Darke County

Here are key demographics for Darke County, Ohio (latest U.S. Census Bureau data: 2020 Decennial Census for total population; 2018–2022 ACS 5-year estimates for other metrics):

Population size

• Total population: 51,881 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~51,000 (Census Vintage 2023)

Age

• Median age: ~42–43 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 18 to 64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~20%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~95%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.2%
• Asian alone: ~0.3%
• Some other race alone: ~0.3%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~1.5–2% Note: Hispanic is an ethnicity and overlaps with race.

Household data

• Households: ~20,500–21,000
• Average household size: ~2.45–2.50
• Family households: ~66%
• Married-couple households: ~52–55%
• Households with children under 18: ~27–29%
• Nonfamily households: ~34%
• People living alone: ~28–30%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023).

Summary for Darke County, Ohio (estimates based on 2020 Census/ACS and Pew Research on internet/email use)

• Estimated email users: ~40–41k residents of ~51.9k total. That’s ~77–79% of all residents and ~92–95% of adults (18+).
• Age split among email users:
  • Teens 13–17: ~2.8–3.0k (≈7%)
  • Ages 18–34: ~8.5–9.5k (≈21–24%)
  • Ages 35–64: ~18–20k (≈45–50%)
  • Ages 65+: ~8.5–9.5k (≈21–24%) Notes: Adoption is near-universal for 18–64; modestly lower for 65+; most teens use email but at slightly lower rates than adults.
• Gender split: Roughly even (about 50% female, 50% male), reflecting minimal gender differences in email use.
• Digital access trends:
  • ~75–80% of households subscribe to broadband (ACS “Computer and Internet Use”).
  • Remaining homes often rely on cellular-only, fixed wireless, or satellite; smartphone-only access is common in rural areas.
  • Broadband availability has improved with fixed wireless/5G, but adoption lags in lower-density areas and among seniors.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Population density ≈86–90 people per square mile across ~600 sq. mi.; Greenville is the primary population hub.
  • Rural dispersion contributes to uneven wired options; outer townships see more fixed wireless/satellite reliance.

Below is a county-level snapshot built from recent national/rural adoption benchmarks and Darke County’s known demographics and infrastructure profile. Figures are presented as reasoned ranges; local surveys or carrier/FCC datasets would refine them.

Baseline

• Population base: roughly 51–52k residents; about 40–41k adults (18+). Older-than-Ohio age profile, more rural, and slightly lower median household income than the state.

User estimates (adults)

• Any mobile phone: 90–95% → about 36k–39k adult users.
• Smartphones: 75–85% → about 30k–34k adult smartphone users.
• Basic/feature phones: 12–20% of adults (skews 65+) → roughly 5k–8k users.
• Mobile-only for home internet: smartphone-only reliance is likely a bit lower than Ohio’s urbanized average (estimate 12–16% of adults) because of the older age mix; however, fixed wireless access (FWA) via mobile carriers is higher than average as a home broadband substitute (see Infrastructure).

How Darke County differs from Ohio overall

• Age-driven gap: Lower smartphone penetration and app intensity than the state, mainly due to a larger 65+ share; higher retention of basic phones and some landlines.
• Plan mix: Higher share of prepaid/MVNO users and budget plans; longer device replacement cycles than statewide.
• Internet substitution: Less “smartphone-only” dependence than big-city Ohio, but higher take-up of Verizon/T-Mobile 4G/5G FWA for home internet where cable/fiber are limited.
• Network experience: More 4G fallback and lower mid-band 5G availability than metro Ohio; indoor coverage variability in farmhouses/outbuildings is more common.
• Use cases: Above-average agricultural and small-manufacturer IoT/telematics on LTE (equipment tracking, sensors), which lifts SIM counts but not necessarily smartphone ownership rates.

Demographic patterns

• Age
  • 18–34: ~95%+ smartphone adoption; streaming and social-led usage similar to state averages.
  • 35–64: high ownership (around 90–94%) but slightly lower 5G device penetration vs metro areas.
  • 65+: noticeably lower smartphone adoption (roughly 60–75%); more basic phones, larger SMS/voice share, and conservative data plans.
• Income/affordability
  • Greater sensitivity to plan price; above-average uptake of prepaid and discounted MVNOs.
  • The sunset of ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) has a bigger effect locally than in fiber-rich metros—some households downshift data plans or lean on FWA promos.
• Geography within the county
  • Towns (Greenville, Versailles, Arcanum): higher smartphone and 5G device penetration, more app-based services; better indoor coverage.
  • Rural townships and the Indiana border fringe: more basic phones, more 4G use, and heavier reliance on signal boosters/Wi‑Fi calling.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Cellular coverage
  • 4G LTE: broadly available outdoors countywide; indoor performance varies in low-density areas.
  • 5G: low-band 5G is common; mid-band/capacity 5G is concentrated in and around Greenville and a few town centers, with patchier reach across northern/western farm areas—behind Ohio’s major metros.
  • Carriers: All three nationals present; Verizon/AT&T historically stronger rural reach; T‑Mobile’s low-band improves geographic coverage but capacity can dip at the edges.
• Home broadband overlap
  • Cable and some fiber in town cores; many rural roads still on older DSL or wireless. Result: higher-than-average adoption of carrier FWA (Verizon/T‑Mobile) as primary home internet.
  • Public Wi‑Fi is limited outside civic buildings/schools; libraries remain important access points.
• Reliability
  • Flat terrain helps reach, but tower spacing creates pockets of weak indoor signal; metal-roof structures often require boosters.
  • Cross-border (Indiana) handoffs can cause brief service drops in fringe areas.

Usage behaviors

• Messaging/voice remain relatively prominent compared with app-heavy metro counties (reflecting older users).
• Video and social use is widespread among younger cohorts, but constrained by data caps for prepaid users.
• Work and agriculture show higher use of hotspotting and LTE IoT devices; small firms often rely on FWA for point-of-sale/cloud access.

What to watch

• Mid-band 5G/capacity upgrades at town sites should narrow the performance gap with Ohio metros.
• Continued fiber buildouts in select towns will temper FWA growth there but keep FWA rising in rural stretches.
• Affordability support changes (post-ACP) will influence prepaid share and data plan sizes more here than statewide averages.

Below is a concise, best-available estimate for Darke County, OH. County-level social data isn’t directly published; figures are inferred from U.S./Ohio benchmarks (Pew Research Center 2023–2024; U.S. Census/ACS) and adjusted for Darke’s older, rural profile.

Headline size and reach

• Population: ~52,000 residents.
• Estimated social media users: 31,000–36,000 residents (about 60–70% of all residents; roughly 70–80% of those age 13+).

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; estimated)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–72% (highest daily use; strong local groups/Marketplace)
• Instagram: 40–50%
• TikTok: 30–35%
• Snapchat: 25–30%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (skews female)
• LinkedIn: 25–30% (skews to college‑educated/commuters)
• X/Twitter: 20–23% (news/sports)
• WhatsApp: 18–22% (niche, family groups)
• Reddit: 18–22% (skews male/younger)
• Nextdoor: 8–12% (spotty in rural areas)

Age patterns (estimated usage and platform mix)

• Teens (13–17): 85–95% use at least one. Heavy on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; Instagram strong; Facebook minimal except for events/sports.
• 18–29: 90%+. YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok lead; Facebook still widely used for local info.
• 30–49: 80–85%. Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok/Snapchat present but secondary.
• 50–64: 70–75%. Facebook and YouTube primary; Pinterest notable (especially women); Instagram modest; TikTok emerging.
• 65+: 45–55%. Facebook first, then YouTube; limited Instagram/TikTok.

Gender tendencies (local pattern mirrors national)

• Women: More likely to use Facebook daily; strong on Pinterest and Instagram. Facebook Groups are a key channel for schools, churches, youth sports, and the county fair.
• Men: Higher presence on YouTube, Reddit, and X; Facebook still common for local buy/sell and community updates.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: Facebook Groups and Pages are the hub for school alerts, high‑school sports, church events, 4‑H, farm/FFA, and the Great Darke County Fair; local news is often consumed via Facebook shares.
• Marketplace and classifieds: High Facebook Marketplace activity; strong interest in vehicles, equipment, home goods.
• Video momentum: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) is rising for under‑45; how‑to/DIY, ag, and small‑engine content performs well on YouTube across ages.
• Private over public: Growth in private Groups, Messenger, Snapchat, and group chats for coordination and word‑of‑mouth.
• Timing/device: Mobile‑first use; engagement peaks evenings and weekends; weather and school-related posts spike engagement.
• Ad effectiveness: For broad local reach, Facebook/Instagram (geo‑targeted) outperform; YouTube for awareness; TikTok for under‑35; Snapchat for teens/college‑age.

Notes on methodology

• Percentages are extrapolated from recent Pew U.S. adult platform usage and adjusted for Darke County’s older, rural demographic mix; they should be treated as directional, not census counts.