Anderson County

Key demographics: Anderson County, South Carolina (latest Census Bureau estimates)

• Population size:

  • ~214,000 (2023 population estimate)
  • 203,718 (2020 Census)

• Age:

  • Under 5 years: ~5–6%
  • Under 18 years: ~22%
  • 65 years and over: ~19–20%

• Gender:

  • Female: ~51%

• Race/ethnicity (percent of total population):

  • White alone: ~80%
  • Black or African American alone: ~16%
  • Asian alone: ~1–1.5%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.5%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%
  • Two or more races: ~2–3%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~6–7%
  • White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~75%

• Households:

  • Number of households: ~80,000–82,000
  • Persons per household: ~2.5

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts (Anderson County, SC, 2023 population estimate) and ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates (DP02/DP05).

Anderson County, SC snapshot (estimates)

• Population/density: ~215,000 residents; roughly 290–300 people per sq. mile. Population concentrated around the City of Anderson and the I‑85 corridor.
• Broadband/computers: About 83–87% of households have a broadband subscription; ~88–92% have a computer. Mobile‑only internet use likely 10–15% of households. Urban/suburban tracts have strong cable/fiber; rural fringes rely more on DSL or cellular.
• Estimated email users: 150,000–165,000 residents use email at least monthly. Based on adult population share and typical U.S. email adoption among internet users.
• Age distribution among email users:
  • 18–34: ~28–32% (near‑universal use)
  • 35–64: ~50–54% (near‑universal use)
  • 65+: ~16–20% (use somewhat lower, ~75–85%)
• Gender split among users: ~52% female, ~48% male (mirrors local demographics; email use is similar by gender).
• Trends: Gradual gains in fiber availability along key corridors, rising smartphone‑only reliance in lower‑income and rural areas, and continued use of public libraries/schools for access. Older and lower‑income tracts show lower home‑broadband adoption, which modestly suppresses email use in those areas.

Notes: Figures synthesized from Census/ACS, Pew, and state broadband patterns; rounded to reflect uncertainty at the county level.

Below is a concise, planning-grade summary built from recent ACS “Computer & Internet Use” patterns, Pew mobile adoption, and typical FCC coverage/infrastructure characteristics for semi-urban South Carolina counties. Figures are estimates and should be validated with the latest ACS 5‑year S2801 table and FCC maps for final use.

Anderson County at a glance (user estimates)

• Population and adult users:
  • Total population: roughly 205–210k; adults ~160–165k.
  • Adult smartphone adoption: about 90–92%, implying ~145–152k adult smartphone users.
• Households:
  • Total households: ~78–82k.
  • Households with at least one smartphone: ~92–95% (≈74–76k).
  • Smartphone-only (no fixed home broadband): about 17–19% (≈13–15k households).
  • No home internet subscription: roughly 9–11% (≈7–9k households).

Demographic patterns (directional)

• Age:
  • 18–34: near-universal smartphone use; high smartphone‑only reliance among renters and students/early‑career workers.
  • 35–64: very high smartphone use; highest multi‑device adoption (smartphone plus home broadband).
  • 65+: smartphone adoption solid but lower than younger cohorts; above-average share without home internet compared with younger adults.
• Income:
  • Under ~$35k: high smartphone ownership but elevated smartphone‑only reliance (cost/credit barriers to fixed broadband).
  • $75k+: high device stacking (smartphone + home broadband + tablets/PCs); low smartphone‑only rates.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Black and Hispanic residents are more likely to be smartphone‑only than White residents, mirroring statewide gaps but amplified in tracts with older copper/DSL or higher poverty.
• Geography:
  • Urban/suburban Anderson city and I‑85 corridor: high 5G availability, more fixed broadband options.
  • Rural/sparsely populated western and southern tracts: more cellular‑reliant households and pockets with weak fixed options; indoor coverage challenges in wooded/low‑density areas.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Mobile networks:
  • All three national carriers operate countywide; low‑band 5G is broadly present, with mid‑band 5G strongest along the I‑85/industrial corridor and in/around the City of Anderson.
  • Capacity constraints show up at shift changes and event peaks (industrial parks, school zones), typical of commuter corridors.
• Fixed broadband:
  • Cable (DOCSIS) widely available in the city/towns; AT&T fiber present in portions of Anderson and near newer developments, with DSL lingering in exurban areas.
  • Ongoing fiber builds by incumbents and regional providers are filling some gaps but not uniformly; several rural blocks still depend on LTE/5G FWA or WISPs.
• Community access and anchor institutions:
  • Library branches, schools, and healthcare anchors offer robust Wi‑Fi; school 1:1 device programs and E‑Rate networks reduce student “homework gap” during school hours but do not fully offset after‑hours access issues.
• Affordability/ACP context:
  • The wind‑down of the Affordable Connectivity Program increases risk of churn from fixed broadband to smartphone‑only or FWA plans among cost‑sensitive households.

How Anderson County differs from South Carolina overall

• Slightly lower share with no home internet than the statewide average, driven by the I‑85 urban/suburban core and stronger competition in/near the city.
• A more pronounced “two‑track” pattern: suburban tracts look better than the state on device stacking and speeds, while rural tracts show higher‑than‑state smartphone‑only reliance and cellular‑as‑primary internet.
• Earlier/more visible mid‑band 5G improvements along I‑85 than many SC rural counties, supporting higher mobile capacity and faster uptake of fixed‑wireless (5G FWA) in edge suburbs.
• Peak‑time congestion patterns tied to manufacturing and logistics along the corridor are more acute than the statewide norm, affecting daytime mobile performance in specific zones.

Planning implications

• Target last‑mile fiber or high‑capacity FWA to rural tracts with elevated smartphone‑only rates.
• Pair infrastructure with affordability supports (post‑ACP), device programs for seniors, and digital skills outreach to reduce the senior and low‑income gaps.
• Prioritize small‑cell or sector additions around industrial parks, schools, and high‑growth subdivisions to smooth peak‑hour loads.

Data notes and validation

• Use ACS 5‑year S2801 for county‑level device and subscription splits; compare to SC statewide values to quantify the gaps above.
• Cross‑check fixed availability (FCC BDC maps) and mobile coverage/performance (FCC + third‑party speed tests) along I‑85, Anderson city, and rural census blocks to refine tract‑level targeting.

Here’s a concise, planning-friendly snapshot. Note: precise county-level social stats aren’t published; figures below are estimates inferred from Pew Research’s US social media usage, South Carolina/Upstate demographics, and typical platform skews, scaled to Anderson County’s size.

Quick context

• Population: ~210,000 (2024 est). Roughly 178,000 residents are age 13+.
• Estimated social media users (13+): ~140,000–155,000 (78–85% of 13+).
• Internet/smartphone access: broadly in line with state averages; suburban/urban areas (City of Anderson, growing corridors along I-85) show higher engagement than rural tracts.

Most-used platforms (estimated monthly reach among 13+)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 35–50%
• TikTok: 30–45%
• Pinterest: 25–35% (strong female skew)
• Snapchat: 20–30% (under-30 skew)
• LinkedIn: 15–25% (professionals, commuting to Greenville/Clemson corridor)
• X (Twitter): 15–22% (male/news/sports skew)
• Nextdoor: 8–15% (higher in suburban neighborhoods/HOAs)
• Reddit: 10–18% (male/tech/gaming skew)

Age profile (who’s where)

• Teens (13–17): YouTube ≫ TikTok ≈ Instagram ≈ Snapchat; light on Facebook. Very high daily use, short-form video first.
• 18–29: Instagram/YouTube near-universal; TikTok 60–70%; Snapchat strong; Facebook used for family, events, and Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram mainstream; TikTok growing but secondary.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube core; Instagram moderate; TikTok/Nextdoor selective.
• 65+: Facebook first, YouTube second; limited use of others.

Gender breakdown

• Overall social user base skews slightly female (≈52–54%).
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Facebook lean female; Instagram slight female tilt; TikTok near parity (slight female); Snapchat near parity; Reddit and X/Twitter lean male; LinkedIn slight male tilt.

Behavioral trends (local patterns to expect)

• Facebook Groups are the community hub: schools/boosters, churches, youth sports, buy/sell/trade, neighborhood/HOA, local government updates.
• Facebook Marketplace is highly active for vehicles, tools, home goods, and seasonal items (boats/lake gear around Hartwell).
• Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery for local food, events, boutiques, real estate, fitness, and service trades; creators cross-post between IG/TikTok.
• Local news and weather primarily via Facebook and YouTube (TV/radio pages, sheriff/city channels); big engagement on road closures, severe weather, school updates.
• Events/sports lift: festivals, high school sports, Clemson/college football adjacent content, holiday parades and fairs.
• Messaging-first behavior: Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs for inquiries, appointments, and quick quotes; response time influences conversion.
• Reviews and “who do you recommend?” posts matter: strong reliance on word-of-mouth in Groups; Google and Facebook ratings affect choice.
• Timing: engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm ET) and weekend mornings; lunchtime bumps on weekdays; family-oriented spikes around back-to-school and holidays.
• Ad notes: Tight geo-targeting around City of Anderson, retail corridors, and lake communities performs well; lead-gen and offer posts paired with Messenger/DM CTAs see strong response.

How to use this

• For planning/buying, validate audience size by geotargeting Anderson County in each platform’s ads manager.
• Prioritize: Facebook (Groups/Marketplace) + Instagram/YouTube for reach; add TikTok for under-40 growth; layer Nextdoor for neighborhood-targeted PSAs/services; use LinkedIn for B2B/professional recruiting.