Colleton County

Key demographics for Colleton County, South Carolina (latest available):

• Population size:

  • Total population: ~38,300–38,600 (2023 estimate)

• Age:

  • Median age: ~43 years
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 65 and over: ~21%

• Gender:

  • Female: ~51–52%
  • Male: ~48–49%

• Race/ethnicity (percent of total population):

  • White (non-Hispanic): ~54–57%
  • Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~36–37%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5%
  • Two or more races: ~2%
  • Asian: ~0.5%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.5%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%

• Household data:

  • Total households: ~15,200
  • Average household size: ~2.45–2.50
  • Family households: ~66–68% of households
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–76%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Population Estimates, July 1, 2023; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year). Figures rounded for clarity.

• Population/context: ≈39,000 residents; ~37 people per sq. mile (very rural). Walterboro is the main population center; large swaths of ACE Basin/woodlands make last‑mile builds costly.
• Estimated email users: 27,000–31,000 residents (roughly 70–80% of the population). Estimate combines ACS-style broadband subscription levels in the low–mid 70% for households plus smartphone‑only users and Pew-like email adoption among internet users.
• Age distribution (share using email, approximations):
  • 18–29: ~95–98%
  • 30–49: ~96–99%
  • 50–64: ~90–94%
  • 65+: ~70–85% (lower in outlying rural areas)
• Gender split among users: roughly even (≈50/50; differences typically <2% in surveys).
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband: low–mid 70% of households; 15–20% are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • Connectivity mix: Cable and growing fiber availability in/near Walterboro and along main corridors; DSL and fixed wireless remain common in sparsely populated areas with patchy coverage.
  • Upgrades: State/federal programs (e.g., BEAD) and local co‑ops/incumbents are expanding fiber to unserved pockets; adoption is rising but rural gaps persist.

Notes: Figures are reasoned estimates using recent ACS/Pew/FCC patterns applied to Colleton’s rural profile; verify with ACS S2801 and the FCC Broadband Map for the latest local data.

Below is a concise, locality‑focused picture of mobile phone usage in Colleton County, South Carolina, with modeled user estimates, demographic patterns, and digital‑infrastructure notes. Emphasis is on how the county differs from statewide trends.

Modeled user estimates (mid‑2025)

• Population baseline: ~38,000 residents; ~29,000–30,000 adults, ~15,000 households.
• Mobile phone users (any mobile device): ~29,000–31,000 people. This assumes very high adult mobile ownership (roughly mid‑90% of adults) plus most teens 13–17.
• Smartphone users: ~23,000–26,000 people. Assumes lower smartphone penetration than the state because of older age structure and income mix.
• Feature‑phone users: materially higher share than state; likely in the mid‑single digits of users, concentrated among older adults.
• Mobile‑only internet reliance: meaning households that primarily use smartphones or cellular hotspots for home connectivity is noticeably higher than the state average. Expect roughly one in five households, with pockets approaching one in four outside Walterboro.

How usage differs from South Carolina overall

• Adoption level: Overall cell‑phone ownership is similarly high, but smartphone adoption is a few points lower than the state due to an older population and lower median income.
• Plan mix: Higher prepaid and month‑to‑month share than the state; multi‑line postpaid family plans are relatively less common.
• Mobile‑only dependence: Reliance on mobile data as the main home internet connection is higher than statewide, driven by patchy wired broadband in rural tracts and cost sensitivity.
• Device turnover: Slower upgrade cycles; a larger pool of LTE‑only or lower‑tier 5G devices vs the state. Practical 5G usage lags coverage maps.
• Usage patterns: More voice/SMS and Facebook/WhatsApp reliance; comparatively less streaming on mobile in the oldest cohorts. Younger users’ patterns are closer to state norms.

Demographic usage patterns (local nuances)

• Age:
  • 18–34: Smartphone ownership near statewide levels (mid‑ to high‑90%). Heavy social/video, mobile payments, and gig‑work apps.
  • 35–64: High smartphone ownership but below state by a few points; cost‑driven plan choices, hotspot use for homework and telehealth.
  • 65+: Noticeably lower smartphone adoption than state; higher basic‑phone use and voice‑centric behavior, though telehealth use via family‑shared devices is rising.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Black residents (a larger share than the SC average) show strong smartphone adoption but are more likely to be mobile‑only for home internet than statewide peers.
  • Hispanic residents (small but growing share) are highly mobile‑first; prepaid and WhatsApp usage is above county average.
• Income:
  • Lower‑income households are more likely to be prepaid, hotspot‑dependent, and to share devices. ACP’s wind‑down has shifted some users toward cheaper mobile plans rather than fixed service.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what’s different locally)

• Macro coverage: Interstate 95 and Walterboro corridors have strong multi‑carrier LTE/5G coverage. Coverage thins in low‑lying ACE Basin/coastal marsh areas and sparsely populated interiors; in‑building performance can be uneven outside town centers.
• 5G footprint: Low‑band 5G is broadly present along main roads; mid‑band capacity is spotty and mainly near Walterboro/I‑95. Effective 5G speeds are more variable than state averages, with fewer mid‑band sectors serving large rural cells.
• Tower density and small cells: Fewer sites per square mile than state average; networks rely heavily on tall macro towers. Small‑cell deployments are limited outside key highway segments.
• Backhaul and resilience: Fiber backhaul is strongest along I‑95/municipal routes; some sites depend on microwave in marsh/coastal zones. Storm season (hurricanes/king tides) affects uptime more than the statewide norm; generators and COW/COLTs are part of seasonal prep.
• Fixed broadband competition: Fiber and cable options exist in and around Walterboro, but rural tracts have mixed wired availability. This gap drives above‑average adoption of mobile hotspots and 5G fixed‑wireless internet compared with the state.
• Seasonal demand: Summer tourism (Edisto area) and I‑95 travel produce sharper, localized traffic spikes than the state overall; carriers prioritize capacity along these corridors.

Implications for planning and outreach

• Messaging and services that assume fixed broadband at home will underperform; mobile‑first design is critical for county residents, especially outside Walterboro.
• Subsidy/affordability programs and prepaid‑friendly offers will reach a larger share of the market than statewide averages.
• Investments that add mid‑band 5G sectors or infill sites off the interstate will have outsized impact on user experience relative to similar investments in urban SC counties.

Notes on method

• Figures are modeled from county population/household counts, known rural adoption patterns, and national/state benchmarks through 2024–2025. Exact county‑level device ownership and plan mix vary by census tract; use the estimates as planning ranges and validate with ACS microdata, FCC Broadband Maps, SC BEAD plans, school district surveys, and carrier propagation/performance tests.

Colleton County, SC — social media snapshot

Audience size (adults)

• Population: roughly 38–39k; adults 18+: ~29–30k
• Estimated active social media users: 23–26k adults (≈80–85% of adults)

Age mix among adult social-media users (estimated)

• 18–29: 22–25%
• 30–49: 38–42%
• 50–64: 20–24%
• 65+: 14–18% Note: Teen (13–17) use is very high on YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat if that audience matters.

Gender (estimated among users)

• Women: ~54–56%
• Men: ~44–46%

Most-used platforms by adults (estimated share of adult residents)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–35%
• WhatsApp: 15–20%
• Snapchat: 15–20% (concentrated under age 30)
• X/Twitter: 10–15%
• LinkedIn: 10–20%
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (lower in rural areas)

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the default local hub: Groups and Marketplace drive news sharing, school and church updates, obituaries, storm prep/recovery, yard sales, and recommendations.
• Video wins: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) outperforms photos; Facebook Live for council meetings, church services, and high school sports draws strong local reach.
• Community trust: Posts from recognizable locals (pastors, coaches, small-business owners, first responders) get above-average engagement; word-of-mouth is powerful.
• Timing: Peak engagement evenings (7–9 pm) and weekend mornings; school-year bumps before school and after 3–4 pm.
• “Search Facebook first”: Many residents check Facebook pages for hours/menus/updates; Messenger is a common inquiry channel.
• Commerce: Heavy use of Marketplace and buy/sell/trade groups; tie-ins to local seasons/events (e.g., Rice Festival, hurricane season, hunting/fishing) perform well.
• Cross-posting: Instagram is secondary for visuals; TikTok expands reach to younger adults; YouTube supports how-tos and longer updates.

Method/notes

• Figures are directional estimates applying recent Pew Research Center U.S. platform usage to Colleton’s age/gender profile (ACS) and typical rural adoption patterns. For precise counts, pair with platform ad tools (e.g., Meta Ads audience estimates) and local page/group analytics.