Blount County

Blount County, Tennessee – key demographics (latest Census/ACS estimates)

Population

• Total population (2023 estimate): ~142,000 (2020 Census: 137,605)

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race/ethnicity

• Non-Hispanic White: ~90%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4%

Households

• Number of households: ~57,000
• Average household size: ~2.45 persons
• Family households: ~69% of households (married-couple families ~52%)
• Households with children under 18: ~27%
• Owner-occupied housing units: ~76–77%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates (V2023) and American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Percentages rounded.

Blount County, TN (pop. ~140–145k) email usage summary (estimates based on ACS, FCC maps, and national/Pew patterns):

• Estimated email users: 110k–120k residents (roughly 80–85% of total population; ~90%+ of people 13+).
• Age split (share using email):
  • 13–24: 90–95%
  • 25–64: 95–98%
  • 65+: 75–85%
• Gender: ~50/50; usage differences by gender are minimal.
• Digital access trends:
  • ~84% of households report a broadband subscription; device access >90%.
  • 15–20% of adults are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • Continued shift from ISP‑provided addresses to Gmail/Outlook/Yahoo; heavy email use for schools, healthcare portals, utilities, and local government.
  • Older adults show growing adoption via smartphones/tablets.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Maryville–Alcoa corridor has the densest fixed broadband (cable with some fiber) and strong 4G/5G.
  • Fixed broadband is patchier in rural/southern areas near Townsend/Walland and along the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary; mobile service is best along main corridors (US‑129, US‑321) and weaker in mountain hollows.

These figures are directional, reflecting recent county demographics and U.S. email/internet adoption rates.

Blount County, TN: mobile phone usage snapshot (focus on what differs from statewide)

Headline estimates (2025, rounded)

• Population: about 140,000–142,000
• Estimated mobile phone users (any mobile): ~120,000–126,000
• Estimated smartphone users: ~105,000–110,000
• Per-capita penetration: any mobile ~86%–90%; smartphones ~74%–78%
• Among adults 18+: smartphone adoption ~82%–85% (roughly on par with, or a hair below, Tennessee overall due to the county’s older age profile)

What’s different from Tennessee overall

• Older population mix: Blount has a larger 65+ share than the state average, which slightly pulls down smartphone adoption and increases the share of basic/flip-phone users compared with Tennessee overall.
• Better 5G availability than most non-metro counties: Proximity to Knoxville means earlier and denser 5G (especially mid-band) along Maryville–Alcoa corridors, so actual 5G usage rates are higher than in many Tennessee counties of similar size.
• More terrain-driven dead zones: The county’s foothills and proximity to Great Smoky Mountains create more persistent no‑service areas than typical for the state, despite strong service in towns.
• Seasonal traffic swings: Tourism (Townsend/park gateways) and the airport drive sharp weekend/seasonal load spikes that are more pronounced than in many Tennessee counties.
• Slightly lower “smartphone-only” households: Because wired broadband is relatively available in Maryville/Alcoa and the population is older, reliance on smartphones as the only internet connection appears lower than Tennessee’s statewide rate; however, smartphone-only reliance is higher on the rural southern/eastern fringes.

Demographic breakdown (estimates)

• Age 18–64 (~57% of population): ~97% have a mobile phone; ~88%–90% use smartphones. This group accounts for the bulk of data usage and 5G adoption, especially commuters into Knoxville.
• Age 65+ (~22%): ~88%–92% have a mobile phone; ~65%–75% use smartphones. Higher prevalence of voice/text-centric plans and basic phones than statewide average.
• Under 18 (~21%): ~55%–65% have a mobile phone; ~45%–55% use smartphones overall (very high among teens, low among younger children).
• Socioeconomics: Slightly higher incomes and education than the Tennessee average in the Maryville/Alcoa area correlate with more postpaid family plans and newer devices; more prepaid and older devices in rural tracts.

Usage patterns on the ground

• Commuter corridors: Heavy weekday usage and strong 5G along Alcoa Hwy (US‑129), Pellissippi Pkwy (I‑140), and US‑321. Daytime loads shift toward Knox County; evening/weekend loads concentrate back in Blount.
• Tourist zones: Townsend, Walland, Foothills Parkway, and park edges see weekend/holiday congestion; temporary capacity boosts appear during major events, but true no‑service pockets persist inside/near the park.
• Airport (TYS in Alcoa): Dense coverage with indoor systems; high device churn and roaming from visitors; above-average 5G usage around the terminal and adjacent commercial areas.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Carrier footprint: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile all cover the urban/suburban core (Maryville–Alcoa) with low‑band 5G; mid‑band 5G is available across most commercial corridors, enabling typical speeds from roughly 100–500 Mbps. Coverage thins toward the mountains; valleys can drop to LTE-only or no signal.
• Backhaul and fiber: AT&T Fiber and Spectrum cable cover much of Maryville/Alcoa and industrial zones, providing robust backhaul for 5G sites. Ongoing state/federal grant builds target unserved pockets toward the county’s southern/eastern edges.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) is deployed and prioritized for responders; coverage improvements focus on rural areas and park perimeters where commercial gaps exist.
• Wi‑Fi offload: High availability in schools, public buildings, and retail around Maryville/Alcoa; far sparser in rural/tourist areas, which increases reliance on cellular during peak seasons.

Method notes

• Figures are estimates derived from county population and age structure, blended with recent national/regional mobile ownership rates, then adjusted for Blount’s older age profile, suburban core, and terrain. For planning or investment decisions, validate with carrier RF maps, FCC coverage filings, and a local survey.

Below is a concise, planning-friendly snapshot for Blount County, TN. Figures are estimates derived from the county’s age mix (ACS/Census) combined with recent U.S. social media adoption patterns (Pew). Treat them as directional ranges, not exact counts.

County snapshot

• Population: ~140,000
• Gender: ~51% women, ~49% men
• Older-than-average age mix (larger 45+ segment than U.S. overall), which tends to boost Facebook and YouTube usage

Estimated social media users (13+)

• Total users: ~95,000–105,000 (roughly 80–85% of residents age 13+)
• Adults 18+: ~88,000–95,000 users
• Teens 13–17: ~7,500–9,500 users

Age mix among users (share of social media users, approximate)

• 13–17: 7–9%
• 18–24: 7–9%
• 25–34: 15–18%
• 35–44: 15–18%
• 45–54: 16–19%
• 55–64: 14–17%
• 65+: 13–16%

Gender among users

• Women: ~52–54%
• Men: ~46–48% Note: Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and Reddit.

Most-used platforms in Blount County (estimated share of 13+ who use each)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 28–35%
• Pinterest: 28–35% (skews female, 25–54)
• Snapchat: 18–25% (concentrated 13–29)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 15–22% (working-age professionals; Maryville/Alcoa/Knoxville commuters)
• Reddit: 12–18%
• Nextdoor: 10–15% of households (roughly 8–12% of 13+)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first on Facebook: Local groups (schools, churches, youth sports, yard sales, city/county alerts) drive high engagement. Events and buy/sell posts perform well.
• Short-form video is the growth engine: Reels/TikTok/Shorts featuring local eateries, outdoor life (Smokies), high school/UT Vols fandom, and “day-in-the-life” content get strong completion rates.
• YouTube shifts to living room: Rising connected-TV viewing for how-tos, outdoor rec content, and local sports highlights; pre-roll and Shorts both effective.
• Messaging/convenience: Click-to-call, Directions, and Messenger responses outperform long forms. Quick replies and after-hours responsiveness matter.
• Timing: Peaks on weeknights (6–9 pm) and weekend mornings; strong spikes around weather events, school calendars, and local festivals.
• Nextdoor for practical local needs: Home services, lost/found pets, HOA/neighborhood updates, contractor recommendations.
• Pinterest for home/crafts/outdoor planning: Strong among women 25–54; seasonal boards (holidays, garden, Smokies trips) align with buying cycles.
• Younger cohorts split attention: Teens/college (Maryville College, nearby UT) lean Snapchat/TikTok/Instagram with heavy DM usage and fast-moving trends.

Activation tips (what tends to work locally)

• Creative: Show familiar places/people, practical value (deals, hours, directions), and short, authentic videos over polished ads.
• Geo: Target Maryville, Alcoa, Townsend, and edges near Knoxville for spillover; use 5–10 mile radii and test geofencing around schools, parks, events.
• Objectives/CTAs: Local Awareness, Reach, Store Traffic; “Call Now” and “Get Directions” convert better than long lead forms.
• Community hooks: Support school/booster causes, church/charity tie-ins, and local events—these earn shares and comments.

How to get hard local numbers fast

• Meta Ads Manager: Set location to Blount County (13+) to see potential reach by age and gender; repeat per platform placement (Facebook vs Instagram).
• TikTok/Snapchat Ads: Geo to Blount County (or Maryville/Alcoa) to read potential reach for 13–24 segments.
• Nextdoor Ads: Check neighborhood inventory counts; compare to household estimates.
• Cross-check with ACS age/gender counts to validate audience proportions.