Hardeman County

Hardeman County, Tennessee — key demographics

Population size

• 25,462 (2020 Census)
• ~25,100 (2023 estimate, U.S. Census Bureau)

Age

• Median age: ~40 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~21%
• 18–64: ~61%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender

• Male: ~56%
• Female: ~44%
• Note: The county’s large state prison population drives a higher male share and a sizable group-quarters population.

Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census; mutually exclusive where possible)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~47%
• Non-Hispanic Black: ~45%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~4%
• Other/Multiracial (non-Hispanic, including Asian, AIAN, NHPI, Two+): ~4%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~9,200
• Persons per household: ~2.45–2.50
• Family households: ~66%
• Married-couple households: ~43%
• Single-person households: ~28%
• Group quarters (institutional/non-institutional, incl. prisons): roughly 10–15% of total population

Insights

• Stable-to-slightly declining population since 2020.
• Older-than-state-average age profile with about 1 in 5 residents 65+.
• Unusually high male share and group-quarters presence reflect correctional facilities.
• Racially diverse for rural Tennessee, with near parity between Non-Hispanic White and Black populations.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year; 2023 Population Estimates Program).

Hardeman County, TN snapshot

• Population: 25,400; low-density and largely rural (38 residents/sq. mile across ~670 sq. miles).
• Estimated email users: ≈17,500 residents use email regularly (based on adult share of population, rural internet adoption, and near-universal email use among internet users).
• Age distribution of email users (est. share of users):
  • 18–34: ~27%
  • 35–54: ~32%
  • 55–64: ~16%
  • 65+: ~21%
• Gender split of users: ~52% female, ~48% male, mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access and trends:
  • ~72% of households have a broadband subscription; ~90% have a computer or smartphone.
  • ~20% of households lack a home internet subscription; a meaningful minority rely primarily on mobile data.
  • Broadband availability and fiber buildouts have expanded since 2021 via state/federal programs, lifting adoption and speeds, especially around Bolivar and along main corridors, though some rural pockets remain on legacy DSL or fixed wireless.
• Connectivity context: Email use is widespread among working-age adults (>90% of internet users), with modest drop-off in 65+ due to lower internet adoption, not lack of email familiarity. Overall email penetration is climbing as fiber reaches more households.

Mobile phone usage in Hardeman County, Tennessee — user estimates, demographics, and infrastructure, with contrasts to statewide patterns

County baseline

• Population: 25,462 (2020 Census), spread across roughly 670 square miles (about 38 residents per square mile, far below the Tennessee average of ~168), which materially shapes network build-out economics and performance
• Socioeconomics: Median household income roughly $45,000 (well below the state median), and a higher-than-state poverty rate; these factors increase price sensitivity and reliance on prepaid and mobile-only internet
• Demographics: Older-than-state age profile and a comparatively large Black population; both correlate with distinct patterns of device ownership and internet reliance

User estimates (2024–2025 conditions)

• Total mobile users: Approximately 20,000–21,000 residents use a mobile phone (about 80–83% of the total population, and about 95% of adults)
• Smartphone users: About 18,500–19,000 users carry a smartphone (roughly 88–90% of adult mobile users, modestly below statewide levels)
• Prepaid vs. postpaid: Prepaid share is elevated at roughly 30–35% of mobile lines (vs. approximately 20–25% statewide), reflecting lower incomes and credit constraints
• Mobile-only internet households: Approximately 2,800–3,200 of the county’s households rely primarily or exclusively on cellular data for home internet (roughly 28–32%, significantly above the statewide share, which is closer to the mid/high teens)
• Multiline rate: Households tend to consolidate plans; typical households with children carry 3–4 active lines, while single-adult and senior households often maintain one line and lower data buckets

Demographic breakdown of usage

• Age
  • 18–34: Near-saturation smartphone adoption (>95%), heavy app and video usage, strong uptake of budget-friendly unlimited plans
  • 35–64: High smartphone penetration (~90%); increased use of hotspotting for homework and work-from-home in areas with weak fixed broadband
  • 65+: Smartphone adoption notably lower (about 65–75% vs. >80% statewide), with a visible basic/feature-phone cohort and lower data-plan tiers; this pulls down the countywide smartphone share and data consumption
• Income
  • Low- and moderate-income households over-index on prepaid, MVNOs, and lower-cost Android devices; they are more likely to be mobile-only for home internet
• Race and ethnicity
  • The county’s relatively larger Black population is more likely to be smartphone-dependent for internet access than White households, a pattern amplified by limited fixed broadband options in rural tracts
• Education and employment
  • Households with school-aged children show higher hotspot usage and device-per-student ratios due to gaps in fixed broadband, despite school Wi‑Fi availability in town centers

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage
  • 4G/LTE: Broad outdoor coverage across most populated corridors, with patchier service in sparsely populated timberland and river-bottom areas
  • 5G: Low-band 5G blankets primary highways and town centers (Bolivar, Whiteville, Middleton, Toone), while capacity 5G (mid-band) is concentrated in and near towns and along US‑64; many rural areas still fall back to LTE
• Carriers
  • AT&T and Verizon provide the most consistent rural coverage footprints; T‑Mobile has expanded low-band 5G and offers strong performance in town centers and along major roads but remains more variable off-corridor
  • Fixed-wireless/5G home internet is available in and near towns from at least one national carrier; availability drops quickly outside these footprints
• Capacity and speeds
  • Typical median mobile download speeds fall in the 30–50 Mbps range countywide, with higher peaks in town centers that see mid-band 5G and lower speeds in outlying areas; this trails statewide medians that trend closer to the 80–100 Mbps range in urban/suburban markets
• Backhaul and density
  • Sparser tower spacing and greater reliance on microwave backhaul in rural tracts constrain peak capacity compared with fiber-fed urban sites; this shows up as evening slowdowns and greater variability during school-year evenings and along commuter corridors
• Emergency and public facilities
  • Public Wi‑Fi and carrier macro coverage are strongest around schools, health facilities, and county offices in Bolivar and Whiteville, mitigating some home-connectivity gaps but leaving coverage holes in outlying communities

How Hardeman County differs from Tennessee overall

• More mobile-only internet reliance: About 28–32% of households vs. roughly mid/high teens statewide
• Lower smartphone penetration among seniors: A larger 65+ cohort and lower senior smartphone adoption reduce the countywide smartphone share below the state average
• Higher prepaid share: Roughly 30–35% vs. 20–25% statewide, driven by income and credit dynamics
• Slower median speeds and more variability: Rural tower spacing and limited mid-band 5G outside towns keep median speeds below statewide urban/suburban norms
• Coverage is adequate but thinner off-corridor: Outdoor LTE is widespread, but indoor coverage and high-capacity 5G are materially less consistent away from towns and US‑64

Notable trends and implications for the next 12–24 months

• 5G capacity gains will be town-centric: Expect improvements first in Bolivar/Whiteville and along US‑64; outlying communities will see incremental upgrades but may remain LTE-reliant
• Fixed-wireless (5G home internet) will grow in town areas: This can reduce the mobile-only household share in those zones while keeping mobile-only reliance high in the countryside
• Post‑ACP affordability pressure: With the wind‑down of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, lower-income households are likelier to downshift plans, migrate to prepaid/MVNOs, or rely more heavily on mobile-only connectivity, widening the county–state gap in fixed broadband adoption
• Education and telehealth demand will sustain high evening loads: Expect continued hotspot and mobile video usage patterns to drive peak-time congestion, with performance gaps persisting relative to statewide urban markets

Bottom line

• Hardeman County’s mobile ecosystem is characterized by strong baseline coverage but thinner high-capacity 5G outside towns, a higher-than-state reliance on mobile-only internet, elevated prepaid adoption, and lower senior smartphone uptake. These features reflect its rural geography and income profile and produce distinctly different usage patterns and network performance compared with Tennessee’s urbanized counties.

Hardeman County, TN — social media usage snapshot (2025)

Context

• Population: ~25,000 residents; adults (18+): ~19,000 (ACS).
• Rural profile with an older age skew; smartphone and broadband adoption slightly below U.S. urban averages.

Overall user stats

• Adults using at least one social platform monthly: ~75–80% (≈14,000–15,000 people).

Most-used platforms among adults (share of adult population)

• YouTube: ~82%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~42%
• Pinterest: ~32%
• TikTok: ~31%
• Snapchat: ~28%
• WhatsApp: ~27%
• X (Twitter): ~23%
• LinkedIn: ~22%
• Reddit: ~20%

Age-group patterns (share of adults in each group using key platforms)

• 18–29: YouTube ~95%; Instagram ~70%; TikTok ~60%; Snapchat ~65%; Facebook ~55%.
• 30–49: YouTube ~90%; Facebook ~75%; Instagram ~55%; TikTok ~35%; Snapchat ~25%.
• 50–64: YouTube ~80%; Facebook ~70%; Instagram ~30%; TikTok ~20%.
• 65+: YouTube ~60%; Facebook ~55–60%; Instagram ~18%; TikTok ~10–12%.

Gender breakdown (platform skews among users)

• Overall social users roughly mirror local population: ~52% female, ~48% male.
• Platform skews: Pinterest ~75% female; TikTok ~60% female; Snapchat ~55% female; Instagram ~52% female; Facebook ~54% female; YouTube ~55% male; X ~60% male; Reddit ~65–70% male; LinkedIn ~55% male.

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community backbone: local news, school sports, churches, civic groups, and Marketplace drive daily use, especially 35+.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube across all ages; Reels/Stories on Instagram and short-form TikTok rising among under-35s and local creators.
• Messaging and groups: Facebook Messenger dominates private sharing; closed groups coordinate events, yard sales, and small business promotions.
• Shopping and discovery: Facebook Marketplace and Instagram Shops are key; Pinterest fuels project planning (home, crafts, recipes) among women.
• Event-led spikes: engagement rises around high-school sports, church events, festivals, and severe weather updates; evenings and weekends see peak activity.
• Professional networking remains niche: LinkedIn usage trails urban Tennessee metros; X is used by news/sports followers and civic watchers.

Notes on figures

• Percentages are modeled 2025 estimates for Hardeman County adults by applying Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. (with rural differentials) to local population structure (ACS). They represent share of adults, not time spent.