Forest County

Forest County, Pennsylvania — key demographics (U.S. Census/ACS)

• Population size:

  • 2020 Census: ≈7,000
  • 2023 estimate: ≈6,900

• Age:

  • Under 18: ≈16%
  • 65 and over: ≈23%
  • Median age: low-to-mid 40s

• Gender:

  • Male: ≈68–70%
  • Female: ≈30–32%
  • Note: A large state prison population (SCI Forest) substantially skews the sex ratio toward males.

• Race/ethnicity (ACS, rounded):

  • White (non-Hispanic): ≈68–70%
  • Black/African American: ≈22–24%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ≈2–3%
  • Two or more races: ≈3%
  • Other groups (AIAN, Asian, NHPI): each <1%

• Households (ACS, civilian/household population only):

  • Total households: ≈2,100–2,300
  • Average household size: ≈2.2
  • Family households: ≈60%
  • Nonfamily households: ≈40%

Primary sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Census QuickFacts for Forest County, PA.

Email usage in Forest County, PA (estimate)

• Population context: 6.5–7.0k residents with very low density (15–17 people/sq. mile). A large state prison (SCI Forest, ~2k+ inmates) skews the overall population male; most inmates lack standard email access.
• Estimated active email users: ~3,700–3,900 among civilian residents.
• Age distribution of users (rounded, based on rural adoption patterns from Pew):
  • 13–17: ~300–350 users (high smartphone-led use)
  • 18–34: ~800–900 users
  • 35–54: ~1,200–1,300 users
  • 55–64: ~550–600 users
  • 65+: ~750–800 users
• Gender split: Among civilian users, roughly balanced (≈50/50). Overall county population is male-heavy due to incarceration, but that has limited effect on the active email user base.
• Digital access trends:
  • Fixed broadband subscription likely in the ~60–70% of households range, below PA’s average; mobile-only internet ~10–15%.
  • Coverage is strongest in and around Tionesta and Marienville and along main corridors; gaps persist in forested, hilly areas and remote hollows.
  • Heavy public land (Allegheny National Forest and state lands) and sparse settlement make fiber builds and cell tower placement challenging; libraries and schools serve as key connectivity anchors.
  • Adoption is highest among working-age adults; seniors use email less but steadily rising.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Forest County, Pennsylvania

Context

• Forest County is Pennsylvania’s least-populated county and highly rural. A large, state-run correctional facility in Marienville means an unusually high share of residents are incarcerated, which skews standard population and demographic statistics even though incarcerated people aren’t typical mobile users.
• Terrain (dense forest, river valleys) and sparse settlement create coverage gaps and slower rollout of new network technologies compared with Pennsylvania’s metros.

User estimates (rounded, resident, non‑institutional population)

• Total mobile phone users (any mobile): roughly 4,400–4,800 people.
• Smartphone users: roughly 3,500–4,100 people.
• Notes on method:
  • County population is about 7,000, but 2,000–2,400 are incarcerated and generally don’t use personal mobile phones; estimates focus on the ~4,600–5,000 non‑institutional residents.
  • Smartphone adoption among non‑institutional residents is lower than the PA average because of older age mix and income/coverage constraints.

Demographic breakdown of mobile use (non‑institutional residents)

• Age:
  • Teens (12–17): high smartphone penetration (≈85–95%), but a small base.
  • Working-age adults (18–64): smartphone use ≈80–90%, slightly below statewide due to coverage/device-cost constraints and outdoor/seasonal work patterns.
  • Older adults (65+): smartphone use ≈60–75%, below state averages; more flip/feature phones persist for reliability and cost.
• Income/plan type:
  • Prepaid and budget MVNO plans are more common than statewide, reflecting lower population density, fewer carrier stores, and price sensitivity.
  • Hotspot data plans see outsized use for home connectivity versus PA overall.
• Seasonal/visitor effects:
  • Summer weekends and hunting season bring noticeable spikes in mobile traffic (cabins, campgrounds, Allegheny National Forest recreation), unlike the steadier demand pattern in most of PA.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Radio access:
  • Verizon generally offers the broadest coverage; AT&T is competitive on major corridors and for public-safety priorities; T‑Mobile is improving but remains spotty away from towns and highways.
  • 4G LTE remains the primary layer countywide. Low‑band 5G exists along key routes and in/near towns (Tionesta, Marienville), but mid‑band 5G coverage is limited; mmWave is effectively absent.
  • Coverage gaps persist in interior forested areas and river/valley bottoms; service can drop to weak LTE or no signal off-corridor.
• Capacity/performance:
  • Typical LTE speeds range from low double‑digits to ~50 Mbps; low‑band 5G can reach higher bursts but is inconsistent. Upload performance is often constrained, affecting video calls.
  • Backhaul is a mix of fiber and microwave; limited fiber reach contributes to variable site capacity relative to Pennsylvania’s urban areas.
• Sites and density:
  • Few macro towers, concentrated along US‑62 and PA‑36/66 and near communities; small cells are rare outside civic anchors.
• Anchors and public access:
  • Schools, county facilities, and libraries serve as key fiber-fed anchors and Wi‑Fi access points; public Wi‑Fi is limited outside these sites.
• Home internet interplay:
  • Fixed fiber/cable availability is sparse outside town centers; many households rely on fixed wireless, mobile hotspots, or satellite—driving higher mobile data dependence than the PA average.

How Forest County differs from Pennsylvania overall

• Adoption and device mix:
  • Lower smartphone adoption, especially among residents 65+, and a higher share of flip/feature phones than the state average.
  • Higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and on mobile hotspots for primary internet.
• Network availability:
  • Slower and patchier 5G rollout; LTE remains dominant. Fewer sites per square mile create more dead zones than typical in PA.
• Demographic distortion:
  • A large incarcerated population inflates headline population but does not translate into typical mobile usage—unique within Pennsylvania and important when interpreting metrics.
• Seasonal volatility:
  • Usage swings tied to tourism and outdoor seasons are more pronounced than statewide.
• Retail and support:
  • Fewer carrier retail locations mean more online activation/SIM purchases and less in-person support compared with most PA counties.

Implications for planning and service

• Carriers: prioritize mid‑band 5G along travel corridors and town centers; expand fiber backhaul to lift uplink/capacity; add fill‑in sites for valley floors and interior forest gaps.
• Public sector: continue leveraging anchor-institution fiber and grant programs to expand last‑mile options; support digital literacy for older adults.
• Users: Verizon or AT&T typically offer the most reliable countywide coverage; enable Wi‑Fi calling at home; consider external antennas/hotspots for cabins and fringe areas.

Notes

• Figures are estimates derived from recent population counts, known incarceration levels, rural adoption patterns, and typical carrier footprints in northwestern PA. For decisions that require precision (e.g., tower siting, grant applications), validate with current carrier coverage maps, local 911/EMS radio data, and the latest Census/American Community Survey tables adjusted to exclude institutionalized populations.

Note: Exact, platform-by-platform data is not published at the county level. The figures below are best-available estimates for Forest County based on U.S. Census/ACS demographics for rural PA and Pew Research (2023–2024) platform usage, adjusted for the county’s older, rural profile and its sizable institutionalized population.

Population context

• Residents: ≈7–8K. A significant share is institutionalized (state correctional), who generally aren’t active social media users.
• Practical online audience (noninstitutional, 13+): ≈4.5–5.5K people.

User stats (estimated)

• Active social media users (13+): ≈3,200–3,800 (about 65–75% of the noninstitutional 13+ population).
• Internet/broadband context: 70–85% of households have broadband; 15–25% are mobile-only, which shapes usage toward lighter, mobile-first behavior.

Age mix of users (share of active users)

• 13–17: 7–10%
• 18–29: 15–20%
• 30–49: 30–35% (largest active cohort)
• 50–64: 25–30%
• 65+: 15–20%

Gender breakdown (users)

• Roughly balanced overall: ~50–55% women, ~45–50% men.
• Platform skews mirror national patterns: women over-index on Facebook/Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube/Reddit.

Most-used platforms locally (estimated share of active users, monthly)

• Facebook: 60–70% — dominant for local news, school updates, community and buy/sell/trade groups.
• YouTube: 65–75% — how-to, outdoors, gear reviews; heavy consumption, lighter posting.
• Instagram: 25–35% — used by younger adults and local businesses; Reels growing via cross-posts from FB/TikTok.
• TikTok: 20–30% — strong in teens/20s; creation constrained by bandwidth for some.
• Snapchat: 20–30% — daily messaging among teens/young adults.
• Pinterest: 20–30% — recipes, crafts, home/camp projects; largely female.
• WhatsApp: 10–20% — family/church/community chat threads; some seasonal/second-home owners.
• X (Twitter): 10–15% — niche (sports, state news).
• Reddit/LinkedIn/Nextdoor: 5–15% each — Reddit for hobbies/outdoors; LinkedIn modest; Nextdoor coverage spotty in rural areas.

Behavioral trends

• Facebook Groups are the hub: county emergency management, fire/EMS, school district, “yard sale/buy-sell-trade,” hunting/fishing/outdoors, road conditions, lost & found.
• Local info reliance: County/municipal pages and nearby news outlets on Facebook drive most “news” reach; X is secondary.
• Outdoor/seasonal content spikes: Deer season, trout opener, foliage, ATV/snowmobile posts. Tourism and camp owners boost weekend and seasonal engagement.
• Messaging-first habits: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat groups see more daily activity than public posting.
• Video consumption > creation: YouTube and short-form Reels/TikTok are widely watched; creation is limited by bandwidth and device constraints.
• Mobile-first usage: Many users are on limited or mobile-only connections, favoring short video, photos, and text over live streams or long uploads.
• Peak engagement windows: Evenings (7–10 pm) and weekend mornings; midday spikes during weather/school alerts.
• Local commerce: Small businesses lean on Facebook Pages, Marketplace, and community groups; boosted FB posts with tight geo-radius outperform other ad channels.

How to use this

• For broad local reach: Facebook and YouTube.
• For under-35s: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat.
• For female-skewed interests (home/crafts/recipes): Pinterest and Facebook Groups.
• Lean into groups, short mobile-friendly video, and timely, seasonal content.