Berkeley County

Here are concise, recent demographics for Berkeley County, South Carolina (best available U.S. Census Bureau estimates; ACS 2023 and 2020 Census):

Population

• Total: ~244,000–247,000 (2023 estimate; 2020 Census: 229,861)
• Growth since 2020: roughly +6–8%

Age

• Median age: ~36
• Under 18: ~24%
• 18–64: ~62%
• 65 and over: ~14%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race/ethnicity

• White, non-Hispanic: ~59–61%
• Black or African American: ~24–26%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~7–9%
• Asian: ~2–3%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Other (incl. American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander): ~1%

Households

• Total households: ~88,000–92,000
• Average household size: ~2.7–2.8
• Family households: ~70–72% of households
• With children under 18: ~33–36% of households
• Tenure: ~70–73% owner-occupied; ~27–30% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2023 American Community Survey (1-year and 2019–2023 5-year).

Berkeley County, SC snapshot (estimates)

• Estimated email users: 175,000–200,000 adults. Basis: population ~240,000; adult share ~77%; Pew finds ~90%+ of U.S. adults use email.
• Age: Email reach is near‑universal for 18–49 (97–100%), high for 50–64 (90–95%), and somewhat lower for 65+ (~75–85%).
• Gender: Usage is essentially even by gender; with the county ~50–51% female, email users split roughly 50/50.
• Digital access: About 87–90% of households report a broadband subscription and roughly 90%+ have a computer (ACS). Around 10–13% lack home internet; an estimated 12–18% are smartphone‑only users. Mobile and fiber coverage are expanding; affordability remains a key adoption barrier in lower‑income tracts.
• Local density/connectivity: Population density is roughly 200 residents per square mile, with the Goose Creek–Hanahan–I‑26 corridor well served by fixed broadband and 5G, while more rural areas north/west (e.g., around Lake Moultrie) show lower subscription rates. Libraries, schools, and public Wi‑Fi provide supplemental access.

Sources/method: ACS county indicators for devices/broadband, Pew national email adoption rates applied to local population. Figures are rounded ranges to reflect survey and mapping uncertainty.

Mobile phone usage in Berkeley County, South Carolina — summary

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, 2024–2025)

• Total mobile phone users: roughly 200,000–215,000 residents.
• Smartphone users: about 180,000–200,000.
• Method at a glance: county population ≈ 255,000–265,000; adults ≈ 76–79% of population; adult smartphone ownership ≈ 88–92%; teen (13–17) smartphone ownership ≈ ~95%. Feature-phone-only users add a few percentage points.
• Active mobile lines/devices (including second lines, tablets, hotspots, wearables): approximately 240,000–300,000 connections.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: The county skews younger than the South Carolina average, with fast growth in family-oriented suburbs (Cane Bay, Nexton, Carnes Crossroads, Goose Creek/Hanahan). Younger adults and teens drive high smartphone and wearable adoption and heavy video/social use.
• Race/ethnicity: A growing Hispanic population (notably in construction, logistics, and services) increases demand for bilingual support and international calling; Black and Hispanic households are more likely to be “mobile-first” for internet in rural northern tracts where home broadband options are thinner.
• Income and education: Household incomes and education levels are modestly above the state average in the southern/suburban half of the county, supporting higher rates of unlimited plans, multi-line family bundles, and faster device-upgrade cycles.
• Military/defense workforce: Presence of Naval Weapons Station Charleston (Goose Creek) and related defense/tech employment correlates with high mobile-data usage, discounted military plans, and strong on-base coverage expectations.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• 5G coverage: Broad multi-carrier 5G in the southern and central corridor (Goose Creek, Hanahan, Daniel Island part of Berkeley, Moncks Corner, and along I‑26/US‑52/US‑17A). Mid-band 5G (T‑Mobile n41; Verizon/AT&T C‑band) is common in these areas; northern communities (e.g., St. Stephen, Bonneau, Jamestown, Huger) still see LTE-only pockets and capacity constraints.
• Performance: The Charleston–North Charleston metro typically tests above statewide median speeds; Berkeley’s populated suburbs benefit from that, while forested and lake-adjacent areas show larger variability and occasional dead zones.
• Fixed wireless access (FWA): Strong T‑Mobile Home Internet footprint and selective Verizon 5G Home in denser suburbs; used as a cable/fiber alternative in new builds and exurban edges.
• Fiber and backhaul: Dense metro fiber from Home Telecom and AT&T; regional backhaul buoyed by hyperscale data center infrastructure in Moncks Corner. New master-planned communities are often built with fiber conduits that also aid small-cell siting.
• Public safety and resilience: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage prioritized; carriers deploy backup power and temporary cell sites for hurricanes. Outage risk remains higher around Lake Moultrie and forested northern areas during severe weather.

How Berkeley County differs from South Carolina overall

• Higher 5G availability and faster typical speeds: The county’s southern/suburban belt is better covered with mid-band 5G than much of rural South Carolina, pushing higher adoption of 5G handsets and high-capacity plans.
• Faster growth and younger households: Rapid in-migration to planned communities leads to more multi-line family plans, higher wearable/tablet attachment, and quicker device refresh cycles than the state average.
• Stronger FWA uptake: Because mid-band 5G is robust and some new neighborhoods outpace wireline buildouts, FWA adoption appears higher than in many SC counties; it directly competes with cable/fiber in parts of Berkeley’s suburbs.
• More enterprise/industrial mobility: Logistics parks and manufacturing/tech (e.g., along the I‑26 corridor and Camp Hall industrial area) drive business lines, private LTE/CBRS pilots, and IoT device density that exceed most non-metro SC counties.
• A sharper “split” digital divide: Compared with statewide patterns, Berkeley shows a pronounced contrast—fiber- and 5G-rich suburbs in the south vs. rural northern tracts where residents rely more on mobile data due to limited wireline options. Statewide, many counties are uniformly rural; Berkeley’s mix is more bimodal.
• Military influence: Plan mix and on-base coverage expectations are more salient here than in most SC counties lacking major defense installations.

Notes and assumptions

• Estimates synthesize ACS-style population structure, Pew smartphone adoption rates, and typical suburban/rural 5G deployment patterns in the Charleston metro; they are intended as planning ranges rather than exact counts.
• For precise tract-by-tract infrastructure and adoption, check the latest FCC Broadband Map fabric, carrier coverage maps (mid-band 5G layers), Ookla/RootMetrics metro reports, and local providers (Home Telecom, AT&T, Xfinity) for buildout status.

Below is a concise, best-available snapshot. County-level social data isn’t directly published; figures use recent U.S. benchmarks (Pew Research Center and industry trackers) adjusted to Berkeley County’s suburban-metro profile. Treat percentages as indicative ranges.

Snapshot of usage

• Adult social media penetration: roughly 75–85% of adults use at least one platform.
• Teens (13–17): very high usage; ~90%+ use at least one platform; YouTube and TikTok dominate.
• Frequency: most adult users check daily; a large share engage multiple times per day (especially on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok).

Most-used platforms (adults; estimated local usage ≈ U.S. averages)

• YouTube: ~80–85%
• Facebook: ~65–70%
• Instagram: ~45–55%
• TikTok: ~30–35%
• Snapchat: ~25–30%
• Pinterest: ~30–35%
• LinkedIn: ~25–30%
• WhatsApp: ~20–25%
• X (Twitter): ~20–25%
• Reddit: ~20–25%
• Nextdoor: meaningful in many neighborhoods (adoption varies widely by subdivision/HOA)

Age patterns (who’s active where)

• Teens 13–17: YouTube (~90%+), TikTok and Snapchat (each ~60–70%); light Facebook use.
• 18–24: YouTube (~90%+), Instagram (70–80%), TikTok (60–70%), Snapchat (60–70%); Facebook secondary.
• 25–44: YouTube (~90%+), Facebook (70%+), Instagram (60%+), TikTok (35–45%); LinkedIn relevant for white-collar segments.
• 45–64: Facebook (70%+), YouTube (80%+), Instagram (35–45%), TikTok (20–30%).
• 65+: Facebook (50–60%), YouTube (60–70%); lighter on Instagram/TikTok.

Gender tendencies

• Women: higher usage of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; strong participation in local groups, school/parent communities, Marketplace, and recommendations.
• Men: higher usage of YouTube, Reddit, X; strong engagement with sports, DIY, tech, auto, fishing/outdoors content.

Behavioral trends specific to Berkeley County (Charleston metro)

• Community-first Facebook behavior: heavy use of Facebook Groups (HOAs, buy/sell/trade, school and church groups), Marketplace, storm and traffic updates.
• Neighborhood networks: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups are go-to channels for local services, lost/found pets, safety alerts.
• Short-form video rise: local restaurants, events, and small businesses rely on Instagram Reels/TikTok; food spots in Goose Creek/Hanahan and weekend events see strong traction.
• Public sector and utilities: sheriff, police, schools, and county departments primarily post on Facebook; emergency weather updates see high engagement.
• Outdoors and family content: boating/fishing (Lake Moultrie), Francis Marion National Forest, youth sports, and festival content perform well on Facebook and YouTube.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; WhatsApp pockets among transplants/international residents.
• Timing: highest engagement typically mornings (7–9 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekends midday for family/event content.

Notes for application

• To reach families and homeowners: prioritize Facebook (Groups + Marketplace) and Instagram; supplement with Nextdoor for neighborhood-level targeting.
• For youth/young adults: lead with TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat; use YouTube for long-form/how-to and sports highlights.
• Creative that feels local (UGC, deals, event tie-ins, school and sports shout-outs) outperforms generic brand content.