Columbus County

Columbus County, North Carolina — key demographics

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates/QuickFacts). Figures rounded.

• Population size

  • Total population: ~50,600 (2020 Census)

• Age

  • Median age: ~43 years
  • Under 18: ~21%
  • 65 and over: ~22%

• Gender

  • Female: ~51–52%
  • Male: ~48–49%

• Racial/ethnic composition

  • White, non-Hispanic: ~58–60%
  • Black or African American: ~30–31%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~4%
  • Asian: ~0.5%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Hispanic/Latino (of any race): ~6–7%

• Household data

  • Households: ~21,000–21,500
  • Persons per household: ~2.45
  • Family households: ~65–70% of households
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~70–74%

• Population: ~50,000; low density ~54 people per sq. mile.
• Estimated email users: 38,000–40,000 residents use email; ~30,000–33,000 are daily users. Method: apply rural internet adoption (80%) and adult email usage (~90%+) to local population.
• Age distribution of email users (approx.):
  • 18–34: 24–28%
  • 35–54: 34–38%
  • 55–64: 14–16%
  • 65+: 18–22%
• Gender split: roughly mirrors population (about 51% female, 49% male among email users).
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband subscription is lower than the NC average; roughly three‑quarters to four‑fifths of households have a home broadband or cellular data plan, with a notable smartphone‑only segment (~10–15%).
  • Coverage and speeds are strongest in and around town centers and along major corridors; outlying rural areas have pockets of limited or no fixed broadband.
  • Ongoing state/federal buildouts (e.g., GREAT/BEAD) target unserved areas; uptake is rising but affordability and device gaps persist among lower‑income and older residents.
• Connectivity facts: Rural topology and low housing density increase last‑mile costs, contributing to patchy fixed broadband compared with statewide levels, which influences email access patterns (more mobile‑only users).

Summary of mobile phone usage in Columbus County, NC, with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns

Quick county snapshot

• Population: about 50–51k (2020–2023). Adults: roughly 39–40k. Largely rural, with population centers in Whiteville, Tabor City, Chadbourn, Lake Waccamaw, and Bolton; extensive low-density areas around the Green Swamp and along the Waccamaw River.

User estimates (best-available, model-based)

• Adults with any mobile phone: 36–37k (about 92–94% of adults), slightly below the statewide rate.
• Adult smartphone users: 31–33k (about 79–83% of adults), lower than the NC average (typically high-80s%).
• Teen (13–17) smartphone users: ~2.8–3.2k.
• Total mobile users (adults + teens): roughly 39–41k countywide.

Demographic breakdown (directional estimates)

• Age
  • 18–34: very high smartphone adoption (roughly 90–95%).
  • 35–54: high adoption (about 85–90%).
  • 55–64: moderate-to-high (about 80–85%).
  • 65+: lower smartphone adoption (about 65–72%), several points below the state average for seniors.
• Race/ethnicity
  • Black and Hispanic residents tend to have smartphone adoption at or above the county average but are more likely to be mobile-only internet users (no fixed broadband) than White residents, reflecting affordability and availability gaps.
• Income and plan type
  • Higher prevalence of prepaid/MVNO plans (roughly 40–50% of lines among lower-income households) than the statewide share, driven by price sensitivity and credit constraints.
  • Android share likely higher than the state average; iPhone penetration somewhat lower, reflecting income and retail availability.
• Mobile-only internet use
  • Estimated 22–30% of households rely primarily on mobile data for home internet, meaningfully higher than the state average, because fixed broadband availability and affordability are more limited in rural tracts.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage profile
  • 4G LTE is broadly available along US 74/76, US 701, and in towns; gaps persist in forested/low-lying areas (e.g., around the Green Swamp, Nakina/Guideway, Evergreen/Cerro Gordo).
  • 5G
    • Low-band 5G (AT&T, T-Mobile) covers much of the county but offers modest speed gains over LTE.
    • Mid-band 5G (Verizon C-band, T-Mobile n41) is concentrated near Whiteville and parts of Tabor City; coverage thins quickly outside town centers.
    • mmWave 5G is not a factor.
• Tower density and backhaul
  • Macro towers are spaced farther apart than in urban NC; few small cells. Backhaul relies on fiber along main corridors and microwave elsewhere.
  • Recent fiber builds and grants have expanded middle-mile/last-mile capacity via regional providers (e.g., FOCUS Broadband/ATMC and others), improving some tower backhaul and enabling new fixed broadband pockets.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA)
  • T-Mobile Home Internet is available across many populated zones; Verizon 5G Home appears in limited pockets around better C-band coverage. FWA uptake is higher than the state average where cable/fiber are limited.
• Speeds and reliability
  • Town centers: typical 5G mid-band speeds 100–300 Mbps where available; LTE/low-band 5G 10–50 Mbps.
  • Rural edges/indoors (metal-roof homes): speeds often 3–15 Mbps; higher risk of signal drop or fallback to 3G/low-LTE in fringe spots.
  • Storm exposure (e.g., hurricanes, flooding) causes more frequent and longer mobile outages than the state average; carriers deploy temporary cells during major events.

Key trends that differ from North Carolina overall

• Adoption is a bit lower
  • Adult smartphone adoption is roughly 5–8 percentage points below the statewide average, with a larger senior gap.
• More mobile-only households
  • A higher share of residents rely on mobile data in lieu of fixed broadband, reflecting availability and cost pressures; this is notably above the NC average.
• Plan mix skews prepaid/MVNO
  • Prepaid share is significantly higher than the state, and multi-line postpaid family plans are less dominant.
• Device mix
  • Android share is higher; iPhone share lower than the NC average due to income and retail channel differences.
• 5G experience lags
  • County-wide 5G is mostly low-band; mid-band 5G capacity is patchy outside Whiteville/Tabor City, leading to lower median speeds and more variability than statewide urban/suburban markets.
• FWA substitutes fixed broadband more often
  • Greater reliance on T-Mobile (and limited Verizon) FWA compared with the state as a whole.
• Affordability program impact
  • The lapse of federal ACP funding in 2024 weighs more heavily here than in higher-income NC counties, likely increasing churn to lower-cost plans and reducing data usage.
• Resilience challenges
  • Higher infrastructure vulnerability to hurricanes/flooding than the NC average, causing periodic service degradation.

Notes on methodology (to interpret the estimates)

• Population and age shares are based on recent Census/ACS patterns for Columbus County. Adoption rates draw from national and NC rural versus urban differentials observed in recent surveys (e.g., Pew) and FCC/NTIA broadband adoption trends, adjusted downward for rurality, income, and age structure. Mobile-only household estimates are inferred from the county’s lower fixed broadband availability/adoption relative to NC averages and observed FWA footprints. All figures are ranges and should be treated as directional, not precise counts.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. True county–level platform stats aren’t published, so figures are estimates modeled from Columbus County’s size/age profile (ACS) and 2024 Pew Research social media adoption, with rural adjustments.

High-level user base

• Residents: ~50–51k; adults (18+): ~39k
• Adult social media users: ~30–32k (≈78–83% of adults)
• Teens (13–17): ~3–4k; very high social use, but platform mix differs from adults

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adults who use each; estimates)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• Pinterest: 25–35%
• Snapchat: 20–30%
• WhatsApp: 15–20%
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 10–15%
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (patchy coverage in rural areas)

Age patterns (what each group uses most)

• 13–17: Snapchat, TikTok (very high), YouTube; Instagram strong; Facebook low
• 18–29: YouTube very high; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok high; Facebook ~30–40%
• 30–49: YouTube very high; Facebook 65–75%; Instagram 40–50%; TikTok ~30–40%
• 50–64: Facebook 70–75%; YouTube 75–85%; Pinterest 30–40%
• 65+: Facebook 50–60%; YouTube 60–70%; others modest

Gender breakdown

• Overall social media user base ≈ 52% women / 48% men (mirrors county)
• Platform skews: Pinterest (female-heavy), Facebook and Instagram (slight female tilt), TikTok and Snapchat (slight female tilt), YouTube (slight male tilt), X and Reddit (male-heavy)

Behavioral trends (local/rural pattern)

• Facebook is the community hub: Groups for schools, churches, youth sports, county services, storm updates, and buy–sell–trade; Marketplace is very active.
• YouTube is “how-to” central: DIY, small engine repair, hunting/fishing, farm/lawn care, sermons; also for cord-cutting news/weather.
• Instagram and Reels: boutiques, salons, food trucks, and local eateries use short video; geotags/hashtags like #Whiteville #TaborCity #LakeWaccamaw.
• TikTok: strong consumption among under-40; local food spots, outdoor rec, and high school sports highlights perform well.
• Snapchat: primary messaging for teens/20-somethings; spikes around games and school events.
• WhatsApp: used within Hispanic/Latino communities for family and group coordination.
• X (Twitter): niche; followed for severe weather (NWS), high school sports scores, and state news.
• Nextdoor: limited footprint outside a few neighborhoods; Facebook Groups fill that role.
• Usage is mobile-first; evening peaks (7–10 pm). Engagement jumps during hurricanes/severe weather and in seasonal windows (summer lake season, fall football).

Notes on method

• Percentages are inferred from Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. platform adoption, adjusted toward rural usage patterns, applied to Columbus County’s adult population from recent ACS estimates. Use for planning, not official reporting.