Carter County

Key demographics – Carter County, Tennessee

Population

• Total: ~56,100 (2023 estimate, U.S. Census Bureau)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years
• Under 18: ~19%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race/ethnicity (shares of total population)

• White alone: ~95%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3–0.4%
• Asian: ~0.5–0.6%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~93%

Households

• Number of households: ~22,000–23,000
• Average household size: ~2.3–2.4 persons

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Population Estimates, 2023; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates).

Carter County, TN – email usage snapshot (estimates)

• Estimated email users: 37,000–41,000 residents. Basis: ~56–57k population, ~85–90% internet adoption in rural TN, and ~90%+ of internet users using email.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–17: 6–8%
  • 18–34: 20–25%
  • 35–54: 32–36%
  • 55–64: 15–18%
  • 65+: 18–22% Younger teens use email less than adults; 65+ adoption is high but slightly lower than mid‑age adults.
• Gender split: roughly 51% female, 49% male (tracks local population).
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscription likely around 70–80% of households; another ~12–15% are smartphone‑only users.
  • Email is commonly used for work, school portals, billing, and healthcare—daily use strongest among workers and retirees.
  • Access gaps persist in lower‑income and remote tracts; libraries/schools remain important access points.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ≈165–170 people per sq. mile (most concentrated in Elizabethton and the Watauga River valley).
  • Cable/fiber coverage is best in town centers and along main corridors; mountainous terrain creates pockets with weaker fixed broadband and reliance on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. Ongoing state/federal broadband projects are expanding fiber in rural areas.

Note: Figures are synthesized from national/rural TN benchmarks and recent census estimates.

Below is a county-focused snapshot built from publicly available datasets (Census/ACS, Pew Research on device adoption, FCC/NTIA coverage and funding materials, and rural Tennessee speed/capacity studies), combined with local geography and market patterns. Figures are estimates with ranges to reflect uncertainty and recent changes.

Topline estimate for Carter County (population ~56,000; older and more rural than Tennessee overall)

• People who personally use a mobile phone: roughly 44,000–48,000 residents
• Smartphone users: about 38,000–43,000
• Basic/feature-phone users: about 3,000–6,000 (skews heavily to 65+)
• Households relying on mobile data as their only home internet: about 5,000–6,500 (roughly 22–28% of ~23k households; higher than the state average)

Demographic breakdown (what differs from the Tennessee profile)

• Age
  • 18–34: smartphone ownership ~92–96% (near state levels)
  • 35–64: ~88–92% (slightly lower than state)
  • 65+: ~65–75% (meaningfully lower than state), with a higher-than-average share using basic phones or simplified smartphones
  • Net effect: County-wide smartphone penetration trails the Tennessee average by several points because Carter’s population is older.
• Income and plan type
  • Prepaid share: estimated 35–45% of lines (well above urban Tennessee), with strong use of MVNOs (Cricket, Straight Talk/Tracfone, Metro by T-Mobile, Boost, Visible)
  • Mobile-only internet reliance is elevated among lower-income and rental households, amplified by the sunset of ACP subsidies in 2024
• Platform mix
  • Android skew: roughly 65–75% of smartphones (higher than statewide) due to price sensitivity and prepaid channel mix
• Race/ethnicity
  • The county is less diverse than Tennessee overall; adoption differences by race are muted simply because non-White populations are smaller shares locally

Digital infrastructure and performance (county realities vs state)

• Coverage pattern
  • Strongest along Elizabethton and primary corridors (US‑19E, US‑321, SR‑91/SR‑67)
  • Gaps and weak indoor signal in mountainous/forested areas: Roan Mountain, Dennis Cove, Stoney Creek valley, around portions of Watauga Lake, and Cherokee National Forest tracts
• 5G availability
  • Population coverage is broad in town centers via low‑band; mid‑band 5G (faster) is present mainly along the Elizabethton corridor and toward the Johnson City edge
  • Land‑area 5G coverage is limited; mmWave is effectively absent
  • Compared with statewide Tennessee, Carter relies more on low‑band 5G/LTE and less on mid‑band capacity layers
• Speeds and capacity
  • Typical median download: about 35–60 Mbps in populated areas; can drop under 10–15 Mbps in valleys or during peak events
  • Tennessee statewide medians are notably higher (urban mid‑band 5G lifts the state average to ~100+ Mbps), so Carter underperforms the state on speed and consistency
• Backhaul and sites
  • Macro towers are fewer and more terrain‑constrained; some sectors rely on microwave backhaul outside main corridors, which can bottleneck upgrades
  • Fiber backhaul is concentrated along highways and in Elizabethton; outside those areas, upgrade paths are slower than in metro Tennessee
• Carriers and public safety
  • Verizon and AT&T generally provide the most consistent rural coverage; T‑Mobile’s mid‑band 5G is improving along main corridors but remains patchy off‑corridor
  • FirstNet (AT&T) and Verizon Frontline cover primary routes; terrain still creates public‑safety dead zones where land mobile radio and satellite are used as fallbacks
• Funding and build programs
  • Unserved/underserved pockets around the lake and mountain hollows appear in FCC maps and are eligible for BEAD/fiber and fixed‑wireless bids
  • As these wireline builds complete, carriers typically add or upgrade small cells and mid‑band 5G where new backhaul arrives—expect stepwise, not uniform, improvements

Behavioral and usage trends that diverge from state-level

• Higher share of prepaid and MVNO usage; more price‑sensitive device choices
• More households use mobile data as primary home internet, especially after ACP ended
• Greater reliance on Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters in homes and cabins
• Seasonal congestion spikes near outdoor recreation (Watauga Lake, Roan Mountain State Park, Appalachian Trail access points) and during Elizabethton events
• Older adults maintain voice/text‑centric usage; telehealth adoption is growing but constrained by coverage indoors and in hollows

Implications

• Network planning: prioritize mid‑band 5G infill and fiber backhaul on the Elizabethton–US‑19E/US‑321 spines, then extend into Stoney Creek and Hampton/Roan Mountain valleys; deploy small cells where event congestion recurs
• Digital equity: without ACP, expect sustained or rising mobile‑only households; library and school hotspot lending remains impactful
• Service mix: prepaid, family plans, and rugged/entry Android devices will remain outsized; fixed‑wireless (mid‑band) can close gaps faster than wireline in difficult terrain

Notes on methodology

• User counts derived by applying national/rural adoption rates by age/income (Pew) to Carter’s population structure (Census/ACS), adjusted for rural Tennessee patterns; infrastructure points reflect FCC coverage maps, state broadband program materials, and known Appalachian terrain effects. Ranges indicate uncertainty and recent network changes.

Below is a concise, modeled snapshot of social media use in Carter County, Tennessee. Direct, current county-level platform stats aren’t published; figures are best estimates based on Carter County demographics (Census/ACS), plus Pew Research Center and other national/rural usage benchmarks adjusted for the county’s older age mix and rural profile.

Headline user stats (13+ population focus)

• 13+ population: ~48,000 (of ~56,000 total residents)
• People using at least one major social platform monthly (incl. YouTube): ~38,000–42,000 (≈79–87% of 13+)
• Daily users (use at least one platform daily): ~28,000–31,000 (≈58–65% of 13+)
• Gender among users: ~52% women, 48% men

Age breakdown (share of each age group using social + estimated share of total user base)

• 13–17: 93–97% use; ≈9–11% of total users
• 18–29: 88–92% use; ≈18–20% of users
• 30–44: 80–85% use; ≈23–25% of users
• 45–64: 65–75% use; ≈28–31% of users
• 65+: 40–50% use; ≈16–19% of users

Most-used platforms in Carter County (share of 13+ residents; ranges reflect uncertainty)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 36–44%
• TikTok: 28–36%
• Snapchat: 24–32% Secondary platforms
• Pinterest: 27–33% (heavily female)
• X (Twitter): 14–20% (more male, news/sports oriented)
• Reddit: 12–17% (younger/male skew)
• LinkedIn: 10–15% (lower than national avg; occupational mix)
• WhatsApp: 8–12% (niche; family groups, few local businesses)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups/Pages for school closings, youth/high‑school sports, church livestreams, local news, classifieds, and Facebook Marketplace.
• Short‑form video is surging: local businesses and creators use TikTok and cross‑post to Instagram Reels and Facebook Reels; smartphone vertical video performs best.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger dominates across ages; Snapchat is central for teens/young adults; WhatsApp is limited but present in some family circles.
• Commerce and promotions: Marketplace is a go‑to for buy/sell/trade; small businesses lean on boosted Facebook/Instagram posts targeting 10–20 mile radii; giveaways, coupons, and reviews drive engagement.
• Content that travels: severe weather alerts, road closures, missing pets/people, local history posts, high‑engagement events (festivals, fairs), high‑school sports highlights, outdoors (hunting/fishing/hiking).
• Demographic skews by platform:
  • Older adults: Facebook + YouTube; news, church, community updates.
  • Teens/young adults: TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; Instagram for style/shops.
  • Women: higher on Facebook and Pinterest; local boutiques, schools, community causes.
  • Men: higher on YouTube, Reddit, X; sports, trades, tech/outdoors.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings (about 6–9 pm) and around lunch; weekend mornings strong for Marketplace and events.

Method notes (for context)

• Built from Carter County population and age structure (Census/ACS) and national platform usage (Pew Research Center 2023–2024), with rural and age adjustments typical of East Tennessee counties. Ranges reflect uncertainty and multi‑platform use. Actual platform analytics may vary by season, events, and broadband availability.