Clinton County

Here are concise, recent demographics for Clinton County, New York.

Population

• Total: ~79,700 (2023 Census estimate; 2020 Census: 79,843)

Age

• Median age: ~38–39 years
• Under 18: ~18–19%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Sex

• Male: ~52–54%
• Female: ~46–48% (Note: Higher male share reflects sizable incarcerated population.)

Race and ethnicity

• White (non-Hispanic): ~85–86%
• Black or African American: ~6%
• Asian: ~1–1.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5–1%
• Two or more races: ~4–6%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–5%

Households

• Number of households: ~29,500–30,000
• Average household size: ~2.3 persons

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2023 Population Estimates; 2019–2023 American Community Survey). Figures rounded; minor differences may occur due to rounding.

Clinton County, NY snapshot (estimates)

• Users: Population ≈ 80,000. Using national email adoption (~90–95% of adults; Pew) and local age mix, an estimated 60,000–66,000 residents use email regularly.
• Age: Highest among 18–49 (95%+ use); slightly lower for 50–64 (90%+); dips for 65+ to roughly 80–85%. Teens (13–17) commonly use email for school; ~70–85% adoption adds a few thousand users.
• Gender: Email use is effectively even by gender; any gap is negligible at the county scale.
• Access trends: According to recent ACS data, roughly 85% (low–mid 80s) of Clinton County households have a broadband subscription and around 90% have a computer, suggesting strong capacity for email access; smartphone connectivity further broadens access.
• Local density/connectivity: County population density is roughly 75–85 people per square mile, with denser service in and around Plattsburgh and sparser, slower options in rural townships. Broadband and mobile coverage are strongest along the I‑87/Northway and population centers, with remaining gaps in outlying areas.

Notes: Counts are derived from Census/ACS population and internet-access indicators, combined with national email usage benchmarks (Pew). Use these as planning estimates, not precise measurements.

Below is a planning-grade summary of mobile phone usage in Clinton County, NY. Figures are rounded estimates based on recent ACS “Computer and Internet” indicators, statewide benchmarks, and carrier/FCC coverage patterns for rural upstate counties with a small city core. Use for scoping; confirm with the latest ACS S2801 and FCC Mobile Coverage data before making commitments.

Headline user estimates

• Population base: ~80,000 residents; ~63,000 adults.
• Smartphone users: roughly 55,000–60,000 adults use a smartphone (county adult adoption in the mid/high-80% range, a few points below the NYS average).
• Active mobile lines: on the order of 90,000–100,000 subscriptions (multiple lines per household are common; per-capita line counts in rural NY approach the national norm).
• Mobile-only home internet: meaning households that rely on a cellular data plan with no wired broadband—materially higher share than the NYS average (common in rural/western townships). Expect roughly high-teens to low-20s percent locally vs low-teens statewide.

Demographic breakdown (what differs most from New York State)

• Age:
  • 18–34: near-universal smartphone adoption (similar to NYS).
  • 35–64: high adoption but slightly below NYS due to income and coverage variability.
  • 65+: noticeably lower ownership vs NYS average, but fastest year-over-year growth; seniors here are catching up as health, banking, and government services go mobile.
• Income:
  • Lower-income and fixed-income households show higher dependence on smartphones as primary internet, and a greater tilt toward prepaid plans than NYS overall.
• Student presence:
  • SUNY Plattsburgh and local colleges raise mobile-first behavior (campus-centric 5G/Wi‑Fi offload, heavy app and messaging usage) within Plattsburgh, contrasting with the county’s rural west.
• Urban–rural split:
  • Plattsburgh city/route I‑87 corridor usage patterns look closer to NYS averages.
  • Western townships (e.g., Saranac, Dannemora, Black Brook) exhibit more voice/text-first behavior and higher incidence of mobile-only home internet due to wired gaps.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• 4G/5G footprint:
  • 5G coverage is strongest in and around Plattsburgh, along I‑87, US‑11, and the lakeshore settlements; capacity layers (mid‑band) are concentrated here.
  • LTE remains the dominant layer in much of the county’s interior; terrain-driven shadowing in the Adirondack foothills produces spotty service on valley roads.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Robust long‑haul fiber follows I‑87/rail corridors and into Plattsburgh; backhaul thins westward, which slows high-capacity 5G expansion compared to NYS metros.
• Tower siting:
  • Macro sites cluster along transportation corridors and on ridgelines; siting and environmental constraints near park/forested areas limit dense infill—more variability than the NYS average.
• Cross‑border and seasonal effects:
  • Proximity to Quebec introduces occasional roaming/interference near the border and lake; traffic spikes during tourism season strain sector capacity more than in downstate areas.
• Public safety:
  • First responder coverage (e.g., FirstNet) is prioritized on major corridors; interior coverage can still depend on LTE low‑band, with fewer capacity layers than NYS urban counties.

How Clinton County differs from statewide trends (summary)

• Adoption: Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption driven by older age mix and rural coverage; fastest growth is among 65+.
• Access mode: Mobile-only home internet is notably more prevalent than NYS average due to gaps/affordability in wired options.
• Plan mix: Higher reliance on prepaid and value plans than statewide.
• Network build: Slower, spottier mid‑band 5G buildout outside the Plattsburgh/I‑87 corridor; more dependence on low‑band LTE for reach.
• Variability: Greater day-to-day and seasonal performance swings (terrain, tourism, border effects) than most NYS counties.

Practical implications

• Service design should assume mobile-only households in rural tracts; keep data-light options and strong offline modes.
• Outreach to seniors and low‑income users benefits from device assistance and plan affordability programs.
• Capacity investments yield the biggest impact on Plattsburgh/I‑87 first; targeted fill‑in along valley roads and western towns addresses the largest reliability gaps.

Suggested sources to verify and refine

• U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions), 5‑year county estimates.
• FCC National Broadband Map, Mobile Coverage and Performance layers.
• NY Public Service Commission and regional planning documents for tower/backhaul projects.
• Campus IT reports (SUNY Plattsburgh) for local usage patterns.

Below is a concise, locally tuned snapshot. Exact county-level platform stats aren’t publicly published; figures are estimates triangulated from Pew Research (2023–2024), American Community Survey demographics, and rural Upstate NY usage patterns.

Topline

• Population: ~80,000 (Clinton County, NY).
• Estimated social media users (13+): 45,000–55,000.
• Broadband/Internet: roughly 80%±5% of households have broadband; smartphone access among adults is high (80%+), so mobile-first usage is common.

Most-used platforms (share of local social media users; estimates)

• YouTube: 80–88%
• Facebook: 70–78% (dominant for community info and events)
• Instagram: 40–50%
• TikTok: 30–40%
• Snapchat: 25–35% (very strong among 13–24, especially college/high school)
• Facebook Messenger: 60–70%
• Pinterest: 20–30% (skews female, home/outdoors/DIY)
• LinkedIn: 15–25% (professionals, SUNY Plattsburgh faculty/staff/students)
• X/Twitter: 18–25% (news, sports, government alerts)
• Reddit/Discord: 10–18% combined (tech/gaming/outdoors niches)
• WhatsApp: 10–18% (slightly higher given cross‑border ties to Quebec)

Age mix among active users (directional)

• 13–17: ~8–10% (Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram first; minimal Facebook)
• 18–24: ~15–20% (SUNY Plattsburgh boosts IG/TikTok/Snap; YouTube high)
• 25–34: ~16–18% (IG, FB, YouTube; rising TikTok use)
• 35–49: ~24–28% (FB and YouTube core; IG secondary)
• 50–64: ~18–22% (FB and YouTube; Pinterest for projects; lower TikTok)
• 65+: ~10–14% (FB strongest; YouTube for how‑to/news)

Gender breakdown (active user base)

• Roughly even overall: ~50–55% female, ~45–50% male among active users.
• Note: The county’s official male share is inflated by incarcerated populations who are not active on social media; the practical online mix is closer to 50/50.
• Platform skews: women higher on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; men higher on YouTube, Reddit, X, and Discord.

Behavioral trends (local patterns)

• Community-first Facebook: Town and county pages, school closings, weather and road updates (I‑87/Northway), public safety alerts, buy/sell/trade groups, lost & found pets, and event listings (e.g., Clinton County Fair).
• News via shares: Local outlets and agencies see most engagement through Facebook posts; X used by media/government for quick alerts.
• Video habits: YouTube for how‑to, repairs, outdoors (fishing, snowmobile, hunting); Reels/TikTok for campus life, eateries, events, and scenic Lake Champlain/Adirondacks content.
• Dayparts: Engagement peaks 6–9 a.m. and 7–10 p.m.; weekend activity is strong. Student-driven spikes around late afternoons/evenings.
• Seasonal content: Winter storm updates, plow reports, snow sports; summer boating/fishing; fall foliage; high‑school and SUNY sports highlights.
• Cross‑border flavor: Occasional French/Quebec references; info about border traffic, shopping in Plattsburgh, and tourism.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger common for local coordination; group chats for classes, teams, and clubs.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is highly active; service providers rely on FB recommendations/reviews; event RSVPs via FB Events.

How to use this

• Reaching 35+: Prioritize Facebook posts, Groups, and Events; pair with short YouTube videos.
• Reaching 13–24: Lead with TikTok/Snap/IG Reels and campus or creator partnerships.
• Reaching 25–44 families: Facebook + Instagram mixed content; highlight community utility and local deals.
• Outdoor/tourism niches: YouTube how‑to and FB Groups; seasonal reels perform well.

Note: Figures are directional estimates for Clinton County based on national/state data and comparable rural NY patterns rather than direct county-reported platform metrics.