Franklin County

Franklin County, Tennessee — key demographics (latest Census data)

Population

• 2023 estimate: ~44,500 (U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program)
• 2020 Census: 42,774

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2018–2022, shares may not sum to 100% due to rounding)

• White alone: ~87%
• Black or African American alone: ~6–7%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.3%
• Asian alone: ~0.7–1%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~4–5%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~84–85%

Households (ACS 2018–2022)

• Total households: ~17,000–18,000
• Average household size: ~2.4–2.5 persons
• Family households: ~70% of households
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–78%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2023 Population Estimates Program.

Franklin County, TN snapshot (estimates)

• Residents: ~46,000. Active email users: ~33,000–36,000 (≈75–80% of population; assumes ~90% usage among ages 13+).
• Age mix of email users:
  • 13–17: 6–8%
  • 18–29: 14–16%
  • 30–49: 30–34%
  • 50–64: 24–26%
  • 65+: 18–22% Older adults are numerous locally but have slightly lower adoption than prime‑age adults.
• Gender: ~51% female, 49% male in the county; email usage is roughly even by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • 70–80% of households have fixed broadband; fiber coverage is expanding via regional co‑ops (e.g., Ben Lomand Connect) and incumbents in towns; rural pockets still face slower DSL/wireless.
  • 10–15% of households are mobile‑only internet.
  • Public Wi‑Fi is common at libraries, schools, and the University of the South (Sewanee), supporting access for students and lower‑income households.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • ~80 people per square mile across ~550 sq mi; strongest connectivity in Winchester/Decherd/Estill Springs/Cowan/Sewanee and along US‑64/US‑41A corridors; terrain on the Cumberland Plateau and around Tims Ford Lake can create spotty coverage.

Notes: Figures are modeled from county population, typical rural/suburban broadband adoption, and national email use by age.

Below is a concise, planning-grade snapshot of mobile phone usage in Franklin County, Tennessee, with indicative estimates and how local patterns differ from Tennessee overall. Figures are ballpark 2025 estimates synthesized from recent ACS 5‑year county indicators, Pew/NHIS adoption trends, carrier coverage disclosures, and regional provider buildouts; use them as starting points rather than exact counts.

At-a-glance user estimates

• Population and households: ~43,000 residents; ~17,000 households; ~34,000 adults.
• Adult smartphone users: ~29,000–31,000 (about 85–90% of adults; slightly below large TN metros, roughly in line with rural/micropolitan TN).
• Cellular-only voice (no landline): ~12,000–13,000 households (roughly 70–75%), a bit higher than TN statewide.
• Households primarily relying on mobile broadband for home internet (phone hotspot or dedicated cellular): ~2,500–3,400 (about 15–20%), higher than the state average.
• Prepaid/MVNO share: noticeably higher than statewide (budget plans popular outside Winchester/Decherd/Sewanee).

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age:
  • 18–24: Very high smartphone use (>95%), boosted by Sewanee (University of the South); heavy iOS presence on/near campus and seasonal usage spikes (Aug–May).
  • 25–64: Near-universal adoption; mix skews toward Android outside campus/town centers.
  • 65+: Adoption trails state urban areas, with a larger gap vs younger adults than statewide; voice-first and basic plans remain common in rural tracts.
• Income and plan type:
  • Median household income is modestly below the TN average, correlating with higher prepaid usage, family plans shared across households, and slower upgrade cycles.
• Rural vs town centers:
  • Outside Winchester/Decherd/Sewanee and the I‑24/US‑41A corridor, a larger share of residents rely on mobile data for home connectivity due to patchy or pricier fixed options. This reliance is higher than the state average.
• Platform mix:
  • Countywide Android share is slightly higher than TN overall; iOS leads in and around Sewanee.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what’s on the ground)

• Carriers and 5G:
  • AT&T and Verizon provide broad county coverage; AT&T/FirstNet has strong public-safety footprint. T‑Mobile mid-band 5G is present in population centers and along major corridors, but coverage is patchier into hollows/valleys.
  • 5G low-band blankets most traveled roads; mid-band 5G is concentrated in Winchester/Decherd/Sewanee and near I‑24. Millimeter-wave is rare.
• Terrain effects:
  • The Cumberland Plateau topography and lake coves (e.g., around Tims Ford) create more dead zones and indoor penetration issues than the TN statewide norm. Expect variable signal in valleys (Cowan/Sherwood areas) and older stone buildings on campus.
• Backhaul and tower density:
  • Fewer sites per square mile than urban TN; fiber-fed upgrades have improved capacity along US‑41A and near town centers, but some outlying sectors still depend on longer microwave/fiber runs that limit peak speeds versus metro TN.
• Fixed-broadband interplay:
  • Ben Lomand (regional cooperative) and AT&T have expanded fiber in and near town centers; cable serves core Winchester/Decherd neighborhoods. Rural tracts without fiber/cable see higher mobile-only internet dependence than state averages.

How Franklin County differs from Tennessee overall

• Higher reliance on mobile as the primary home internet, particularly in rural tracts.
• Slightly lower overall mid-band 5G availability and median speeds than metro TN, largely due to terrain and tower spacing; improvements are ongoing along main corridors.
• More pronounced age-related adoption gap (65+ vs younger adults) than in urban counties.
• Prepaid/MVNO penetration is higher; device upgrade cycles are longer.
• A distinct campus effect: localized iOS share and data-usage spikes near Sewanee that aren’t reflected statewide.

Implications

• Carriers: Greatest ROI from adding/retuning mid-band 5G sectors on the Plateau rim, lake communities, and valley bottoms; in-building solutions for campus/historic cores.
• Public sector: Mobile coverage improvements will disproportionately aid telehealth, public safety, and education access compared with the state average.
• Retail/channel: Emphasize prepaid and value plans countywide; premium iOS mix and accessory sales strongest near campus and town centers.

Franklin County, TN – social media snapshot (short)

Baseline

• Residents: ≈43–45k. People 13+ ≈36–38k.
• Estimated social media users (13+): 28–33k (≈65–75% of all residents; ≈75–85% of 13+).

Most‑used platforms (estimated monthly reach; share of residents 13+)

• Facebook (incl. Messenger): 58–65% (≈21–25k) — most local/community interaction
• YouTube: 62–70% (≈22–26k) — heavy viewing, lighter “community” use
• Instagram: 35–42% (≈13–16k)
• TikTok: 28–35% (≈10–13k)
• Snapchat: 22–30% (≈8–11k; concentrated among teens/college)
• X/Twitter: 10–15% (news/sports niche)
• Pinterest: 20–26% (women 25–54 skew)
• LinkedIn: 10–14% (professionals; university/healthcare)
• Nextdoor: 3–8% (patchy local coverage)

Age groups among local social media users (share of users)

• 13–17: ~12%
• 18–24: ~13% (Sewanee/college bump)
• 25–34: ~18%
• 35–54: ~35%
• 55+: ~22%

Gender breakdown (among local social media users)

• Female: ~53%
• Male: ~47%
• Skews: Women over‑index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over‑index on YouTube and X.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups for schools, churches, youth and high‑school sports, civic clubs, buy/sell/trade, and local services. Event posts and photo albums perform best; comments and tagging drive reach.
• Messaging as customer service: many residents DM via Messenger or Instagram for hours, pricing, and appointments; fast replies matter.
• Short‑form video growth: Reels/TikTok featuring local food spots, lake life (Tims Ford), outdoors/hunting/fishing, home projects, and behind‑the‑scenes at local businesses earn strong completion and share rates.
• Younger behavior (13–24): Snapchat and TikTok are daily defaults; Instagram for peers and campus life; Facebook mainly for events or family.
• 25–44: Multi‑platform; Facebook for community and marketplace, Instagram for brands and creators, TikTok for entertainment/how‑tos.
• 45–65+: Facebook first; YouTube for tutorials, local news/weather clips; Pinterest for home/recipes. Growing comfort with Reels.
• Timing: Peaks around 6–8am, 11am–1pm, and 7–10pm; Sundays and severe‑weather or school‑closure days spike engagement.
• Content cues: Local faces, recognizably local places, and service‑oriented posts outperform generic creative. Giveaways and cause tie‑ins (booster clubs, church events) amplify word‑of‑mouth.
• Ad targeting notes: Radius targeting around Winchester/Decherd/Sewanee/Estill Springs works well; Facebook/Instagram placements deliver the broadest local reach; TikTok for 13–34 reach and video discovery.

Notes on method

• Exact county‑level social metrics aren’t publicly released. Figures are estimates triangulated from 2020–2023 ACS population, Pew Research platform usage by age/gender (2023–2024), and typical platform‑reach patterns for rural Southern counties. Treat as planning ranges rather than audited counts.