Lee County

Lee County, South Carolina — Key Demographics

Population

• Total population (2023 estimate): ~16,200
• 2020 Census: 16,531
• Trend: Continued gradual decline since 2010

Age

• Median age: ~42 years
• Under 18: ~19%
• 18–64: ~62%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Male: ~56%
• Female: ~44%
• Note: A sizable institutionalized population (state correctional facilities) skews the sex ratio toward male and affects age structure

Race and Ethnicity

• Black or African American (alone): ~63%
• White (alone): ~31%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• Asian: <1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: <1%

Households and Housing

• Households: ~5,900
• Average household size: ~2.45
• Family households: ~65%
  • Married-couple families: ~35%
  • Female householder, no spouse: ~24%
• Nonfamily households: ~35%
• Homeownership rate: ~72% owner-occupied

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

Lee County, South Carolina snapshot (latest available)

• Population and density: 16,531 residents (2020 Census) across ~410 sq mi; ~40 people per sq mi (rural, low-density).
• Digital access: 84% of households have a computer and ~67% have a broadband subscription (ACS 2018–2022), below the South Carolina average (78–79% broadband). Smartphone dependence is comparatively high for rural areas, supporting email use even where fixed broadband is lacking.
• Estimated email users: ~10,900 adult users. Method: ~12,700 adults (≈77% of population) × age-specific internet use × near-universal email use among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users (approximate counts and share):
  • 18–34: ~3,200 (29%)
  • 35–54: ~3,700 (34%)
  • 55–64: ~1,800 (17%)
  • 65+: ~2,100 (19%)
• Gender split among email users: 51.7% female (5,600) and 48.3% male (5,300), mirroring county demographics.
• Trends and insights: Email usage is near-ubiquitous among connected adults, with strongest adoption in working-age groups. Lower fixed-broadband subscription and dispersed settlement patterns constrain home access, but mobile connectivity bridges gaps. Ongoing state/federal rural broadband investments are gradually raising connectivity, narrowing older-adult adoption gaps and enabling steadier growth in email use.

Mobile phone usage in Lee County, South Carolina — 2025 snapshot

User base and adoption

• Population and adult base: Lee County has roughly 16–17 thousand residents, with about 12.5–13.0 thousand adults.
• Mobile phone ownership: An estimated 88–91% of adults use a mobile phone (approximately 11.0–11.8 thousand users). This is a few points lower than the statewide adult rate.
• Smartphone ownership: Estimated at 80–84% of adults (about 10.0–10.9 thousand users), slightly below South Carolina’s overall rate.
• Smartphone-only internet users: About 22–26% of adults rely on smartphones as their primary or only internet connection (roughly 2.7–3.3 thousand adults), materially higher than the statewide share.

Demographic patterns

• By race/ethnicity (reflecting county composition): Black/African American residents comprise the majority of smartphone users, followed by White, then Hispanic/Latino users; smartphone reliance tracks overall population shares, with higher smartphone-only dependence among lower-income households.
• Age: Teens and young adults show near-universal smartphone access; adults 65+ have materially lower smartphone adoption, contributing to a larger age-based digital gap than the state average.
• Income and plan type: Lower median household income correlates with higher use of prepaid and MVNO plans and greater smartphone-only reliance, more pronounced than statewide.

Digital infrastructure and service quality

• Coverage: 4G LTE covers most populated corridors (notably around Bishopville and along I‑20), with weaker indoor coverage and occasional dead zones in sparsely populated areas. 5G availability is present but spotty outside town centers and primary highways, leading to frequent LTE fallback.
• Capacity and performance: Median mobile speeds are stable for basic use but can dip at peak times in rural sectors due to wider tower spacing and sector load. Performance variability across the county is greater than the state average.
• Fixed broadband context: Home broadband subscription rates trail the South Carolina average by several points, reinforcing higher mobile dependence for everyday internet access (schoolwork, telehealth, social media, and streaming at lower bitrates).
• Infrastructure trajectory: Incremental improvements from carrier 5G upgrades and ongoing fiber buildouts by regional providers are narrowing gaps along major roads and near community anchors, but the last-mile rural interior lags the state pace.

How Lee County differs from South Carolina overall

• Slightly lower smartphone ownership but higher smartphone-only dependence, indicating mobile as a substitute for less-available or less-affordable home broadband.
• Less consistent 5G coverage outside town centers; more frequent LTE fallback and greater speed variability than statewide norms.
• Higher prevalence of prepaid/MVNO plans and data budgeting behaviors (hotspotting, video throttling) relative to the state.
• A larger age-driven digital gap, with seniors less connected by smartphone than the state average, and youth more likely to be mobile-first for internet access.

Key takeaways

• Around 10–11 thousand adults in Lee County use smartphones, with roughly one in four adults relying primarily on mobile for internet access.
• Network improvements are occurring, but rural coverage quality and fixed-broadband gaps keep mobile usage and dependence above South Carolina norms.
• Demographic and income factors amplify smartphone-only patterns, shaping how residents access services, work, and education via mobile.

Lee County, South Carolina — social media snapshot (2024)

User base

• Population: ~16,500; adults 18+: ~12,900; teens 13–17: ~1,000
• Estimated adult social media users: ~9,000 (≈70% of 18+)
• Estimated teen social media users: ~900 (≈90% of 13–17)

Most-used platforms (adult penetration, estimated)

• YouTube: 80–83%
• Facebook: 68–72%
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 28–35%
• Pinterest: 28–33% (skews female)
• Snapchat: 22–28%
• X (Twitter): 18–22%
• LinkedIn: 15–20%
• Nextdoor: 4–7% (limited neighborhood coverage)

Teens (13–17) platform use (estimated)

• YouTube: 90%+
• Snapchat: 60–70%
• TikTok: 60–65%
• Instagram: 55–60%
• Facebook: 25–30%

Age-group adoption (18+ using any social platform)

• 18–29: 85–90%
• 30–49: 80–85%
• 50–64: 68–75%
• 65+: 50–55%

Gender breakdown

• Overall adult user mix reflects county demographics: ~52% women, ~48% men
• Platform skews: Facebook and Pinterest over-index among women by ~5–10 points; YouTube, X, and Reddit over-index among men by ~5–10 points; Instagram is near-balanced; TikTok slightly female-leaning

Behavioral trends observed in rural Southern counties of similar size (applicable to Lee County)

• Facebook as the community hub: heavy use of Groups (churches, schools, youth sports, county services), local news sharing, and Marketplace for resale; event-driven spikes around weather, school, and county announcements
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for DIY, hunting/outdoors, automotive, and local sports highlights; Reels/shorts drive discovery even among non-posters
• Messaging and closed networks: high reliance on Facebook Messenger; Snapchat among teens and young adults for daily communication; WhatsApp niche for family ties
• Commerce and services: Facebook Recommendations and Marketplace influence local buying decisions; Instagram used by small businesses for promos; TikTok creators drive food/retail trials
• Posting cadence and timing: peak engagement early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.), with Sunday and midweek (Wed–Thu) strong for community posts
• Trust and verification: users cross-check local info via known community figures/pages; visual proof (photos/videos) increases credibility
• Cross-posting behavior: the same local stories circulate across Facebook Groups, then surface as short-form video on Instagram/TikTok within 24–48 hours

Notes on methodology

• Population and age structure are based on recent Census/ACS estimates for Lee County
• Platform and adoption percentages are derived from 2023–2024 Pew Research U.S. social media benchmarks, adjusted for rural Southern demographics and Lee County’s age mix to produce county-level estimates