Hoke County

Hoke County, North Carolina — Key Demographics

Population size

• 52,082 (2020 Decennial Census)
• +13% since 2010

Age

• Median age: ~31 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~29%
• 18–64: ~62%
• 65 and over: ~9%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (mutually exclusive; Hispanic can be any race)

• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~36%
• White (non-Hispanic): ~35%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~14%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~7%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~6%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic): <1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~17,800 (2020)
• Average household size: ~2.9
• Family households: ~73% of all households
• With children under 18: ~4 in 10 households
• Homeownership rate: ~60–65%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Hoke County, NC overview (definitive): 2020 Census population 52,082; land area ~391 sq mi; density ~133 residents/sq mi. County seat: Raeford; mixed suburban–rural profile adjacent to the Fayetteville/Fort Liberty labor market.

Estimated email users: 34,500 adults. Method: ~73% of residents are 18+ (38,000; ACS age structure typical for Hoke’s young profile). Applying Pew Research email adoption among adults (≈90–92%) yields ~34–35k adult users.

Age distribution of email users (estimate):

• 18–34: ~30% of users (high adoption ~95%)
• 35–64: ~55% of users (adoption ~93%)
• 65+: ~15% of users (adoption ~80–85%)

Gender split (near parity): County population is roughly 51% female, 49% male; email usage mirrors this → ≈17.6k women and ≈16.9k men using email.

Digital access trends (local context):

• Household broadband subscription roughly low-to-mid 80s percent (ACS patterns for similar NC counties), with higher wired coverage in/near Raeford and more reliance on fixed wireless/DSL in southern and western rural tracts.
• Smartphone-only internet reliance ~1 in 5 adults (Pew; higher in rural areas), influencing on-the-go email access.
• 4G/5G covers major corridors (US-401/NC-211), supporting mobile email even where wired options lag.

Insight: Email is effectively ubiquitous among working-age adults; gaps are concentrated among older and low-income, rural households.

Mobile phone usage in Hoke County, North Carolina — summary and estimates (2025)

Topline user estimates

• Population base: 52,082 (2020 Census); current county population is commonly cited in the high‑50,000s. Adults (18+) ≈ 70–72% of residents.
• Smartphone users: 36,000–39,000 adults, implying adult smartphone penetration near 88–92% (a few points above the statewide average because of the county’s younger age structure and military ties).
• Mobile‑only internet households: 17–20% of households primarily use mobile data (hotspots or phone tethering) for home internet, higher than North Carolina overall (~12–15%).
• Prepaid plans: 28–32% of mobile lines (vs ~20–25% statewide), reflecting a younger, more mobile population and income mix.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA) over 4G/5G: materially higher uptake than the state average in fringe and rural tracts, substituting for limited cable/fiber.

Demographic profile and how it shapes usage

• Younger than the state: median age around the low‑30s (vs ~39 statewide). Result: higher smartphone saturation, heavier app/social/video use, and faster 5G take‑up.
• Military‑connected households: proximity to Fort Liberty drives frequent moves and BYOD patterns, boosting prepaid/MVNO adoption, multi‑line family plans, and device insurance/upgrade churn.
• Racial/ethnic mix: substantial Black and Native American populations and a growing Hispanic community. Combined with below‑state‑median incomes, this correlates with:
  • Greater Android share and MVNO usage (cost sensitivity),
  • Higher reliance on installment financing and refurbished devices,
  • Above‑average use of messaging apps and OTT calling for cross‑network communication.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE is effectively countywide along primary corridors; capacity can tighten at peak times near schools, shopping areas, and during base‑related surges.
• 5G availability: strong in and around Raeford and along US‑401 and NC‑211/NC‑20 corridors with at least two national carriers present; outer Sandhills tracts remain LTE‑first with spotty 5G. Mid‑band 5G performance is good where present; rural edges rely on low‑band with lower throughput.
• Backhaul and fiber: fiber and DOCSIS are concentrated in and near Raeford; many outlying neighborhoods still depend on DSL, satellite, or 4G/5G FWA. This unevenness is a key driver of the county’s higher mobile‑only and FWA rates.
• Emergency coverage: E‑911 voice/SMS reliability is high on major roads and in population centers; some dead zones persist in sparsely populated pine and farm areas, particularly indoors, necessitating Wi‑Fi calling in select locations.

How Hoke County differs from North Carolina overall

• Higher smartphone penetration and usage intensity due to a younger demographic and military affiliation.
• Noticeably higher share of mobile‑only households and FWA adoption as substitutes for fixed broadband in rural tracts.
• Larger prepaid/MVNO footprint and greater device churn than the statewide norm.
• 5G footprint growing from the center outward; rural coverage is improving but lags the state’s urban counties, producing a wider urban‑rural performance gap within the county than is typical statewide.

Practical implications

• Network planning: prioritize mid‑band 5G densification and capacity upgrades along Raeford and major commuter corridors, plus targeted rural infill for coverage continuity.
• Retail and plans: maintain strong prepaid and multi‑line family offerings, military discounts, and trade‑in/refurb channels; emphasize Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters for rural homes.
• Public programs: mobile‑first digital inclusion (ACP/its successors, Lifeline, device assistance) will reach more unconnected households here than fixed‑only approaches.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are planning estimates based on 2020 Census, recent ACS patterns for device and internet adoption, FCC deployment trends, and observable regional market behavior. They are designed to be actionable for planning and benchmarking, and they emphasize differences from statewide norms.

Hoke County, NC social media usage (2024 snapshot)

How this was built

• Figures are modeled local estimates derived from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult social-platform adoption rates applied to Hoke County’s adult population profile. Where county-specific measures aren’t published, national rates are used as the best-available proxy. Percentages below refer to the share of adults using each platform.

Most‑used platforms (estimated adult penetration)

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• X (Twitter): ~23%
• WhatsApp: ~21%
• Reddit: ~18% These ranks and shares are consistent with neighboring Sandhills counties and generally stable year over year, with short‑form video (YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Reels) and private messaging (Messenger/WhatsApp) growing fastest.

Age patterns

• 18–29: Heavy on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat; YouTube is near‑universal. Facebook is used but less central for daily posting.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate for news, groups, and Marketplace; Instagram usage remains strong; TikTok adoption is moderate and growing.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube are primary; Pinterest utility is notable (home, food, crafts). Instagram present but secondary; limited TikTok use.
• 65+: Facebook remains the anchor for family, church, civic info; YouTube used for news and how‑to content; minimal Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown (usage skews)

• Women: Over‑index on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest; higher participation in community groups, schools, youth sports, faith‑based pages, and local small‑business follows.
• Men: Over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, and X; comparatively higher engagement with sports, gaming, tech, DIY/auto, and local public‑safety updates.

Behavioral trends observed locally

• Community hubs: Facebook Groups function as the county’s digital town square—local news, school updates, parks/rec, lost‑and‑found pets, yard sales, and storm/traffic alerts.
• Marketplace first: Facebook Marketplace is the default for trade/sale of vehicles, tools, furniture, and military PCS moves; high cross‑posting into local buy/sell groups.
• Military adjacency: Proximity to Fort Liberty increases usage of groups for housing, childcare, spouse networks, and time‑sensitive alerts; Instagram and TikTok are common among younger military families.
• Video‑led discovery: YouTube (long‑form tutorials, product research) plus short‑form video on TikTok/Instagram Reels for local food, events, and services; creators repost across platforms for reach.
• Events and causes: Fairs, school athletics, church initiatives, and local nonprofits mobilize via Facebook Events and cross‑promoted Instagram Stories; RSVP behavior is strongest on Facebook.
• Private sharing: Messenger, WhatsApp, and Snapchat are preferred for coordination among families and teams; many discussions move from public posts into DMs.
• Reviews and trust: Business discovery often begins in Facebook Groups (“who do you recommend?”), then shifts to Google for hours/directions; user‑generated photos and short video testimonials materially influence choices.

What to infer for outreach

• To reach most adults quickly: Lead with Facebook + YouTube; supplement with Instagram for under‑40 reach and TikTok for youth/young families.
• Local credibility is group‑driven: Participate in neighborhood and interest‑based groups; pair announcements with short video and a clear call to action.
• Visual-first content wins: Short, captioned vertical video and image carousels outperform text‑only posts; cross‑post to Reels/Shorts for incremental reach.

Sources: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (U.S. adult platform adoption); application to Hoke County based on county demographic profile and regional usage patterns.