Allen County Local Demographic Profile

Here are key demographics for Allen County, Ohio. Figures are rounded; most come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2019–2023 5‑year), with population from the 2024 Population Estimates Program.

  • Population size: ~100,600 (2024 estimate)
  • Age:
    • Median age: ~39
    • Under 18: ~23%
    • 18–64: ~59%
    • 65 and over: ~18%
  • Sex:
    • Female: ~51%
    • Male: ~49%
  • Race and ethnicity:
    • White alone: ~82%
    • Black or African American alone: ~12%
    • Asian alone: ~1%
    • Two or more races: ~4%
    • Other (incl. AI/AN, NH/PI): ~1%
    • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~4–5%
    • Non-Hispanic White: ~78–79%
  • Households:
    • Total households: ~40,500
    • Average household size: ~2.4
    • Family households: ~63% of households
    • Households with children under 18: ~28–30%
    • Tenure: ~67% owner-occupied, ~33% renter-occupied

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 (5-year) and Vintage 2024 Population Estimates.

Email Usage in Allen County

Allen County, OH context

  • Population: ~100–102k; density roughly 240–260 people per sq. mile, concentrated around Lima.

Estimated email users

  • 70k–80k residents use email regularly (primarily ages 13+), based on Pew-level adoption (>90% among most adults) applied to local age mix.

Age distribution (approx. share of county; email adoption in parentheses)

  • Under 18: ~23% (teens 13–17: ~85–95% use email via school/mobile)
  • 18–24: 10% (95%+)
  • 25–44: 25% (95%+)
  • 45–64: 25% (90–95%)
  • 65+: 17% (80–90%) Result: Most email users are 25–64, with growing uptake among seniors.

Gender split

  • Population ≈51% female, 49% male; email usage is near-parity by gender.

Digital access and trends

  • Broadband subscription in households is likely ~80–85% (ACS/FCC-like levels for comparable Ohio counties), with higher availability in Lima and along I‑75/US‑30 corridors; rural townships rely more on DSL/fixed‑wireless.
  • Smartphone access is widespread; an estimated 10–15% of households may be mobile‑only.
  • Public libraries and schools provide key supplemental internet/computer access.
  • 4G/5G coverage is broad; fiber/cable more common in urban/suburban areas than in outlying townships.

Mobile Phone Usage in Allen County

Allen County, OH mobile phone usage: a concise, county-first view

At-a-glance user estimates (2025)

  • Population base: roughly 100,000 residents.
  • Mobile phone users (any cellphone): 90,000–96,000 (about 90–96% of residents; slightly below Ohio’s big-metro-driven rate).
  • Smartphone users: 80,000–88,000 (about 80–88%; a few points below the statewide average).
  • Mobile-only adults (no landline at home): likely 70–75% of adults, a bit higher than Ohio overall due to fewer compelling landline/bundled offers outside metro areas and post-ACP affordability dynamics.
  • Prepaid/MVNO share of lines: estimated 30–35%, higher than Ohio’s average (roughly low–mid 20s) due to price sensitivity and retail channel mix.

What’s different from the Ohio statewide pattern

  • Slightly lower smartphone and 5G adoption: Older device mix and income-sensitive upgrade cycles mean a lag versus Columbus/Cincinnati/Cleveland metros.
  • Higher prepaid/MVNO penetration: More use of Cricket, Metro, Boost, Straight Talk, Tracfone, etc., compared with carrier postpaid—driven by household budgets and broad availability via big-box retailers.
  • Android-leaning device mix: iPhone share likely a few points lower than the state average; more midrange Android devices.
  • More mobile-only and mobile-as-primary internet: Households are more likely to depend on phones or 5G fixed wireless for home access where cable/fiber is limited, outpacing the statewide rate.
  • Network performance variability: Good in Lima and along I-75/US‑30, but more dead zones and lower median speeds in rural townships than typical Ohio metro counties.

Demographic breakdown and usage tendencies

  • Age
    • 18–34: High smartphone saturation; heavy app/social/video use, boosted by local colleges (UNOH, OSU Lima, Rhodes State).
    • 35–54: High smartphone ownership; strong use of navigation, messaging, and work apps (manufacturing, logistics, healthcare shift workers).
    • 55+: Ownership high but a few points below state average; greater reliance on voice/text and gradually rising telehealth usage.
  • Income and plan type
    • Lower- and moderate-income households drive above-average prepaid adoption, multi-line discounts via MVNOs, and slower upgrade cycles (~3.5–4 years vs ~3–3.5 statewide).
    • Post-ACP lapse effects: more plan downgrades, hotspot substitution, and shared data strategies than in affluent Ohio suburbs.
  • Urban vs rural within the county
    • Lima/urban core: Higher 5G device penetration, more carrier choice, better in-building coverage.
    • Rural townships: More low-band LTE/5G reliance, Wi‑Fi calling, and external antennas; higher odds of mobile-only homes.

Digital infrastructure points

  • Coverage and technology
    • All three national carriers cover Lima and the I‑75/US‑30 corridors; mid-band 5G capacity is concentrated there.
    • Rural edges rely more on low-band 5G/LTE, with occasional coverage gaps and lower peak speeds—more pronounced than the Ohio average.
  • Backhaul and tower density
    • Fiber-fed macro sites and some small cells in/near Lima; outside the urban core, sparser sites with some microwave backhaul contribute to variable capacity.
  • First responders and public safety
    • AT&T FirstNet presence supports public safety; consumer spillover benefits mainly in Lima and along highways.
  • Fixed wireless as substitute home broadband
    • T‑Mobile and Verizon 5G Home/Fixed Wireless take-up is above the state average in neighborhoods with limited fiber builds, raising mobile network load during evening hours.
  • Event and corridor load
    • I‑75 commuter and freight traffic, plus county fair/event spikes, create time-specific congestion patterns not as evident in larger Ohio metros with denser small-cell grids.

Implications for stakeholders

  • Carriers: Highest ROI from adding mid-band 5G sectors and small cells in Lima retail/healthcare corridors; targeted rural infill along township borders can reduce churn.
  • Public sector/EDU/health: Mobile-first outreach and telehealth need device-agnostic, low-bandwidth options; Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters remain practical rural aids.
  • Businesses: Expect a customer base skewing toward Android and prepaid; SMS and lightweight apps convert better than data-heavy experiences in rural zones.

Notes on methodology

  • Estimates are derived from county population, national/state adoption benchmarks, rural–urban differentials, income and age profiles typical of mixed urban–rural Ohio counties, and observed market structure. They are directional, with ranges provided to reflect uncertainty.

Social Media Trends in Allen County

Allen County, OH social media snapshot (estimates)

How these were derived

  • County population ~102,000; ~86,000 residents are age 13+. Estimates below adapt recent Pew/Infinite Dial U.S. usage by age to a small Midwest county profile. County-level platform stats aren’t directly published; use as planning benchmarks.

User totals

  • Monthly social users (13+): 60,000–70,000 (≈70–80% of 13+; ≈58–68% of total population)
  • Daily users: 40,000–48,000 (two-thirds of monthly users)

Age groups (share of each age group using any social)

  • 13–17: 90–95% (≈5.6–6.0k teens)
  • 18–29: 85–95%
  • 30–49: 78–86%
  • 50–64: 68–75%
  • 65+: 45–55%

Gender breakdown (of social users)

  • Women: 52–54%
  • Men: 46–48%
  • Skews: Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X.

Most-used platforms (share of social users; multi-platform use is common)

  • YouTube: 75–85%
  • Facebook: 65–72% (strongest in 30+ and rural areas)
  • Instagram: 40–50% (18–39 skew)
  • TikTok: 30–40% (13–34 skew; growing with 35–44)
  • Snapchat: 28–38% (dominant for teens/college-aged)
  • Pinterest: 25–35% (women 25–54)
  • LinkedIn: 18–25% (healthcare/education/manufacturing pros)
  • X (Twitter): 15–22% (news/sports/weather)
  • Reddit: 12–18% (niche/tech/gaming)

Behavioral trends

  • Community-first: Heavy use of Facebook Groups and Marketplace for local news, school updates, church and civic events, buy/sell/trade.
  • Video everywhere: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) is the fastest-growing content type; how-to, DIY, auto, ag, and local food spots perform well.
  • Messaging-native: Teens/20s rely on Snapchat for daily comms; Messenger/Instagram DMs are common for business inquiries and appointments.
  • News and sports: Facebook and X used for local headlines, weather alerts, and high school sports; YouTube for game highlights and replays.
  • Shopping journey: Facebook/Instagram drive local discovery; many purchases close via DMs or in-store after seeing content; giveaways and “shop local” themes lift engagement.
  • Timing: Peaks on weeknights 7–10 pm; lunch hours on weekdays; weekend spikes around community and sports events.

Notes for planners

  • Expect broad reach via Facebook/Instagram; highest 13–34 engagement via TikTok/Snapchat; efficient upper-funnel via YouTube.
  • Use tight geo-targeting around Lima, Shawnee, Elida, Bluffton, and event venues; lean into short vertical video, local faces, and clear calls to message/visit.