Adams County

Here are the latest high-level demographics for Adams County, Pennsylvania (U.S. Census Bureau; 2020 Census and 2019–2023 American Community Survey estimates):

• Population

  • Total: ~105,000 (2023 estimate); 103,852 (2020 Census)

• Age

  • Under 18: ~21%
  • 65 and over: ~21–22%
  • Median age: ~45 years

• Gender

  • Female: ~50–51%
  • Male: ~49–50%

• Race/Ethnicity (percent of total population)

  • White, non-Hispanic: ~83–85%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~9–10%
  • Black or African American: ~1–2%
  • Asian: ~1%
  • Two or more races: ~3–4%
  • Other (including AIAN, NHPI): <1%

• Households

  • Number of households: ~40,000
  • Average household size: ~2.5–2.6 persons

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey (1-year/5-year) and QuickFacts. For program or grant use, consult the exact ACS table for your required year.

Adams County, PA email usage (estimates)

• Population and users: ~105,000 residents; ~82–85k adults. Given U.S. adoption patterns, ~75–82k adults use email regularly (≈90–95%), with additional uptake among teens.
• Age distribution of email use: 18–29: ~97–99%; 30–49: ~95–98%; 50–64: ~88–92%; 65+: ~75–85%. Older adults are the main gap but continue to gain.
• Gender split: Essentially even; men and women use email at comparable rates (difference typically <2–3 percentage points).
• Digital access trends: ~80–85% of households subscribe to broadband; ~15–20% are smartphone‑only for home internet. Rural last‑mile gaps persist; public/library Wi‑Fi and school networks help bridge access. Mobile 4G/5G covers most populated areas; coverage can weaken in low‑density or hilly pockets.
• Local density/connectivity facts: Predominantly rural, ~200 people per square mile on average, with denser connectivity in and around Gettysburg and along major travel corridors. Fixed internet is chiefly cable/DSL, with expanding fiber and fixed‑wireless options.

Notes: Figures are approximations applying national/ACS/Pew patterns to local population; actual rates vary by township and terrain.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Adams County, Pennsylvania (with contrasts to statewide trends)

Headline user estimates (modeled from national/state data applied to local demographics)

• Residents with any mobile phone: roughly 85–90% of the county’s ~105,000 residents → about 89,000–95,000 people.
• Smartphone users: about 80–85% of adults plus most teens → approximately 72,000–80,000 people.
• Smartphone-only internet users (no fixed home broadband): estimated 18–24% of adults → around 15,000–20,000 people. Notes on method: These ranges use recent Pew/NTIA adoption rates, adjusted downward for rural/older-population effects and upward for higher smartphone-only reliance, then applied to Adams County’s size and age structure. They are planning estimates, not measured counts.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: The county skews older than the Pennsylvania average, which tends to reduce overall smartphone adoption (especially 65+) and increase basic/voice-first usage. Younger working families and teens still exhibit very high smartphone penetration, narrowing the gap in schools and along commuter corridors.
• Income and education: A larger rural, moderate-income share than the state average correlates with:
  • Higher prepaid/MVNO usage and price-sensitive switching.
  • Greater reliance on smartphones as primary internet (hotspotting vs paying for fixed broadband).
• Race/ethnicity and language: A predominantly White non-Hispanic population with growing Hispanic communities in and around towns suggests pockets of family-plan adoption, WhatsApp/OTT calling, and cross-border (MD) work-related usage; overall impact is smaller than age/rural effects.
• Commuting and tourism: Daily commuting to York/Harrisburg and into Maryland, plus seasonal tourism in Gettysburg, produce time-and-place peaks in mobile data and voice demand that are more pronounced than the statewide norm.

Digital infrastructure points (what’s typical locally)

• Coverage pattern: Macro LTE/low-band 5G generally follows US-15, US-30, PA-94, and town centers (Gettysburg, Littlestown, New Oxford), with weaker signal and capacity in sparsely populated northern/western areas and along forested or hilly terrain. Indoor coverage can be challenging in older stone/brick buildings common in the county.
• 5G availability: Predominantly low-band 5G for coverage; mid-band 5G capacity is likeliest in/near towns and along primary corridors. Overall 5G capacity density is lower than in Pennsylvania’s metros.
• Carrier dynamics: Verizon and AT&T historically strong in rural PA; T-Mobile coverage and mid-band capacity have improved on main routes but may be spottier indoors or off-corridor. Along the Maryland border, users often attach to MD-based sites, which can improve coverage near the state line.
• Network performance: Average download speeds tend to trail the statewide average (fewer sites per square mile, more low-band usage). Peak-time slowdowns are noticeable during major Gettysburg events or tourist surges; carriers may add temporary capacity during large events.
• Emergency and public safety: First responder networks (e.g., AT&T’s FirstNet) and county 911 rely on overlapping macro coverage; backhaul or terrain constraints can still create pockets where LMR/public-safety radio remains primary.
• Alternative access: Limited fiber and uneven cable/DSL in outlying areas push some households toward smartphone-only service and fixed wireless (4G/5G home internet), making mobile networks a substitute for home broadband more often than in urban Pennsylvania.

How Adams County differs from Pennsylvania overall

• Slightly lower smartphone adoption rate overall, driven by an older, more rural population mix.
• Meaningfully higher share of smartphone-only internet households than the statewide average.
• Greater prepaid/MVNO penetration and price sensitivity.
• Lower average 5G capacity and lower median mobile speeds than metro counties; coverage gaps more influenced by terrain.
• More pronounced seasonal and event-driven traffic spikes (tourism) and cross-border effects (Maryland-adjacent coverage and commuting).

Below is a concise, county-tailored snapshot built from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. social media benchmarks and ACS demographics, adjusted for Adams County’s older/rural profile and Gettysburg’s college presence. Figures are estimates and presented as ranges to reflect local variance.

Headline user stats

• Population baseline: ~105,000 residents; ~82,000 adults (18+).
• Adults using at least one social platform: ~64,000–72,000 (≈78–88% of adults).
• Smartphone access (enabler): ~82–88% of adults; home broadband ~80–85% of households (rural gaps persist).

Most‑used platforms (adult penetration, estimated)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 65–75%
• Instagram: 30–45%
• TikTok: 25–35% (60–70% among 18–29)
• Snapchat: 20–30% (50–65% among 18–24)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (female‑skewed)
• LinkedIn: 15–25% (higher among commuters/professionals)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• Reddit: 10–15% (male‑skewed, younger)
• Nextdoor: 8–15% of households (borough/suburban pockets)

Age patterns (localized)

• 13–17: Near‑universal Snapchat/Instagram; TikTok dominant for entertainment; minimal Facebook.
• 18–24 (Gettysburg College effect): Heavy Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram; YouTube near‑universal; Facebook used mainly for groups/events.
• 25–44: YouTube dominant; Facebook for groups/Marketplace; Instagram common; TikTok growing for short‑form discovery.
• 45–64: Facebook is primary; YouTube strong (how‑to, news); Pinterest notable; Instagram moderate; TikTok limited but rising.
• 65+: Facebook first, YouTube second; light Instagram; minimal TikTok/Snapchat.

Gender breakdown (tendencies)

• Women: Higher Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; strong Marketplace and local group activity.
• Men: Higher YouTube, Reddit, X; more tech/DIY and sports content.
• Overall gender split of users roughly mirrors population (~51% female), with slightly higher multi‑platform use among women due to Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest overlap.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community first: Facebook Groups drive school updates, township notices, events, and storm/traffic alerts; Marketplace is a top local commerce channel.
• Tourism storytelling: Gettysburg tourism, history, and outdoor recreation perform well on Instagram and YouTube; TikTok is used for short on‑site reels (battlefield, food, tours).
• College‑driven virality: 18–24 cohort boosts TikTok/Snapchat usage spikes around campus life, dining, and nightlife.
• News and information: Many 40+ residents rely on Facebook for local news; YouTube used for long‑form explainers and meeting streams; verify sources to counter misinformation in closed groups.
• Hyperlocal reach: Nextdoor effective in denser neighborhoods/boroughs; volunteer fire/EMS pages have strong engagement during incidents.
• Language/community niches: Spanish‑language Facebook pages/groups help connect Latino residents (notably in ag/food‑processing workforce).
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings and weekends; weather events and school closings drive sharp surges.

Notes and confidence

• These are modeled estimates (±5–10 points) using national/state patterns adjusted for Adams County’s older, semi‑rural makeup and college presence. For campaign planning, validate with a short local survey or platform insights from target zip codes.