Hawkins County

Hawkins County, Tennessee — key demographics

Population size

• 57,200 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~50.8%
• Male: ~49.2%

Race and ethnicity (mutually exclusive; ACS 2019–2023 5-year)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~93%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~1.5–2%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2–3%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): <1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): <1%

Households (ACS 2019–2023 5-year)

• Households: ~23,800
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~65% of households
• Married-couple families: ~49% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~35%
• Individuals living alone: ~31%; age 65+ living alone: ~12%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~74%

Insights

• Older age structure than Tennessee and the U.S.; about one in five residents is 65+
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with small but growing Hispanic population
• High homeownership and a majority of households are family/married-couple households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2024 Population Estimates; 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year).

Hawkins County, TN email usage snapshot

• Estimated email users: ~42,000 adults
  • Basis: ~57,000 residents; ~46,500 adults (18+); ~91% adult email adoption.
• Age distribution of email users (share of users ≈ counts):
  • 18–29: 18% (7.6k)
  • 30–49: 34–35% (14.6k)
  • 50–64: 26% (10.9k)
  • 65+: 22% (9.2k)
• Gender split among users: ~51% female, ~49% male (reflects county population balance; email adoption gap by gender is minimal).
• Digital access and usage context:
  • Household broadband subscription: ~77%
  • Computer access at home: ~89%
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~11%
  • No home internet: ~19%
  • Implication: Email is predominantly accessed via home broadband/computers, with a meaningful mobile-only segment relying on smartphone email.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density: ~115–120 people per square mile (≈57k residents across ~487 sq mi).
  • Mixed small-town/rural topology means pockets with weaker fixed-line options; mobile data helps sustain email access where wired broadband is limited.

Figures synthesize recent ACS population/internet-access data and national email adoption rates to localize estimates.

Mobile phone usage in Hawkins County, Tennessee: 2024 snapshot

User estimates and adoption

• Adult smartphone users: approximately 38,000–41,000 residents, or about 84–90% of adults. This aligns with rural U.S. and East Tennessee smartphone adoption (Pew 2023) and the county’s older age profile, which slightly lowers overall uptake versus urban Tennessee counties.
• Wireless-only communication: a clear majority of households rely primarily on mobile phones rather than landlines, consistent with Tennessee’s high wireless-only trend; the share in Hawkins is somewhat lower than the state average because of its older population, but still dominant among working-age adults.
• Smartphone-dependent internet households: roughly 4,800–6,200 households rely on a cellular data plan as their only or primary internet connection. This is several percentage points higher than the statewide rate, reflecting lower fixed-broadband adoption locally (ACS S2801 patterns for rural Tennessee).

Demographic factors shaping usage

• Older population: Hawkins County’s 65+ share is materially higher than Tennessee’s average, which pulls down smartphone adoption among seniors (senior smartphone adoption typically trails by 10–15 points). Among adults under 50, adoption is near statewide norms.
• Income and education: median household income and bachelor’s attainment are below the state average, a pattern tied to higher “smartphone-only” internet reliance. Residents are more likely than the Tennessee average to use mobile phones as the primary connection for essential services (banking, telehealth, job search), particularly in households without a home broadband subscription.
• Rural settlement: More dispersed housing and hilly/valley terrain increase the likelihood of indoor coverage variability. This drives higher use of Wi‑Fi calling where fixed broadband is available and increases dependence on specific carriers with stronger local signal.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• 4G LTE: Near-universal outdoor population coverage from AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile along primary corridors (notably US‑11W and town centers such as Rogersville, Church Hill, and Mount Carmel). Terrain-induced dead zones persist in hollows and ridge-adjacent areas, more so than statewide.
• 5G: Coverage is present but uneven. Low‑band 5G (all carriers) blankets most populated areas; mid‑band 5G (capacity layers such as T‑Mobile n41 and AT&T/Verizon C‑band) is concentrated near towns and major roads and is notably spottier across rural stretches than the Tennessee average. That gap translates into more frequent fallback to LTE in Hawkins than in urban/suburban counties.
• Capacity and speeds: Practical speeds are adequate for routine apps and video in towns, with more variability at the edges of service and indoors in rural areas. Performance constraints show up during peak hours in fringe sectors more often than statewide, given fewer sectors per square mile.
• Public-safety and resiliency: AT&T FirstNet coverage overlays the consumer grid in population centers and along main corridors; backup power and hardening are improving but remain less dense than in metro Tennessee, contributing to localized outages during severe weather until crews arrive.
• Fixed broadband interplay: Fixed-broadband subscription rates are several points lower than the Tennessee average, which increases mobile network load. As Tennessee’s BEAD-funded fiber builds reach unserved/underserved pockets of Hawkins County over 2025–2027, expect a measurable shift of heavy data use from cellular to home Wi‑Fi, improving mobile congestion in the process.

How Hawkins County differs from the Tennessee average

• Slightly lower overall adult smartphone penetration than metro counties, driven primarily by a larger senior share.
• Higher smartphone-only/home-internet substitution, reflecting lower fixed-broadband adoption and affordability sensitivities.
• More pronounced coverage variability due to terrain and lower site density; mid‑band 5G is less pervasive, so LTE fallback is more common.
• Greater reliance on specific carriers with stronger local footprints; residents show higher rates of carrier switching or use of multi‑SIM/MVNO options to manage coverage gaps and costs.

Bottom-line insights

• Mobile is the primary communications platform for most households and the sole at-home internet for a sizable minority, larger than the state average.
• Closing the gap with statewide performance hinges on two levers: expanded mid‑band 5G buildout in rural sectors and the parallel arrival of fiber, which will offload heavy usage from cellular.
• Expect steady year‑over‑year improvements in 5G coverage and capacity along US‑11W and town centers; the largest remaining challenges are indoor service consistency in valleys and cost-driven smartphone-only dependence among lower-income and senior households.

Hawkins County, TN social media snapshot (2024-ready, county-scaled)

Baseline

• Population: 56,721 (2020 Census). Adults 18+: ≈44,000 (older-leaning rural profile).
• Method note: Percentages reflect latest Pew Research Center U.S. adult usage; counts scale those rates to Hawkins County’s adult base. They closely mirror rural East Tennessee patterns.

Most-used platforms (share of adults; ≈estimated adult users in Hawkins)

• YouTube: 83% ≈ 36,700 adults
• Facebook: 68% ≈ 30,100
• Instagram: 47% ≈ 20,800
• Pinterest: 35% ≈ 15,500
• TikTok: 33% ≈ 14,600
• Snapchat: 27% ≈ 11,900
• X (Twitter): 22% ≈ 9,700
• LinkedIn: 22% ≈ 9,700
• Reddit: 22% ≈ 9,700
• WhatsApp: 21% ≈ 9,300
• Nextdoor: 18% ≈ 8,000

Age-group patterns (behavioral)

• Teens (13–17): Heavy YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; light Facebook. Visual, short-form, chat-first behavior.
• 18–29: Near-universal YouTube; Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok are primary socials; Facebook used but not central.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram solid; TikTok rising; Pinterest strong for home, food, crafts.
• 50–64: Facebook is the hub (Groups/Marketplace/news); YouTube for how-to and local sports; lighter Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: Facebook (family, church, community) and YouTube (news/how-to); minimal elsewhere.

Gender breakdown (national patterns that map well to Hawkins County)

• Facebook: modest female tilt.
• Instagram/TikTok: slight female tilt.
• Pinterest: strongly female-skewed (about 70–75% of users female; ~35% of adults use it overall).
• YouTube: slight male tilt.
• Reddit and X: male-skewed (roughly 60–65% of users male).
• LinkedIn: slight male tilt.

Local behavioral trends (rural East Tennessee signal)

• Facebook is the community backbone: Groups (neighborhoods, schools, sports, churches), Marketplace, local alerts, obituaries, civic info. High evening engagement.
• YouTube is the default for learning/entertainment: DIY, automotive, hunting/fishing, homesteading, high school sports highlights, gospel/music.
• Short-form video growth: TikTok and Reels see steady adoption across 18–44; creators favor practical tips, local events, food, and outdoors content.
• Messaging/DMs drive actions: Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs are key for inquiries, yard-sale style commerce, and appointments.
• Trust and tone: Local affiliation, face-on-camera, and practical value outperform polished, “big-city” creative. Word-of-mouth via shares in Groups is the main reach multiplier.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is the go-to for secondhand goods; Instagram effective for boutiques, salons, crafts; TikTok effective for food trucks and events with geo-tagged short videos.
• Timing: Engagement reliably peaks 7–9 pm on weeknights; secondary peaks 6–8 am and Sun afternoon; school-year calendars and high school sports schedules shape spikes.

What the numbers imply for Hawkins County

• Reach: Facebook + YouTube together can touch most connected adults (≈30–37k each). For under-35 reach, add Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat.
• Creative mix: Lead with Facebook Groups and Reels for community penetration; support with YouTube how-to/longer demos; layer Instagram for visuals and TikTok for event/food buzz.
• Targeting: Female-focused campaigns excel on Facebook/Pinterest; male/outdoors on YouTube/Reddit. Younger demos require short video and creator-style formats.