Columbiana County

Columbiana County, Ohio — key demographics (latest Census/ACS)

Population

• 101,877 (2020 Decennial Census)
• ~101–102k (ACS 2018–2022 5-year estimate)

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18 to 64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Sex

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~92%
• Black or African American: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Asian: ~0.4%
• Other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander): <1%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~41–42k
• Average household size: ~2.35–2.40
• Family households: ~64% of households; married-couple families ~50%
• Households with children under 18: ~25%
• Housing tenure: ~75% owner-occupied, ~25% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101).

Columbiana County, OH snapshot

• Population/density: ~100,000 residents across ~530 sq mi (≈190 people/sq mi); largely rural with small cities (Salem, East Liverpool, Columbiana).
• Estimated email users: 75,000–85,000 residents age 13+, applying national adoption rates to local demographics.
• Age distribution of email users (approx. share):
  • 13–17: 6–8%
  • 18–34: 20–22%
  • 35–64: 48–52%
  • 65+: 24–28% Adoption is highest among 18–49 and remains strong but lower among 65+.
• Gender split: Roughly even (about 51% women, 49% men among users).
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband subscription: ~80–85% of households; ~10–15% lack home internet; about 7–12% are smartphone‑only.
  • Infrastructure is strongest in towns (cable/fiber) with growing fixed‑wireless/5G; rural and hilly areas remain spottier with slower speeds, which depresses email adoption among lower‑income and older residents.
  • Public libraries and schools provide critical Wi‑Fi and device access.

Notes: Figures are estimates synthesized from national email usage patterns (e.g., near‑universal among younger adults, somewhat lower for seniors) applied to the county’s older‑leaning, rural population and typical Ohio ACS broadband metrics.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Columbiana County, Ohio (focus on how it differs from statewide patterns)

Quick take

• Older, more rural, and lower-income than the Ohio average, the county shows slightly lower smartphone and 5G device penetration but higher reliance on mobile networks for home internet where fixed broadband is weak. Prepaid/MVNO use and Android share are higher than the state average.

User estimates (indicative ranges; based on county population ~100,000; ~40,000–41,000 households; adult share ~82%)

• Adults with any mobile phone: 94–96% (≈77,000–79,000 adults), slightly below Ohio overall (typically ~96–98%).
• Adults with smartphones: 80–86% (≈66,000–72,000 adults), a few points below Ohio (≈86–89%). Age structure drives most of the gap.
• 5G-capable handsets among smartphone users: 55–65% (vs Ohio ~70–80%), reflecting slower upgrade cycles.
• Unlimited data plan adoption: 60–70% (vs Ohio ~70–80%), with more metered or budget plans.
• Wireless-only households (no landline voice): 55–62% (below Ohio ~65–70%) due to higher 65+ share maintaining landlines.
• Households primarily using mobile broadband for home internet (phone hotspot or cellular home internet): 10–15% (above Ohio ~6–9%), tied to patchy cable/fiber/DSL in rural townships.
• Prepaid/MVNO share of lines: 35–45% (above Ohio ~25–35%).
• Platform mix: Android majority (≈55–65%) vs a more balanced mix statewide.

Demographic patterns that shape usage (vs state)

• Age: 65+ share is several points higher than Ohio, lowering overall smartphone and wireless-only rates; smartphone ownership in this cohort is ~60% vs >80% for 50–64 and >95% for under 50.
• Income and education: Median household income is well below the Ohio median, correlating with more prepaid/MVNO use, longer device replacement cycles, and Android preference.
• Geography: A larger rural share than Ohio overall leads to more coverage variability and greater use of cellular as the primary home connection in unserved/underserved areas.
• Race/ethnicity: The population is predominantly White; usage differences versus the state are driven more by age, income, and rurality than by race.

Digital infrastructure notes

• Macro coverage: Broad LTE coverage from national carriers along main corridors (OH-11, US-30, OH-7, OH-45, OH-14), with dead zones in hilly/wooded areas and river valleys, especially in southern/eastern townships.
• 5G availability: Low-band 5G is common; mid-band 5G capacity is concentrated around larger communities (e.g., Salem, East Liverpool, Columbiana, Lisbon) and along major routes. Outside these nodes, users often fall back to LTE or low-band 5G, limiting speeds and capacity relative to Ohio’s metros.
• Capacity and performance: Evening congestion is more evident on sector-limited rural sites; median speeds and latency tend to trail Ohio’s metro counties where dense mid-band 5G is deployed.
• Fixed broadband context: Cable/fiber is available in core towns and along some corridors, but many rural addresses depend on legacy DSL, WISPs, or cellular home internet. This raises the share of households relying on mobile for primary connectivity compared with the state average.
• Investment outlook: State and federal programs (e.g., Ohio’s broadband grants and BEAD) are targeting un/underserved pockets in 2025–2028; as fiber extends, reliance on mobile for primary home internet should gradually drop, but near-term demand for cellular home internet will remain elevated.

How Columbiana differs from Ohio overall (at a glance)

• Slightly lower: smartphone penetration, 5G-capable device share, unlimited-plan adoption, wireless-only voice households.
• Higher: prepaid/MVNO adoption, Android share, and reliance on mobile networks as the primary home connection.
• More uneven: 5G mid-band coverage and capacity, with sharper town-vs-township performance gaps than typical in Ohio’s urban/suburban counties.

Notes on methodology and confidence

• Estimates synthesize county demographics (ACS/Census), national adoption by age (e.g., Pew), and rural usage patterns, adjusted for Columbiana’s age/income/rural mix. Exact figures can be refined with current FCC broadband fabric data, carrier coverage/performance datasets, and local survey results.

Below is a concise, county-tailored snapshot. Figures are estimates derived by scaling recent U.S./Ohio benchmarks (e.g., Pew Research Center 2023–2024, Census population ~100k) to Columbiana County’s older/rural-leaning profile. Treat ranges as directional, not exact.

Quick user stats

• Population base used: ~100,000 residents; ~85,000 are 13+.
• Monthly social media users (incl. YouTube): ~60,000–68,000 (≈70–80% of 13+).
• Daily active share among users: ~60–65%.
• Gender among social users: ~52–54% women, ~46–48% men (county skews slightly female).

Most-used platforms (share of residents 13+ using monthly, est.)

• YouTube: ~75–80%
• Facebook: ~68–72%
• Instagram: ~35–40%
• Pinterest: ~28–32% (majority female)
• TikTok: ~22–28%
• Snapchat: ~18–24% (concentrated under 30)
• X/Twitter: ~15–20%
• LinkedIn: ~15–18%
• Reddit: ~10–14%
• Nextdoor: ~8–12% (higher in denser neighborhoods/townships)

Age-group patterns (penetration within each group, est.)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube 95%+; TikTok 80–85%; Snapchat 75–80%; Instagram 70–75%; Facebook 25–35%.
• 18–29: YouTube ~95%; Instagram 75–80%; Snapchat ~70%; TikTok 60–65%; Facebook ~60%; X/Reddit ~30–40%.
• 30–49: Facebook ~80%; YouTube ~90%; Instagram ~55%; TikTok 35–40%; Pinterest ~45% (women higher); Snapchat ~35%.
• 50–64: Facebook ~75%; YouTube ~80%; Instagram ~30%; TikTok 20–25%; Pinterest ~35%; X ~15–20%.
• 65+: Facebook 55–60%; YouTube 60–65%; Instagram 10–15%; TikTok 10–15%; Pinterest ~18%; Nextdoor ~10–12%.

Gender tendencies (local skew mirrors national)

• Women: Over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest. More responsive to community groups, events, coupons, and visual posts.
• Men: Over-index on YouTube, Reddit, X. Higher engagement with sports, news/opinion, DIY/how-to video.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook Groups are the community backbone: school updates/closings, local news, HS sports, church/community events, yard sales, and buy–sell–trade dominate engagement.
• Short-form video keeps rising: Reels/TikTok clips for local eateries, festivals, boutiques; simple, authentic video outperforms polished ads.
• YouTube is utility-first: DIY, home/auto repair, trades, hunting/fishing, homesteading; also church services and local history.
• Younger users are messaging-first: Snapchat for day-to-day communication; Instagram DMs close behind.
• Pinterest is strong for recipes, crafts, and seasonal home projects; spikes around holidays and canning/gardening season.
• X/Twitter is niche: sports (local/Cleveland teams), weather, and political chatter around elections.
• Timing: Peaks 7–10 pm; lighter check-ins 6–9 am and lunch; weather events drive sharp surges to Facebook Groups and X.
• Access pattern: Some rural pockets have weaker broadband, so usage skews mobile-first; short videos and image posts load more reliably than long HD streams.

Notes on methodology and confidence

• Percentages are inferred from national/state data adjusted for Columbiana County’s older age mix and rural characteristics. Where county-specific platform stats are unavailable publicly, ranges reflect likely bounds.