Clay County

Key demographics — Clay County, Tennessee (most recent ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

• Population: ~7,700
• Age:
  • Median age: ~47
  • Under 18: ~19%
  • 65 and over: ~24%
• Sex: ~51% male, ~49% female
• Race/ethnicity (Hispanic is of any race):
  • White: ~95%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~2%
  • Two or more races: ~2%
  • Black or African American: ~0.5%
  • Other groups (Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, etc.): each <1%
• Households:
  • Total households: ~3,200
  • Average household size: ~2.3
  • Family households: ~65% of households
  • Average family size: ~2.8

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Figures are rounded; estimates carry margins of error.

Clay County, TN — estimated email usage (directional estimates based on U.S. adoption rates applied to local age mix; treat as approximations):

• Estimated email users: ~5,600–5,900 residents (of ~7,600 population).
• Age distribution of email users (share of users):
  • 13–17: ~6% of users (school-driven accounts).
  • 18–29: ~16%.
  • 30–49: ~31%.
  • 50–64: ~25%.
  • 65+: ~22% (lower but rising adoption).
• Gender split: ~50/50 (male/female), with only marginal differences in adoption.
• Access and usage trends:
  • Household broadband subscription: roughly 65–75% of households; fiber presence is growing but still limited in some hollows.
  • Smartphone-only internet users: ~10–15% of households rely primarily on mobile data.
  • Public access points (library, schools) remain important for residents with limited home service.
  • LTE/5G covers main corridors; terrain can cause spotty coverage in valleys.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Population density ≈ 30 people per square mile (sparse, raising last‑mile costs).
  • Older-leaning population modestly lowers email intensity versus urban TN, but steady gains among 50+ and 65+ cohorts.

Method: Applied typical U.S. email adoption by age (higher for 18–64, lower for 65+) to Clay County’s small, rural, older-skewing population profile.

Clay County, Tennessee: mobile usage snapshot with county-vs-state differences

Top takeaways (how Clay County differs from Tennessee overall)

• High mobile reliance but slower tech adoption: near-universal cellphone use, yet lower smartphone and 5G adoption than statewide averages.
• More people depend on mobile for home internet: a larger share of households use cellular as their primary/only internet.
• Prepaid/MVNO-heavy market: price-sensitive users and patchy coverage drive higher-than-average use of prepaid brands (Straight Talk, Cricket, Metro, Boost).
• Coverage is spottier and speeds are lower: terrain and sparse tower density create dead zones and lower median speeds; 5G mid-band is limited.
• Older population shapes usage: more basic phones and longer device upgrade cycles; higher share keeping a landline compared with TN overall.
• Seasonal demand swings: tourism around Dale Hollow Lake and the Cumberland River creates summer and weekend load spikes uncommon in most TN counties.

User estimates (modeled; see “Notes”)

• Population base: 7,700–8,000 residents; roughly 6,000–6,300 adults.
• Adult cellphone users: 5,400–5,800 (about 90–93% of adults; TN ~95–97%).
• Adult smartphone users: 4,700–5,100 (about 78–82% of adults; TN ~85–88%).
• Teen (12–17) phone users: 430–500, mostly smartphones.
• Total unique mobile users: about 5,900–6,300 countywide.
• Households using mobile as primary/only home internet: roughly 18–25% of households (TN ~10–14%).
• Wireless-only telephone households (no landline): roughly 60–65% (TN ~70–75%).

Demographic and behavioral drivers

• Age: Above-average share of residents 65+. Senior smartphone adoption is lower (about 60–65% vs 70–75% statewide), increasing the mix of basic phones and text/voice-centric plans.
• Income and affordability: Median household income well below the TN median; higher take-up of prepaid/MVNO plans, family plan sharing, and slower upgrade cycles (3–4+ years).
• Work and schooling: Fewer remote/work-from-home roles; mobile data often used to fill fixed-broadband gaps for homework and streaming, but data caps constrain heavy video use.
• Race/ethnicity/language: Predominantly White non-Hispanic; language barriers are not a primary limiter; affordability and coverage are.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage footprint:
  • AT&T and Verizon generally provide the broadest rural coverage; T-Mobile varies more by topography and proximity to highways and Celina.
  • 5G low-band likely along primary corridors and population centers; mid-band 5G (for higher speeds) is limited compared with most TN metros.
• Speeds and reliability:
  • Typical median mobile downlink speeds: roughly 10–25 Mbps in populated areas, lower in hollows/valleys; Tennessee statewide medians are commonly 30–60+ Mbps.
  • Terrain and lake/river valleys create dead zones and handoff issues; storms can cause longer restoration times than in urban TN.
• Backhaul and tower density:
  • Few macro sites serve large areas; microwave backhaul is more common than fiber in outlying zones, constraining capacity vs TN’s urban counties.
• Alternatives and complements:
  • Fixed broadband is limited outside Celina and denser pockets; DSL remains in use; cable/fiber availability is uneven.
  • Starlink and other satellite options are visible substitutes; several WISPs operate spot coverage.
  • Public Wi‑Fi exists (library, schools, some cafes/marinas) but the footprint is small relative to need.
• Seasonal load:
  • Summer recreation increases cell-site congestion around Dale Hollow Lake and major boat ramps/marinas, a pattern less pronounced in most TN counties.

How Clay County trends differ from Tennessee overall (by metric)

• Smartphone adoption: 78–82% of adults vs 85–88% statewide.
• Wireless-only phone households: 60–65% vs 70–75% statewide.
• Prepaid share of lines: 45–55% vs ~35–40% statewide.
• 5G population coverage: roughly 55–65% vs 90%+ statewide.
• Mobile-only home internet: 18–25% of households vs 10–14% statewide.
• Median mobile speeds: 10–25 Mbps vs 30–60+ Mbps statewide.
• Device replacement cycle: longer by ~6–12 months on average than urban TN.

Implications

• Network planning: Capacity upgrades near Celina, SR-52 corridors, and lake access points would yield outsized benefits; mid-band 5G and fiber backhaul are the biggest levers.
• Affordability programs: ACP replacement or local subsidy efforts and MVNO partnerships matter more here than in most TN counties.
• Digital inclusion: Senior-focused smartphone training and low-cost device programs will close a larger gap than in the state overall.
• Public safety/resilience: Backup power at key sites and microwave/fiber path diversity reduce prolonged outages in storms.

Notes on methods and verification

• Figures are reasoned estimates based on county population, rural adoption patterns (Pew, CDC NHIS), and typical rural TN network characteristics. They are intended as planning ranges, not exact counts.
• For validation and refinement:
  • U.S. Census/ACS for population, age, income, household counts.
  • FCC National Broadband Map and carrier coverage maps for 4G/5G footprints and backhaul.
  • Ookla/Opensignal for observed speeds.
  • CDC NHIS for wireless-only household trends.
  • State/local providers (Twin Lakes, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, WISPs) for current buildouts and planned upgrades.

Note: Precise, platform-by-platform stats aren’t published at the county level; figures below are estimates based on Pew Research’s 2023–2024 U.S. usage, rural Tennessee patterns, and ACS demographics for a county of about 7,800–8,000 residents.

User stats

• Estimated social media users: 4,700–5,200 people (about 60–66% of residents; roughly 68–74% of adults)
• Daily users: ~3,000–3,500 (about 65–70% of local social users)
• Predominantly mobile use; many households are smartphone-only or rely on public Wi‑Fi

Age mix among local social users

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–29: 19%
• 30–49: 34%
• 50–64: 23%
• 65+: 15% Notes: Teens and 18–29s are near-universal users; usage tapers with age but Facebook/YouTube remain common 50+.

Gender breakdown (among social users)

• Women: 52–55%
• Men: 45–48%
• Nonbinary/other: <1% (small sample; underreported)

Most‑used platforms (share of local social users using each at least monthly)

• Facebook: 85–90%
• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook Messenger: 70–75%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• TikTok: 35–45% (heaviest under 30)
• Snapchat: 30–40% (mostly teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 25–30% (skews women 25–54)
• X/Twitter: 10–15%
• Reddit: 8–12%
• WhatsApp: 8–10%
• Nextdoor: <5% (limited footprint in sparsely populated areas)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: local groups (yard sales, school and church updates, lost/found pets, weather/road alerts) and Marketplace for buy-sell-trade (farm/auto/outdoor gear).
• Video dominates attention: YouTube for DIY, small‑engine repair, homesteading, hunting/fishing, gospel; TikTok/Reels for short local news, humor, and creator clips.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is default for families and community orgs; Snapchat for teens/young adults; SMS still widely used.
• Small businesses prioritize Facebook Pages and boosted posts over websites; typical targeting is within ~10–25 miles.
• Engagement spikes around school sports, severe weather, community events, and county services updates.
• Trust is local-first: posts from known people, churches, schools, and local admins drive the most interaction; skepticism toward national sources.
• Timing: Peaks before work/school (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); Sunday afternoons also strong.
• Access shapes behavior: mobile‑first consumption; some reliance on public Wi‑Fi (library, cafes) and data‑saving habits (short videos, fewer long streams).