650–850 households rely on a cellular data plan as their only at‑home internet connection. Method notes: Estimates align county ACS 5‑year “Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions” patterns with national smartphone ownership levels in 2022–2023 and local household counts.

Demographic breakdown (county context for mobile behavior)

• Race/ethnicity: ~68% Black, ~29% White, ~3% other or multiracial. Mississippi overall is ~38% Black and ~59% White, so Wilkinson’s majority‑Black profile is distinctive.
• Age: Median age ~41 (older than the state median of ~38–39). Skews toward more voice/text‑oriented use among older residents and stronger smartphone‑dependence among younger adults.
• Income and poverty: Poverty rate ~31% (state ~20%). Lower incomes correlate with higher rates of smartphone‑only access and prepaid cellular plans.
• Education: Lower bachelor’s attainment than the state average, reinforcing patterns of mobile‑first access for work, school, and telehealth.

Measured subscription and device patterns (ACS 2018–2022 five‑year; county vs Mississippi)

• Households with a smartphone:
  • Wilkinson County: about 86–90%
  • Mississippi: about 91–93%
• Fixed broadband subscription (cable/DSL/fiber at home):
  • Wilkinson County: about 52–60%
  • Mississippi: about 70–73%
• Cellular data plan subscription (any household cellular data plan):
  • Wilkinson County: about 68–75%
  • Mississippi: about 70–76%
• No internet subscription:
  • Wilkinson County: about 24–28%
  • Mississippi: about 16–18% Interpretation: Wilkinson County households are nearly as likely to have smartphones as the state, but are far less likely to maintain a fixed broadband subscription, and far more likely to be cellular‑only. The “mobile‑only” gap versus the state is material.

Digital infrastructure points

• Carriers present: AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile, and C Spire provide licensed cellular service in and around Woodville, Centreville, and primary corridors (US‑61, MS‑24/33). FirstNet (AT&T) serves public safety.
• Coverage profile:
  • 4G LTE is broadly available in towns and along highways; signal quality drops off in low‑lying, heavily forested areas and sparsely populated tracts, leading to indoor coverage gaps.
  • Low‑band 5G is present around population centers and major roads, with many rural blocks remaining LTE‑only. Mid‑band 5G capacity is limited outside towns.
• Backhaul and fixed network context:
  • Limited cable/FTTH footprints outside town centers; aging copper/DSL plant remains in use in several census blocks.
  • Electric‑co‑op and state/federal investments (e.g., BEAD) are targeting unserved/underserved locations, but countywide fiber coverage is not yet pervasive. Where fixed service is unavailable or unaffordable, households substitute cellular data plans.
• Community access:
  • Libraries and schools provide essential Wi‑Fi/E‑Rate access; these venues are disproportionately important for homework, job search, and telehealth compared to the state average due to lower home broadband penetration.

How Wilkinson County differs from Mississippi overall

• Higher mobile dependence: A meaningfully larger share of households are cellular‑only for home internet.
• Lower fixed broadband take‑up: Fixed subscriptions trail the state by roughly 10–18 percentage points.
• Affordability sensitivity: Poverty and income profiles translate into greater reliance on prepaid and budget plans and slower device upgrade cycles.
• Coverage variability: Geography and low density create more pronounced outdoor/indoor dead zones than typical statewide experience, making Wi‑Fi offload and public hotspots more critical.

Key implications

• Mobile networks carry a heavier load for education, employment, and telehealth than in the average Mississippi county.
• Investments that improve mid‑band 5G coverage and fiber backhaul to towers, combined with new FTTH builds and ACP‑successor subsidies, will yield outsized benefits.
• Public anchor institutions’ connectivity remains central to digital inclusion until fixed broadband adoption closes the county‑state gap.

Primary data references: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2018–2022 five‑year (Table S2801: Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions; DP05/DP03 demographics), FCC Broadband DATA Map filings and carrier public coverage disclosures through 2024, and national smartphone adoption benchmarks (Pew Research Center, 2022–2023).

Social media usage snapshot: Wilkinson County, Mississippi (2025)

Topline user stats

• Adult social media users: ~4,300–4,700 (about 66–72% of adults)
• Device access pattern: predominantly mobile-first; smartphone is the primary access device for a clear majority of users; home broadband adoption lags state and national averages
• Gender split among social media users: ~52% female, ~48% male

Age composition of local social media users

• 18–24: ~10%
• 25–34: ~16%
• 35–44: ~18%
• 45–54: ~18%
• 55–64: ~18%
• 65+: ~20%

Most-used platforms among local social media users

• YouTube: ~78%
• Facebook: ~72%
• Instagram: ~38%
• TikTok: ~29%
• Pinterest: ~24%
• Snapchat: ~18%
• X (Twitter): ~13%
• LinkedIn: ~9%
• Nextdoor: ~6% Note: Shares are overlapping (multi-platform use is common).

Behavioral trends

• Community-first on Facebook: Heavy use of Groups and Marketplace for local news, school sports, church activities, yard sales, and services. Word-of-mouth and reposting carry outsized influence.
• Video dominant but split by purpose: Short-form vertical video (Reels/TikTok) for entertainment; YouTube for how-to, music/gospel, product research. Autoplay, captions, and under-30-second cuts improve completion.
• Messaging-centric coordination: Facebook Messenger leads for event coordination; SMS remains common. WhatsApp has niche family/cross-border use.
• Shopping and discovery: Marketplace browsing is routine; local service providers rely on post shares and recommendations. Instagram and TikTok drive discovery for food, fashion, and beauty among under-40s.
• Platform roles by age:
  • Under 35: Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat for socializing and trends; YouTube for tutorials; lighter Facebook use except for Groups/Marketplace
  • 35–54: Facebook + YouTube core; Instagram rising; TikTok used but more for passive viewing
  • 55+: Facebook primary; YouTube secondary; low use of Instagram/TikTok
• Content that performs: Hyper-local relevance (events, school teams, church, hunting/fishing, local deals), faces + family, and clear value propositions. Overly polished “corporate” creative underperforms without a local hook.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (6–8 a.m.), lunch, and evenings (7–10 p.m.), with Sunday spikes around church and afternoon football seasons.
• Low traction platforms: X (Twitter) and LinkedIn see limited, niche engagement; discussions skew to news and professional circles respectively.

Methodology note

• Figures are modeled local estimates as of 2025: national platform adoption rates by age/sex (Pew Research Center) were weighted to Wilkinson County’s age/sex structure and adjusted for below-average broadband adoption (U.S. Census Bureau ACS). These provide realistic local percentages where direct county-level platform data are not published.