Blair County

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• Total population
• Median age and basic age cohorts
• Gender split
• Race/ethnicity (Hispanic treated as an ethnicity)
• Household count, average household size, family vs. nonfamily share

Email usage in Blair County, PA (estimates)

• Context: ~122,000 residents across ~526 sq mi (≈230 people/sq mi). Population is concentrated in/around Altoona; rural townships are sparser and face more coverage gaps.

• Estimated email users (adults 18+): ~80,000. Method: apply national internet and email adoption benchmarks to Blair’s adult population.

• Age mix of adult email users: • 18–34: ~27% • 35–64: ~52% • 65+: ~21% Adoption is near‑universal for 18–64; lower but substantial among 65+.

• Gender split: roughly even (~50% female, ~50% male), tracking county demographics; minor skew reflects an older female population.

• Digital access trends: • Most households report a computer and a broadband subscription (mid‑80s percent range). • Smartphone access is widespread; fiber and 5G have been expanding in the Altoona area. • Remaining gaps are concentrated in rural valleys/ridgelines; libraries and schools serve as key public Wi‑Fi hubs.

Notes: Figures are approximate, built from county demographics plus Pew/Census tech‑adoption rates. Actual email use varies by factors like education, income, and neighborhood connectivity.

Blair County, PA mobile phone landscape (2024–2025 snapshot)

Quick user estimates

• Population base: ~121,000 residents.
• Adult smartphone users: ~83,000–86,000 (assumes ~80% adults and 86–89% adult smartphone ownership; slightly below statewide rates).
• Teen smartphone users (13–17): ~6,500–7,000 (high access, ~95%).
• Total smartphone users: roughly 90,000–94,000 countywide.
• Mobile-only home internet households: estimated 20–25% in Blair vs ~16–19% statewide, reflecting gaps in wired broadband and the end of ACP subsidies.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age:
  • Seniors 65+: Larger share than state average. Smartphone adoption among seniors estimated ~70–75% in Blair vs ~78–82% statewide. Seniors more likely to use basic phones or simplified smartphones and to keep voice/SMS plans.
  • Ages 18–34: Near-universal smartphone ownership; heavier app/data use centered in Altoona/Hollidaysburg.
• Income and education:
  • Median household income trails the PA median. Lower-income and lower-education households show higher reliance on smartphones as primary internet and greater use of prepaid plans.
  • Prepaid share estimated ~30–35% in Blair vs ~22–26% statewide (budget plans, MVNOs popular).
• Urban vs rural within the county:
  • Altoona/Hollidaysburg/Duncansville: usage patterns resemble statewide urban areas (multiple lines per user, streaming/video, gig-economy apps).
  • Outlying townships and valleys: more voice/SMS reliance, higher mobile-only internet use due to patchy wired options; data offloading to public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, Penn State Altoona) is common.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and terrain:
  • Strongest continuous LTE/5G coverage along I‑99/US‑220/US‑22 and in Altoona/Hollidaysburg.
  • Ridge-and-valley topography (Allegheny Front and adjacent valleys) creates dead zones and fluctuating signal in parts of Catharine, Frankstown, Freedom, Greenfield, and adjacent rural areas; in-building coverage can be inconsistent away from highways.
• 5G:
  • Low-band 5G from all three national carriers is broadly present.
  • Mid-band 5G (Verizon C‑band, AT&T mid-band, T‑Mobile 2.5 GHz) is concentrated in the Altoona corridor; coverage thins quickly in rural townships. This yields lower median speeds and capacity than statewide urban averages.
• Carriers:
  • Verizon and AT&T generally strongest for wide-area coverage; T‑Mobile competitive in and near Altoona but with more rural gaps.
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage along highways and population centers is solid; off-highway reliability varies.
• Backhaul and fiber:
  • Fiber backbones follow I‑99 and rail/utility corridors through Altoona, supporting macro sites and some small cells downtown and near campuses.
  • Outside the core, many sites still rely on longer microwave hops or limited backhaul, constraining 5G capacity.
• Home broadband context (drives mobile reliance):
  • Cable internet (e.g., Xfinity) covers most of Altoona/Hollidaysburg; fiber-to-the-home is limited outside pockets.
  • Fixed wireless (Verizon/T‑Mobile 5G Home) available in parts of the metro area and some fringes; variable performance in valleys.
  • Regional WISPs serve ridgelines/valleys but with line-of-sight constraints.
  • BEAD- and state-funded projects are targeting fiber buildouts in underserved areas; until these complete, mobile-only use remains elevated.

How Blair County differs from Pennsylvania overall

• Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration driven by an older age mix and rural coverage gaps.
• Higher dependence on mobile-only internet as a substitute for limited or unaffordable wired service.
• Greater prepaid/MVNO usage share due to income mix and plan pricing sensitivity.
• Mid-band 5G deployment and average mobile speeds lag state urban centers; more pronounced dead zones due to terrain.
• Larger urban–rural divide within the county: Altoona tracks state averages; outer townships underperform on coverage and speed.
• Public and institutional Wi‑Fi plays a bigger role in daily connectivity for students and lower-income residents.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• Estimates synthesize 2023–2024 ACS population structure, Pew Research smartphone adoption benchmarks, FCC/National Broadband Map coverage patterns, and known carrier deployment timelines in central PA. Use ranges where county-specific measurements are unavailable.

Blair County, PA social media snapshot (2025, estimates)

How this was built

• Baseline population: ~122,000 residents (ACS 2023). Adults 18+: ~95,000–97,000.
• Percentages are primarily from recent Pew Research Center U.S. surveys (2023–2024). County figures are estimated by applying national rates to Blair’s population and adjusting qualitatively for Blair’s older-than-average age profile.

User stats

• Residents using any social media: ~78,000–90,000 (≈64–74% of total population).
• Adults using any social media: ~69,000–79,000 (≈72–82% of 18+). Teens (13–17) add ~5,000–7,000 highly active users.

Age groups (usage and platform lean)

• Teens (13–17): Very high usage; YouTube near-universal; majority on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
• 18–29: 85–95% use social; heavy on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok; Snapchat for messaging.
• 30–49: 80–90%; Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram strong.
• 50–64: ~70–80%; Facebook and YouTube lead; Pinterest moderate.
• 65+: ~45–55%; Facebook first, YouTube second; lighter on newer platforms.

Gender breakdown (expected)

• County population is roughly 51% female, 49% male; the active social audience likely skews slightly female overall (≈52–55% women), driven by Facebook and Pinterest usage. Men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X (Twitter). Platform-specific skews vary.

Most-used platforms (adult reach; national % applied locally)

• YouTube: about 80% of U.S. adults use it. Local reach estimate: ~75,000–78,000 adults.
• Facebook: about 65–70% of adults. Local: ~62,000–68,000. Often the top channel for local groups, events, and news.
• Instagram: about 45–50% of adults. Local: ~43,000–48,000, strongest under 40.
• TikTok: about 30–35% of adults (higher among <35). Local: ~29,000–34,000.
• Snapchat: about 25–30% of adults (teen/20s-heavy). Local: ~24,000–29,000.
• Pinterest, LinkedIn: each about 28–32% of adults, with Pinterest skewing female 25–54 and LinkedIn concentrated among professionals.
• X (Twitter), Reddit, WhatsApp: roughly 20–25% each among adults; smaller but influential niches (news/sports on X; hobby/tech on Reddit; WhatsApp for specific communities). Note: Many residents use multiple platforms; counts overlap.

Behavioral trends to expect locally

• Facebook Groups/Marketplace anchor community life: school and youth sports, town events, yard sales, local business promos, lost & found, storm/road updates.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for how-to, local news clips, church/organization streams; short-form (Reels/TikTok) growing for discovery and SMB reach.
• Local news and sports drive spikes: weather alerts, school closings, high school and PSU/Steelers content; posts tied to live events outperform.
• Messaging is core: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary communication tools; many “conversations” happen off the public feed.
• Time patterns: mobile-heavy, with evening and weekend peaks; quick daytime checks; older adults show steadier Facebook use throughout the day.
• Purchase/response behavior: Facebook/Instagram posts with clear local value (deals, openings, fundraisers) convert best; Marketplace is a key commerce touchpoint.
• Platform roles:
  • Facebook: best for broad local reach, groups, and community trust.
  • Instagram: visual storytelling and Reels for 18–39.
  • TikTok: fastest organic reach to under-35; authentic, place-based content works.
  • YouTube: durable searchable content and CTV viewing.
  • Pinterest: home, recipes, DIY; strong among women 25–54.
  • X/Reddit: smaller audiences but outsized influence for news/sports and niche interests.

Notes and sources

• Sources: Pew Research Center (Social Media Use, 2023–2024), U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023 population/age), DataReportal (U.S. social media penetration). County figures are estimates; for precise local counts, supplement with platform ad tools (Meta, Snap, TikTok, Google/YouTube) and local media analytics.