Cumberland County

Which data vintage would you like?

• 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates (best for counties; most complete recent sample data)
• 2020 Decennial Census (official baseline counts)
• 2023 Population Estimates Program (latest total population only)

If no preference, I’ll use 2019–2023 ACS 5-year for all demographics and 2023 population estimate for total population.

Here’s a concise, estimates-based view for Cumberland County, TN:

• Estimated email users: 50,000–55,000 residents use email at least monthly (county population ≈65,000; adult email adoption ~90%).
• Age distribution of email users (approximate share of all users):
  • 13–17: 5–8%
  • 18–34: 18–22%
  • 35–64: 40–45%
  • 65+: 28–32% (county skews older, boosting this share)
• Gender split: roughly even; slight female tilt (about 51% female, 49% male) due to older-age demographics.
• Digital access trends:
  • Household broadband subscription estimated at 70–80%; mobile-only home internet 10–15%.
  • Fiber availability is expanding around population centers; many rural areas still rely on cable, DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
  • Older and lower-income households show lower adoption; smartphone use is high but below urban TN rates.
• Local density/connectivity:
  • Low population density (~85–95 people per square mile) increases last‑mile costs and contributes to patchy high-speed coverage.
  • Best fixed broadband options cluster in and around Crossville, Fairfield Glade, and along the I‑40 corridor; service quality drops in outlying ridges/valleys.

Notes: Figures are synthesized from national/rural adoption patterns and typical county demographics; treat as directional estimates.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Cumberland County, Tennessee

Baseline

• Population: roughly 62–64k residents; an older age profile than Tennessee overall and largely rural outside Crossville/I‑40.
• Implication: age and terrain shape adoption, carrier mix, and network performance.

User estimates (order-of-magnitude, age-adjusted from national/Pew and TN rural patterns)

• Adult mobile phone ownership (any cellphone): about 45–50k adults, or ~90–93% of adults.
• Adult smartphone users: about 38–42k adults, or ~76–82% of adults. This is a few points lower than the statewide adult average.
• Teens (13–17) with smartphones: high (roughly 85–95%), but a smaller absolute group than in most TN counties due to the county’s older age structure.
• Mobile-only internet households (no home wireline): about 12–16% of households, likely a bit higher than the statewide share because of patchy wireline options outside town and cost sensitivity.
• Prepaid/MVNO lines: meaningfully above the state average; a large share of subscriptions flow through Cricket, Straight Talk/Tracfone, Metro, and other MVNOs.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Seniors (65+; a larger share here than statewide):
  • Smartphone adoption materially lower than TN average for seniors; many still use basic/feature phones or older Androids.
  • More voice/text-first behavior, heavier reliance on Wi‑Fi when available; lower rates of app-based services and mobile payments.
• Working-age adults (25–54):
  • High smartphone adoption, but upgrade cycles are slower than in TN metros; midrange Android devices are common.
  • Higher share of prepaid and discount plans; family plans frequently mix postpaid and prepaid.
• Lower-income households:
  • Lower smartphone and home internet adoption; prepaid plans dominate.
  • The phase-down of the Affordable Connectivity Program has increased plan switching, data-capping, and mobile-only reliance.
• Platform mix:
  • Android share likely 60–70%, higher than the TN average, reflecting price sensitivity and retail availability.
• Language/cultural:
  • Smaller immigrant share than state average; fewer device/access barriers tied to language, but digital skills gaps among older residents are more pronounced.

Digital infrastructure

• Coverage and carriers:
  • AT&T and Verizon have the broadest coverage, especially along I‑40 and in/around Crossville; T‑Mobile has improved in town and along major corridors but still has rural gaps.
  • LTE remains the default outside population centers; dead zones persist in valleys and hollows on the Plateau.
• 5G footprint:
  • Low-band 5G is present around Crossville and the I‑40 corridor; mid-band 5G (for higher capacity) is limited and spotty; mmWave is effectively absent.
  • Net effect: 5G is available but delivers less consistent gains than in TN metros; many users see LTE-like experiences outside town.
• Performance:
  • In-town median downloads commonly 50–150 Mbps on 5G; rural outskirts often 5–20 Mbps on LTE with variable uplink and higher latency.
• Towers and backhaul:
  • Sites are concentrated along interstates and ridgelines; terrain drives signal shadows. Backhaul constraints outside town can bottleneck peak-time performance.
• Fixed alternatives that shape mobile use:
  • Cable (e.g., Spectrum) covers most of Crossville; AT&T offers legacy DSL and limited fiber; regional telco/electric co‑op fiber builds are expanding but not countywide.
  • Where fiber/cable is absent, households lean on mobile hotspots or fixed wireless (T‑Mobile/Verizon) if signal is adequate; otherwise WISPs fill some gaps.
• Public/anchor connectivity:
  • Schools, libraries, and county facilities provide critical Wi‑Fi access; FirstNet coverage for public safety is present along primary corridors.

How Cumberland County differs from Tennessee overall

• Older population drives:
  • Lower overall smartphone penetration, especially among seniors.
  • More basic-phone and older-device use; slower device refresh cycles.
• Rural terrain and settlement pattern:
  • More persistent coverage gaps and uplink/latency issues than the state average.
  • Slower, patchier 5G adoption and smaller mid-band footprint than in TN metros.
• Economics and plan selection:
  • Higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans and cost-focused Android devices.
  • Slightly higher share of mobile-only internet households due to limited wireline options outside town and affordability constraints.
• Usage behavior:
  • Voice/text and Wi‑Fi-first habits more common; lower penetration of data-heavy services relative to statewide urban/suburban areas.

Notes on uncertainty

• Figures are estimates synthesized from recent census/ACS demographics, statewide/rural adoption patterns, and carrier coverage norms. Localized tower upgrades or new fiber builds can shift these patterns quickly, especially around Crossville and major corridors.

Below is a compact, county‑level snapshot built from Tennessee/rural benchmarks, Pew platform adoption, and Cumberland County’s older age profile. Exact platform counts aren’t published at the county level, so figures are best‑estimate ranges.

User stats (adults)

• Population base: ~65,000 residents; ~52,000 adults
• Social media users: 36,000–40,000 adults (≈70–77% penetration); plus ~4,500–5,500 teens active
• Access: smartphone‑first usage is common; home broadband below big‑city levels, so short video and lightweight posts perform best

Most‑used platforms (share of adult residents using at least monthly; estimates)

• YouTube: 78–83%
• Facebook: 73–78%
• Instagram: 32–38% (higher under 35)
• TikTok: 27–33% (strong under 35; growing 50+ via Facebook Reels spillover)
• Pinterest: 22–28% (women‑led)
• Snapchat: 18–23% (concentrated in teens/20s)
• X/Twitter: 10–14%
• Reddit: 8–12%
• Nextdoor: 5–8% (pockets in subdivisions; limited countywide reach)

Age groups (penetration among residents in each bracket; estimates)

• 13–17: 85–90% (Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram dominant)
• 18–29: 92–96% (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok; Facebook used for events/Marketplace)
• 30–49: 82–88% (Facebook, YouTube; Instagram/TikTok mixed)
• 50–64: 70–75% (Facebook, YouTube; Pinterest notable)
• 65+: 58–62% (Facebook primary; YouTube for how‑to, news)

Gender breakdown (share of active users; estimates)

• Female: 54–56% of county social users (over‑indexes on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram)
• Male: 44–46% (over‑indexes on YouTube, Reddit; Facebook still large)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community‑centric Facebook: local news/alerts, church and civic updates, school sports, yard‑sale and buy/sell groups, Marketplace. Word‑of‑mouth and “friend‑of‑friend” trust matter.
• Video, but bite‑size: short clips (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) perform; common themes include DIY, homesteading, gardening, auto repair, outdoor recreation (parks, fishing, golf), real estate, and local dining.
• Older skew shapes content: clear text, phone numbers, location/hours, and event posts outperform heavy design. Carousel photos of inventory and before/after shots work well.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger widely used; Snapchat for youth; WhatsApp niche.
• Timing: peaks 6–9 pm and early mornings; weekend afternoons strong for events and faith/community content.
• Local business use: frequent promos on Facebook (coupons, limited‑time offers), sponsorship posts for school teams and festivals, and service explainers on YouTube.

Method note

• Figures are derived from national/state platform adoption, rural county adjustments, and Cumberland County’s older age structure; treat as directional ranges rather than exact counts.