Dekalb County

Here are concise, recent (Census/ACS) snapshots for DeKalb County, Tennessee:

Population

• 20,080 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: about 42 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: about 22–23%
• 65 and over: about 18–19%

Gender

• Female: about 50%

Race and Hispanic origin (2020 Census unless noted)

• White alone: about 88–90%
• Black or African American alone: about 1–2%
• Asian alone: ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3–0.5%
• Two or more races: about 6–9%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): about 7–9%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: about 8,000
• Average household size: about 2.5
• Family households: about two-thirds of all households
• Married-couple families: roughly half of households
• Households with children under 18: roughly one-quarter to one-third

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates.

Dekalb County, TN snapshot (estimates)

• Users: ≈21,000 residents; ≈16,300 adults. Applying national email adoption to local internet use yields about 13,500–15,000 adult email users; total residents with email ≈14,000–16,000.
• Age distribution of email users: 18–29: 15–18%; 30–49: 32–35%; 50–64: 26–28%; 65+: 20–23%. Usage is near-universal for ages 30–64 (95%+), high for 18–29 (90–95%), and somewhat lower for 65+ (~75–85%).
• Gender split: Roughly even; about 51% female, 49% male among users (mirrors local population).
• Digital access trends: About 65–75% of households have a fixed broadband subscription; 15–20% are smartphone-only internet users (higher in rural blocks). Email is commonly checked on smartphones; work/school accounts drive daily use. Public Wi‑Fi (libraries/schools) supplements access for some households.
• Density/connectivity: Population density ≈60 people per sq. mile. Dispersed housing and hilly terrain around Center Hill Lake increase last‑mile costs and leave pockets reliant on LTE/fixed‑wireless. Wired options are strongest in town centers (e.g., Smithville, Alexandria), with more variability in outlying areas.

Notes: Figures derive from ACS/state benchmarks and national email adoption rates applied to local population; treat as directional estimates.

Below is a pragmatic snapshot of mobile phone usage in DeKalb County, TN, with county-level estimates, who’s using what, and the local infrastructure shaping those patterns. Emphasis is on how DeKalb differs from Tennessee overall.

User estimates (orders of magnitude, not precise counts)

• Population base: ~21,000 residents; ~16,000–17,000 adults.
• Smartphone users: ~13,000–15,000 adults (roughly 80–88% adoption, a few points below TN’s urban-heavy average).
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): ~15,000–16,000 adults (mid-90% adoption, near statewide norms).
• Smartphone-dependent for home internet (mobile-only or hotspot-as-primary): meaningfully above the Tennessee average. Expect a notably higher share of households leaning on phone data/hotspots due to patchy fixed broadband in outlying areas.
• MVNO/prepaid usage: above the state average, reflecting price sensitivity and coverage-driven carrier switching.

Demographic and behavioral patterns

• Age: Older skew than the state. Adoption is near-saturation for under-50 adults, but lower among 65+ (where coverage, price, and device familiarity matter). Expect heavier use of voice/SMS and Facebook/Messenger in older cohorts; younger cohorts mirror statewide app usage.
• Income/affordability: Median household income trails the TN average. This correlates with:
  • Greater reliance on prepaid/MVNOs (e.g., Straight Talk, Cricket, Metro by T-Mobile).
  • Plan downgrades or carrier churn after the end of the federal ACP subsidy, with some households shifting to hotspot-based home internet.
• Language/ethnicity: Predominantly White non-Hispanic with a smaller but meaningful Hispanic/Latino community; bilingual retail and service channels exist but are thinner than in metro TN.
• Device mix: More LTE-only and budget Android devices remain in circulation than in urban TN; eSIM uptake and premium iPhone/flagship Android penetration are somewhat lower.

Digital infrastructure and coverage realities

• Carriers: AT&T and Verizon generally provide the most consistent rural coverage. T-Mobile has expanded 5G but still shows patchiness off main corridors and in hollows.
• 5G profile: Predominantly low-band (coverage-first) 5G along US-70/SR-26, SR-56, and around Smithville. Mid-band 5G is present but sparse; mmWave is effectively absent. Many users still ride LTE for capacity and reliability.
• Terrain effects: Hill-and-hollow topography and Center Hill Lake shorelines create dead zones and signal bounce. Wi‑Fi calling is common to fill gaps indoors.
• Tower density and siting: Fewer macro sites than urban counties; towers cluster along highways (US-70, SR-56) and population centers (Smithville, Alexandria, Dowelltown). Backhaul can be a limiting factor on some sites at peak times.
• Fiber and fixed alternatives: DTC Communications has built out fiber in and around population centers and continues rural build-outs, but not all outlying roads are served yet. Where fiber/cable is absent or slow, residents often rely on:
  • Phone-based hotspots or LTE/5G home internet.
  • Local WISPs (fixed wireless), which can be capacity-limited.
• Public safety and resilience: FirstNet (AT&T) coverage along main corridors supports first responders. Storms and power events can still induce localized outages; battery backup and generator coverage vary by site.
• Seasonal demand: Traffic surges around Center Hill Lake and short-term rentals on weekends/holidays create congestion spikes, especially on uplink and during evening hours.

How DeKalb differs from Tennessee overall

• Coverage quality spreads are wider: More pronounced dead zones and indoor coverage challenges than the state average, driving heavier reliance on Wi‑Fi calling and external antennas/boosters.
• Slower 5G transition: A higher share of users still depend primarily on LTE; mid-band 5G capacity is less common than in metro Tennessee.
• Higher smartphone-only/home-internet-by-hotspot use: Due to uneven fixed broadband, DeKalb has more households treating mobile service as their primary home connection compared to the statewide average.
• Carrier mix tilted to coverage leaders: AT&T and Verizon tend to dominate where terrain is challenging; T-Mobile’s gains are real but less uniform than in cities like Nashville, Knoxville, or Chattanooga.
• Price-sensitive plans more prevalent: Prepaid and MVNO penetration exceeds the state average, reflecting local income and the desire to switch carriers when coverage varies by road or ridge.
• Peak-time congestion is more localized and seasonal: Lake-driven tourism produces weekend/holiday slowdowns not seen in most urban TN neighborhoods.

Implications for planners and providers

• Prioritize additional macro sites or targeted small cells along lake perimeters and in valleys with persistent drop zones.
• Expand mid-band 5G where fiber backhaul exists to relieve LTE congestion.
• Continue fiber-to-the-home build-outs and coordinated mobile–fixed offerings; every rural fiber mile reduces hotspot dependency.
• Maintain bilingual retail/support and clear Wi‑Fi-calling education, especially for senior users in marginal-signal areas.

Notes on the estimates

• Population and demographics draw from recent Census/ACS trends; adoption rates are inferred from rural Tennessee and national Pew/industry patterns adjusted for DeKalb’s age, income, and terrain. For validation or planning-grade numbers, pair this with the FCC National Broadband Map, carrier coverage maps, DTC Communications build-out updates, and independent drive-test datasets (e.g., Ookla, RootMetrics).

DeKalb County, TN social media snapshot (2025)

Quick user stats

• Population: ~21,000 (ACS 2023). Adults 18+: ~16,000–17,000.
• Estimated active social media users: ~11,000–14,000 adults (70–80% of adults), plus most teens.

Most-used platforms (share of local social media users; best-available estimates)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 25–35% overall; 60–75% among ages 18–29
• Snapchat: 20–30% overall; 60–80% among teens/early 20s
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews female)
• WhatsApp: 10–20%
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 10–15%

Age-group patterns

• Teens (13–17): Very high on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok; light on Facebook.
• 18–29: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok dominate; Snapchat still strong; Facebook for family/events.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube are core; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising.
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube primary; Instagram/TikTok lower but growing.
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube second; others minimal.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat.
  • Expect roughly: Facebook ~55–60% women; Pinterest ~75–80% women; Instagram/TikTok ~50–60% women.
• Men over-index on YouTube, X, Reddit.
  • Expect roughly: YouTube ~55–65% men; X/Reddit ~60–70% men.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook Groups act as the local bulletin board (schools, weather alerts, buy/sell/trade, youth sports). Shares/comments drive reach more than link posts.
• Facebook Marketplace is a top driver of local transactions.
• Short-form vertical video (Reels/TikTok) performs best; recognizable local faces/places outperform stock content.
• Peak engagement windows: evenings 6–9 pm; weekend mid-days. Weekday mornings work for announcements.
• Event-driven spikes: county/school calendars, severe weather, county fair, high school sports, fishing/boating season.
• Trust signals: content from local institutions, coaches, pastors, and small businesses travels farther; tagging people/places boosts distribution.
• Ads: tight geo (10–25 miles around Smithville/Alexandria/Liberty) with interests tied to outdoors, farming, construction, trucking, healthcare, and K‑12 tends to perform well.

Sources and method

• Estimates derived from Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. social media adoption by platform/age/gender, adjusted for rural counties, and applied to ACS 2023 population for DeKalb County, TN. Use platform audience tools for precise counts when planning campaigns.