Lawrence County

Lawrence County, Ohio — key demographics

Population size

• 57,100 (2023 Census estimate)
• 58,240 (2020 Census)
• Change since 2020: −1.9%

Age

• Median age: ~41.5 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~50.7%
• Male: ~49.3%

Race and ethnicity (share of total population)

• White (alone): ~92.7%
• Black or African American (alone): ~2.6%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (alone): ~0.3%
• Asian (alone): ~0.4%
• Two or more races: ~3.9%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1.3%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~91.8%

Households and housing

• Households: ~22,900 (ACS 2018–2022)
• Persons per household: ~2.50
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~73%
• Average family size: ~3.0
• Married-couple households: ~48–49% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~28%

Notes: Figures combine 2020 Census, 2023 population estimates, and 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

• Scope: Lawrence County, Ohio (pop. ~58,000; density ~128 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ~42,300 adults. Basis: adult population ~45,500 with ~93% using email.
• Age distribution of email users (approx. counts, share of adult users):
  • 18–34: ~10,800 (26%)
  • 35–54: ~14,400 (34%)
  • 55–64: ~7,500 (18%)
  • 65+: ~9,600 (23%)
• Gender split: mirrors county demographics and near‑parity usage—female 51% (21,600 users), male 49% (20,700 users).
• Digital access and devices (households):
  • With a computer: ~90%
  • With any internet subscription: ~82%
  • With fixed broadband (cable/DSL/fiber): ~70%
  • Smartphone‑only internet: ~12%
  • No home internet: ~18%
• Trends and connectivity insights:
  • Email is near‑universal among working‑age adults; adoption among 65+ is high but lags younger cohorts.
  • Smartphone‑only access is a meaningful slice, shaping mobile‑first email behavior.
  • Connectivity is strongest along the U.S.‑52/Ohio River corridor (Ironton–South Point–Chesapeake); interior rural areas show higher rates of no‑subscription households, influencing email access frequency and reliability.

Mobile phone usage in Lawrence County, Ohio — summary with county-specific estimates and how they differ from statewide patterns

Headline user estimates (2024, modeled from ACS demographics, Pew usage by subgroup, and FCC availability)

• Population and households: about 57,000 residents in ~22,500 households; roughly 44,500 adults (18+) and ~3,400 teens (13–17).
• Any mobile phone users (adults + teens): approximately 47,000 users (about 88–90% of the total population, including children).
• Smartphone users: approximately 42,000 users (about 84–86% of adults and teens; 73–75% of total residents).
• Wireless-only voice households (no landline): about 73% of households (~16,000–17,000), slightly above the Ohio average.
• Smartphone-only/home cellular–reliant internet: about 21% of adults; roughly 10–12% of households rely primarily on smartphones or cellular hotspots for home internet.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age:
  • Seniors (65+) form a larger share than the Ohio average; smartphone adoption among seniors is materially lower than the state rate. Estimated senior smartphone ownership in-county is in the 60–65% range, versus ~70%+ statewide.
  • Teens (13–17) have near-universal smartphone access (~95%), consistent with statewide trends.
• Income and education:
  • With lower median household income and lower bachelor’s-degree attainment than Ohio overall, prepaid plan usage and budget devices are more common. Estimated prepaid share of lines is in the mid-to-high 30s locally versus around 30% statewide.
  • A higher share of residents relies on mobile data for primary home connectivity, reflecting patchier fixed broadband inland from the river corridor.
• Urban/rural split:
  • Ironton, South Point, and Proctorville/Rome Township corridor sees higher 5G availability and faster median speeds.
  • Interior hilly townships have more coverage gaps and slower speeds; users there show higher voice/SMS reliance and more conservative data use.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 5G availability:
  • Low-band 5G from all three national carriers reaches most populated areas along US-52; estimated population coverage ~70% locally versus high-90s statewide.
  • Mid-band 5G (T-Mobile n41, Verizon/AT&T C-band) is concentrated around Ironton–South Point and along the Ohio River, covering roughly 35% of residents, well below statewide coverage.
• LTE baseline:
  • 4G LTE covers nearly all populated areas, but inland valleys experience dead zones and indoor-reception challenges. Reliable indoor service is notably better near the river and the WV/KY border communities.
• Capacity and speeds:
  • Typical download speeds are 30–60 Mbps in the river corridor; 5–15 Mbps and higher variability inland. Statewide medians are substantially higher (often 100+ Mbps in metro areas).
  • 5G-capable handset penetration is estimated around 70% of smartphone users locally versus ~80–85% statewide, contributing to lower realized 5G usage.
• Towering and backhaul:
  • Approximately 40 macro cell sites countywide (about 0.07–0.1 sites per square mile; ~7 per 10,000 residents), with a handful of small cells near commercial corridors. Density is below urban Ohio norms.
  • Fiber backhaul is strongest along US-52 with cross-river interconnects to Huntington/Ashland; interior sectors rely more on microwave or longer fiber laterals, constraining mid-band 5G build-out.

Market behavior and traffic

• Plan mix and affordability:
  • Higher prepaid and MVNO usage (Cricket, Metro, Straight Talk) than Ohio overall; postpaid family-plan dominance is weaker than in metro counties.
  • Device upgrade cycles run longer; a larger share of LTE-only and budget 5G devices persists.
• Data consumption:
  • Average monthly smartphone data use is estimated around 18–22 GB per line, a step below Ohio’s metro-driven average (roughly mid-20s GB), reflecting both network capacity and plan mix.
• Cross-border dynamics:
  • Network performance benefits from proximity to the Huntington–Ashland metro area; tri-state tower footprints help along the river. Inland users are more sensitive to carrier selection based on specific township coverage.

How Lawrence County differs from Ohio overall

• Lower overall 5G population coverage (especially mid-band) and lower median speeds, with more pronounced rural dead zones.
• Higher reliance on mobile service for home connectivity (smartphone-only and hotspot use), and higher wireless-only voice households.
• Greater prepaid share and longer device replacement cycles, linked to income and rurality.
• Larger senior share with lower smartphone adoption, depressing overall smartphone penetration versus the state.
• Tower density and fiber backhaul are adequate along US-52 but comparatively sparse inland, slowing mid-band 5G expansion relative to Ohio’s metros.

Interpretation

• Mobile connectivity in Lawrence County is robust along the river corridor but remains constrained by terrain and infrastructure inland. The county’s older, lower-income, and more rural profile leads to higher mobile reliance for basic connectivity, a heavier prepaid footprint, and slower migration to mid-band 5G than the Ohio average. Continued investment in mid-band 5G, fiber backhaul to inland sites, and targeted coverage in valleys would close the performance and adoption gap with the rest of the state.

Lawrence County, Ohio social media snapshot (2025)

Headline user stats

• Population: ~57,000 residents
• Residents age 13+: ~49,500
• Active social media users: ~36,600 (about 74% of residents 13+; ~64% of total population)

Age mix of social media users

• 13–17: 13% (4,800 users)
• 18–29: 20% (7,200)
• 30–49: 30% (11,000)
• 50–64: 24% (8,800)
• 65+: 13% (4,900)

Gender breakdown of social media users

• Female: 51% (18,700)
• Male: 49% (17,900)

Most-used platforms among local social media users (Note: users overlap across platforms)

• YouTube: 85% (31,100 users)
• Facebook: 72% (26,400)
• Instagram: 42% (15,400)
• TikTok: 36% (13,200)
• Snapchat: 32% (11,700)
• Pinterest: 30% (11,000; skew female)
• X (Twitter): 18% (6,600)
• LinkedIn: 16% (5,900)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: local groups (yard sales, school sports, churches, county updates) drive daily logins and shares.
• Video-first consumption: short vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) outperforms static posts; local events, sports highlights, DIY, auto/repair, hunting/fishing are high‑interest topics.
• Messaging-centric: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary channels for inquiries and peer communication; many small businesses receive more DMs than comments.
• Timing: engagement peaks on mobile in the evenings (7–9 p.m.) and weekend mornings.
• Rural commerce: Facebook Marketplace and buy/sell/trade groups are heavily used for deals, jobs, and service referrals; “what’s happening this weekend” posts and boosted events perform well.
• Younger residents (13–24): Snapchat and TikTok for daily creation and chat; Instagram for Stories/DMs; they still monitor Facebook for team/club announcements.
• Older residents (50+): Facebook for groups and news; YouTube for long‑form (church services, civic meetings) and how‑to content.
• Trust dynamics: posts from known local figures, schools, churches, first responders, and established community groups earn higher engagement and influence than generic brand content.
• Advertising takeaways: hyperlocal FB/IG geo-targeting, clear offers, and short video drive the best results; reviews and word‑of‑mouth in groups strongly impact conversions.

Data notes: Figures are 2025 estimates derived by applying Pew Research Center 2023–2024 U.S. social platform adoption rates by age to the latest U.S. Census Bureau population/age mix for Lawrence County; counts are rounded.