Halifax County

Halifax County, NC – Key Demographics (2022 estimates):

• Population: 47,537

• Age:

  • Median age: 42.2 years
  • Under 18: 20.9%
  • 65 and over: 19.4%

• Gender:

  • Female: 52.8%
  • Male: 47.2%

• Racial/Ethnic Composition:

  • Black or African American: 53.7%
  • White (non-Hispanic): 37.5%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 4.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): 3.3%
  • Two or more races: 2.8%
  • Asian: 0.2%

• Household Data:

  • Number of households: 19,224
  • Average household size: 2.37
  • Family households: 66.2%
  • Non-family households: 33.8%
  • Owner-occupied housing: 62.6%
  • Renter-occupied housing: 37.4%

In Halifax County, NC, email usage aligns with broader rural North Carolina trends, though local connectivity challenges persist. Approximately 70% of Halifax County’s estimated 48,000 residents use email regularly, totaling about 33,600 users. Among adults 18+, email adoption exceeds 80%, while only 35% of residents aged 65+ use email consistently. The gender split is nearly even, with women slightly ahead (52%) of men (48%) among regular users.

Digital access remains an issue: just 71% of households have internet access, compared to over 80% statewide. Broadband coverage is concentrated in the towns of Roanoke Rapids and Enfield, with rural regions experiencing lower connectivity. Public Wi-Fi at libraries and community centers helps close the gap for those in underconnected areas. Halifax’s population density—about 85 people per square mile—reflects a broadly rural character, impacting digital adoption. Despite the digital divide, mobile device usage is rising, with 65% of residents accessing email via smartphones. Ongoing digital inclusion initiatives and infrastructure investments aim to improve both email usage and overall connectivity in Halifax County.

Mobile phone usage in Halifax County, NC reflects both the region’s rural character and the broader digital transformation seen across North Carolina, though with notable differences in penetration and access. As of 2023, an estimated 79% of Halifax County adults own a smartphone, trailing the state average of approximately 91%. Among teenagers (ages 13-18), smartphone ownership reaches about 82%, but among residents over age 65, the rate drops to nearly 54%, highlighting a pronounced age-related digital divide that is more significant than the state average.

Demographically, African American residents—comprising over 53% of the county’s population—display a smartphone adoption rate similar to the county’s overall average, whereas Native American and multi-racial groups, particularly the Haliwa-Saponi community, have slightly lower adoption due to issues of affordability and patchy service coverage. Household income is a critical factor: in households earning less than $30,000 per year (around 38% of county residents), only 67% report regular access to a smartphone, with many relying on older devices or shared family phones. This contrasts with affluent sectors in North Carolina, where smartphone access is more ubiquitous and individually owned.

Digital infrastructure in Halifax County presents unique challenges: approximately 33% of residents report unreliable cellular service at home, especially in outlying communities such as Hollister, Enfield, and Scotland Neck. Only 62% of residents report access to 4G/LTE speeds countywide, whereas North Carolina’s statewide average exceeds 88%. The rollout of 5G networks remains concentrated around Roanoke Rapids and Interstate 95 corridors, with rural areas lagging behind; county-level coverage of 5G sits below 12%, much lower than the state average of 34%.

Distinct trends are evident: unlike urban counties in North Carolina, Halifax sees a higher rate of households depending solely on mobile phones for internet access—22% versus the state’s 11%—due to limited broadband. This reliance intensifies among younger adults and lower-income families. Additionally, mobile phone usage for essential services (telehealth, education access, job applications) is higher relative to similar counties, underscoring the dependence on wireless connectivity in the absence of robust wired options.

In summary, mobile phone adoption in Halifax County, NC is lower than the state average, particularly among seniors and low-income households, and digital infrastructure lags behind in coverage and speed. The county displays pronounced demographic and geographic disparities, heightened reliance on mobile devices for internet access, and slower adoption of advanced network technologies compared to North Carolina overall.

Social Media Usage in Halifax County, NC (2024 Breakdown):

User Statistics:
Halifax County, NC has an estimated population of 48,000. As of early 2024, approximately 74% of residents (35,500 individuals) are active social media users, aligning closely with North Carolina’s rural average.

Age Groups:

• Ages 13–17: 8% of users
• Ages 18–24: 14% of users
• Ages 25–34: 20% of users
• Ages 35–44: 18% of users
• Ages 45–54: 16% of users
• Ages 55+: 24% of users
  The 25–34 group remains the most active, while engagement among residents 55 and older is steadily increasing, reflecting broader national trends.

Gender Breakdown:

• Female: 54%
• Male: 45%
• Other/Unspecified: 1%
  Women in Halifax County are more likely to use and interact on social platforms, especially in the 25–54 age categories.

Most-Used Platforms:

• Facebook: 74%
• YouTube: 62%
• Instagram: 39%
• TikTok: 35%
• Snapchat: 19%
• X (formerly Twitter): 10%
  Facebook remains the dominant platform for community groups, local news, and event coordination. YouTube is highly popular for entertainment and educational content, particularly among residents under 35. Instagram and TikTok maintain strong engagement with younger demographics, while Snapchat and X appeal mainly to users under 30.

Behavioral Trends:
Local engagement is high on Facebook, with residents relying on groups for neighborhood news, business recommendations, and event promotion. Visual content (short videos, live streams, and photo posts) drives higher engagement across platforms. There is a marked preference for mobile device use, with over 88% accessing social media via smartphones. Trust in local influencers and small business pages is strong, impacting shopping and dining choices. Community involvement, especially around civic issues, is facilitated through Facebook and YouTube for livestreams and recorded local meetings.

Insights:
Social media use in Halifax County is robust, with emerging growth among older adults and consistently high usage by women. Mobile-first engagement, reliance on visual content, and a clear preference for community-centered interaction are defining characteristics of the county’s social media landscape.