Allendale County

Here are the key demographics for Allendale County, South Carolina. Figures are the most recent available from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates). Values rounded for clarity.

Population size

• 2020 Census count: 8,039
• 2023 population estimate: ~7,900

Age

• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~19%
• Median age: ~39 years

Gender

• Male: ~54%
• Female: ~46% (Note: Elevated male share reflects the local correctional population.)

Racial/ethnic composition

• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~72%
• White (non-Hispanic): ~24%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3%
• Other/Two or more races: ~1–2%

Households and housing

• Households: ~3,000
• Persons per household: ~2.5
• Owner-occupied housing: ~66%
• Renter-occupied housing: ~34%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (July 1, 2023).

Allendale County, SC snapshot (estimates)

• Population/context: 8–9K residents, very rural (20 people per sq. mile). Connectivity is stronger in town centers; options thin out on back roads.
• Estimated email users: ~5,500–6,000 residents use email. Basis: ~6–6.5K adults (18+) and national email adoption of ~85–92% among adults (Pew), plus some teen users.
• Age distribution of email users (approx.):
  • 18–29: 18–22%
  • 30–49: 34–38%
  • 50–64: 24–28%
  • 65+: 14–18% Skews toward 30–64 due to both population mix and higher adoption than 65+.
• Gender split among users: roughly mirrors county population, about 54% female, 46% male.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home internet: roughly 60–65% of households have a broadband subscription; about 1 in 5 have no home internet.
  • Device mix: an estimated 15–25% rely on smartphone-only internet access.
  • Ongoing improvements from state/federal broadband grants and provider buildouts, but affordability and last‑mile access remain constraints.

Notes: Counts and splits are derived from ACS-style population totals and U.S. email adoption research; local figures rounded to reflect rural variability.

Mobile phone usage in Allendale County, South Carolina — 2025 snapshot (estimates)

Context

• Population: roughly 7,800–8,200 residents; ~3,000 households; ~6,000 adults.
• Rural, low-income county with a majority Black population and limited fixed broadband options compared with the state overall.

User estimates

• Mobile phone users (any mobile): ~7,000–7,500 residents.
• Smartphone users: ~5,200–6,000 people.
• Households that rely on mobile as their primary or only internet: ~800–1,050 (about 25–35% of households), notably higher than statewide.
• Plan mix: prepaid and MVNO lines estimated at 55–65% of active lines (Cricket, Straight Talk, Metro, Boost); postpaid 35–45%.
• Average monthly spend per line: generally lower than state average, often in the $35–55 range due to prepaid and discount plans.
• Hotspot use: above state average; many households use phone hotspots for home connectivity when fixed service is unavailable or unaffordable.

Demographic patterns of use

• Age:
  • Teens: very high smartphone adoption; heavy social/video (YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat). School-related data use spikes during evenings.
  • Working-age adults: smartphones are the primary device for banking, benefits, messaging, and navigation; higher mobile-only reliance than state peers.
  • Seniors: lower smartphone adoption than state average; more voice/text and simple Android devices; telehealth by phone when broadband is unavailable.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Black residents (majority) show higher mobile-only reliance and higher uptake of subsidy programs (historically Lifeline/ACP) than the statewide average.
• Income:
  • Budget Android devices are common; slower upgrade cycles; cracked-screen/aging-phone use is more prevalent.
  • Prepaid refills via retail (dollar/discount stores) are common; autopay and bundled device financing less common than statewide.
• Students:
  • USC Salkehatchie and local K–12 drive peak usage near campus/school Wi‑Fi zones; device ownership high among students, but home Wi‑Fi less consistent than state norms.

Digital infrastructure notes

• Coverage:
  • 4G LTE covers main corridors (US‑278/301/321 and town centers), but wooded and river-adjacent areas have weak or no signal; indoor coverage can be inconsistent in metal-roof homes and larger buildings.
  • 5G is present mostly as low-band from major carriers; mid-band 5G (faster) is patchier and concentrated along primary roads—less extensive than the state overall.
• Capacity and speeds:
  • Typical speeds are adequate for messaging/standard video but can drop at peak times; congestion is more noticeable than in urban SC.
  • Backhaul is a mix of fiber and microwave; limited fiber to towers contributes to variability.
• Towers and buildout:
  • Sparse macro-tower grid with co-located carrier equipment; few small cells. New sites and major upgrades since 2020 have been slower than state metro areas.
• Public/anchor connectivity:
  • Libraries (Allendale, Fairfax), schools, and a few health clinics provide essential Wi‑Fi offload.
  • Retail carrier presence is limited; residents often use third-party dealers or travel to larger towns for service/repairs.
• Emergency communications:
  • AT&T FirstNet present on select sites; reliability varies by corridor. Dead zones persist in low-density tracts.

How Allendale differs from South Carolina overall

• More mobile-only households and heavier dependence on smartphones for core internet needs.
• Higher prepaid/MVNO share and lower average spend per line.
• Less mid-band 5G coverage and lower typical mobile speeds; more pronounced indoor coverage challenges.
• Greater use of phone hotspots for home internet and schoolwork.
• Slower device replacement; budget Android share higher; wearables/tablet penetration lower.
• Usage concentrates around anchor institutions and highway corridors more than in urban/suburban SC.

Near-term outlook

• State and federal rural broadband projects (e.g., BEAD) are likely to add fiber along key corridors in 2025–2028, which should reduce mobile-only reliance and evening congestion.
• Carrier 5G upgrades (C-band and 2.5 GHz) along US‑278/301/321 would materially improve capacity if/when deployed; current coverage gaps will persist without new towers.
• The end of the ACP subsidy in 2024 may push more residents to lower-cost prepaid plans, increase churn, and constrain data use unless offset by new local assistance programs.

Method note

• Figures are reasoned estimates based on county population (2020 Census/2023 ACS trend), rural/low-income smartphone adoption patterns, and rural SC coverage characteristics from carrier/FCC maps. For planning decisions, validate with the SC Office of Broadband maps, FCC Broadband Data Collection, carrier RF maps, school district data, and local surveys.

Below is a concise, county-tailored snapshot using national/rural benchmarks (Pew Research Center 2023–2024) adjusted to Allendale County’s small, rural profile. Treat figures as modeled estimates with ±5–8 percentage-point uncertainty.

At-a-glance user stats

• Estimated active social media users: 4,800–5,600 residents (roughly 60–70% of total population; ~75–85% of adults with internet access)
• Typical platforms per user: 2–3
• Primary access: mobile-only; evening peak 6–10 pm

Most-used platforms (estimated share of adult residents)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–70% (Groups, Pages, Marketplace are central)
• Instagram: 35–40%
• TikTok: 28–35%
• Snapchat: 20–25% (concentrated under 30)
• Pinterest: 20–25% (skews female)
• X (Twitter): 12–18%
• WhatsApp: 10–15% (family ties/out-of-area)
• LinkedIn: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: <5%

Age-patterns (share of each age group using at least one platform)

• Teens (13–17): 90–95%; heavy TikTok/Snapchat/IG; creator-following and trends
• 18–29: 90%+; multi-platform; short-form video, messaging (Snap/IG DMs)
• 30–49: 80–85%; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram; Marketplace and local parenting/school groups
• 50–64: 70–75%; Facebook/YouTube; community and church content
• 65+: 45–55%; primarily Facebook; YouTube for news, sermons, DIY

Gender breakdown among active users

• Women: ~55–60% of active users; over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, local groups
• Men: ~40–45%; over-index on YouTube, X; sports/outdoors, DIY, local sports clips

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: school updates, churches, county/government notices, and event promotion; Marketplace substitutes Craigslist for buy/sell.
• Video-first consumption: short-form (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) outperforms text; local faces, high school sports, hunting/fishing, and church livestreams drive engagement.
• Messaging shifts: Facebook Messenger for community/family; Snapchat/IG DMs for under 30.
• Trust and reach: local voices, pastors, coaches, and school staff pages carry outsized influence; tagging churches/schools boosts distribution.
• Timing and constraints: evening posting works best; mobile data caps favor shorter videos and image carousels.
• Business usage: small businesses lean on Facebook Pages/Groups and IG; simple promos (giveaways, coupon codes, time-bound offers) convert better than generic branding.
• Lower traction: LinkedIn/Nextdoor niche; WhatsApp used in family networks rather than public groups.

Notes on methodology

• Derived from Pew national platform adoption (2023–2024), rural vs. urban deltas, and South Carolina rural usage patterns, adjusted for a small-county context and broadband access. Use as directional estimates rather than exact counts.