Henry County

Henry County, Tennessee — key demographics

Population size

• 32,199 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: ~46 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49% (ACS 2019–2023)

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~84%
• Black or African American: ~10%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• Asian: ~0.3%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~0.3%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~13,700
• Average household size: ~2.30 persons
• Family households: ~60% of households
• Married-couple families: ~47% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• Living alone: ~30% of households (with ~15% 65+ living alone)

Insights

• Older age profile than the U.S. overall (higher 65+ share; median age mid‑40s).
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with a notable Black minority and small Hispanic population.
• Household structure skews toward married-couple families but with a sizable share of individuals living alone, including many seniors.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (PL 94‑171).
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5‑year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101).

Henry County, TN email usage (estimates derived from U.S. Census ACS and Pew Research adoption rates)

• Population and density: ~32,200 residents (2020 Census); ~57 people per square mile (largely rural outside Paris).
• Estimated adult email users: ~24,000 of ~26,100 adults (≈92% of adults use email).
• Age distribution of email users (share of total residents → email users):
  • 18–29: ~12% → ~3,700 users
  • 30–49: ~23% → ~7,100 users
  • 50–64: ~21% → ~6,200 users
  • 65+: ~25% → ~6,900 users
• Gender split: County population is roughly 51% female, 49% male; email users track closely (~12,200 female, ~11,800 male).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Broadband availability is high but not universal; FCC data indicate fixed broadband (≥25/3 Mbps) reaches most locations, while ACS shows subscription rates around the high-70% range of households.
  • Approximately 9–12% of households are smartphone-only or rely primarily on mobile data, reflecting rural access gaps.
  • Computer access is widespread (roughly 9 in 10 households), supporting routine email use for work, school, and services. Insights: Email is near-universal among working-age adults and strong among seniors; adoption aligns with national norms but is moderated at the margins by rural connectivity and subscription gaps.

Henry County, Tennessee: Mobile phone usage summary (distinct from statewide patterns)

Headline user estimates

• Population and households: ~32,000 residents; ~13,800 households
• Households with a smartphone: ~87% (≈12,000 households), below Tennessee’s ~91%
• Smartphone-only internet households (cellular data plan and no other home internet): ~23% in Henry County vs ~17% statewide
• Households with no internet subscription: ~11% vs ~8% statewide

Demographic breakdown of usage and reliance

• Age
  • Older population share: ~23% of residents are 65+ (state: ~17%); this drives lower overall smartphone penetration
  • Estimated smartphone adoption by age: 18–34 ~95% (near state parity), 35–64 ~85% (slightly below state), 65+ ~66% (state ~74%)
  • Growth trend: senior adoption has risen faster locally since 2019 as carriers phase out 3G devices and offer budget Android/iPhone models
• Income and housing
  • Median household income is lower than the state; mobile substitution is higher as a cost-saving measure
  • Smartphone-only internet: ~33% among households under $35k income (state ~25%); renters ~26% vs owners ~19%
• Race and ethnicity
  • Black and Hispanic households show higher smartphone-only reliance (≈29% and ≈31%, respectively) than White households (≈21%), mirroring affordability and fixed-broadband availability gaps
• Plan mix and devices
  • Prepaid share is higher than the state average (notably with Cricket, Metro by T-Mobile, Boost), reflecting price sensitivity
  • Bring‑your‑own‑device and refurbished device use are more common than statewide averages

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage
  • LTE/4G: >99% outdoor population coverage from at least one national carrier (AT&T, Verizon, T‑Mobile)
  • 5G: at least one provider covers roughly 85% of residents (concentrated in Paris, along US‑79/US‑641, and primary corridors); patchier in lake-adjacent and wooded areas
• Capacity and speeds
  • Typical LTE median download speeds: ~25 Mbps (state ~33 Mbps)
  • Typical 5G median download speeds: ~110 Mbps (state ~165 Mbps), reflecting sparser mid‑band spectrum deployment and fewer sites per square mile
• Sites and build-out
  • Macrocell density is lower than state average for population served; macro sites cluster around Paris, US‑79, US‑641, and industrial/commercial zones
  • Limited small-cell presence; upgrades center on mid‑band 5G overlays rather than dense infill
• Fixed broadband interplay
  • Fiber and cable competition is concentrated in and around Paris; DSL or fixed wireless dominates many unincorporated areas
  • Mobile networks serve as a primary broadband path for many low‑income and rural households, elevating smartphone-only rates

How Henry County differs from Tennessee overall

1. Higher mobile reliance as home internet: Smartphone-only households are about 6 percentage points higher than the state, driven by affordability and limited wireline options outside Paris.
2. Slightly lower overall smartphone penetration: County household smartphone adoption is ~4 points below the state due to an older age structure and lower incomes.
3. Older user base: A substantially larger 65+ share depresses adoption and skews plan mix toward lower-cost and prepaid; however, senior adoption is catching up faster locally than statewide.
4. Network performance gap: 5G is available to most residents but at lower median speeds than state averages because of fewer mid‑band sectors and less site density; LTE remains the fallback in outlying areas.
5. Coverage geography matters: Service is strongest along highways and in Paris; reliability drops in low-lying, wooded hollows and along Kentucky Lake’s fringe where tower spacing is wider.
6. Retail and plan mix: Higher prepaid penetration and BYOD/refurbished device usage than statewide benchmarks indicate persistent cost sensitivity and device upgrade cycles that lag urban Tennessee.

Implications

• Carriers: Additional mid‑band 5G sectors and selective infill (especially south of Paris and toward Buchanan) would close speed and reliability gaps; FirstNet/Band 14 utilization benefits public safety but general users see more value from mid‑band capacity.
• Community and policy: Digital-equity programs that pair low-cost devices with subsidized plans and basic digital skills for seniors will yield outsized gains; expanding fixed broadband competition (fiber or licensed fixed wireless) would reduce smartphone-only dependency.

Sources and basis

• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5‑year estimates (household device ownership and internet subscription)
• FCC mobile coverage filings and 5G deployment disclosures (2023)
• Aggregated carrier performance reporting and independent speed-test indices in Tennessee (2023–2024)
• Pew Research Center device adoption by age (for age-adjusted county estimates)

Henry County, TN – social media usage snapshot (2025)

What’s measured vs. modeled

• There is no official county-by-county social platform census. Figures below combine the latest available U.S. Census Bureau ACS demographics for Henry County with Pew Research Center 2023–2024 platform-use rates by age, gender, and rural/urban status. Treat them as planning-quality estimates; population and age/gender shares are from ACS.

Population and baseline demographics (ACS)

• Population: ~32,000; adults (18+): ~79% of residents
• Median age: mid-40s; older-leaning profile
• Gender: ~51% women, ~49% men

Overall social media reach (adults)

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~65–70% (≈16,000–18,000 people)
• Smartphone-first usage: ~85%+ of social media time occurs on mobile (U.S. benchmark; consistent with rural patterns)

Most-used platforms among adults (modeled share of adults; top to lower)

• YouTube: ~70–75%
• Facebook: ~60–65%
• Instagram: ~30–35%
• Pinterest: ~25–30%
• TikTok: ~20–25%
• Snapchat: ~15–20%
• X (Twitter): ~12–15%
• LinkedIn: ~12–15%
• Reddit: ~8–10%

Age-group usage patterns (adults)

• 18–29: Very high YouTube use (90%+), Instagram/TikTok widely used (70%±), Facebook moderate (~45–55%)
• 30–49: High YouTube (85%±) and Facebook (65–70%), Instagram moderate (50%); TikTok ~30–40%
• 50–64: Facebook (65–70%) and YouTube (60–65%) dominate; Instagram/TikTok lower (~20–25%)
• 65+: Facebook (45–55%) and YouTube (45–50%) lead; other platforms low (≤15%)

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base skews slightly female (reflecting county demographics and platform mix): ~53–55% women, ~45–47% men
• Platform skews: Pinterest heavily female; Facebook slightly female; Instagram slightly female; TikTok slightly female; YouTube, Reddit, and X skew male; LinkedIn near even

Behavioral trends and local norms

• Facebook is the community backbone: local news, school and church updates, marketplace listings, county events, yard-sale and buy/sell/trade groups see high engagement.
• Video is rising: YouTube for how‑to, home repair, outdoor/recreation, and local sports; Facebook Reels/Instagram Reels for short-form discovery.
• Commerce and classifieds: Facebook Marketplace is the default for local buying/selling; Pinterest drives planning/intent in home, crafts, recipes.
• Messaging and ephemeral: Snapchat concentrated among teens/younger adults; Instagram DMs/Stories widely used for local businesses and event promos.
• Trust and content style: Authentic, locally oriented posts outperform polished national creative; testimonials and word‑of‑mouth in groups matter more than brand pages alone.
• Timing and device: Engagement strongest evenings and weekends; mobile-first creative and vertical video perform best.
• Ads that work locally: Geo-targeted Facebook/Instagram video or carousel for promos; YouTube in-stream for awareness; boosted posts in community groups for events; Pinterest for seasonal/home projects.

Notes on interpretation

• The county’s older age profile and rural context increase Facebook reliance and reduce TikTok/Snapchat relative to national averages, while YouTube remains broadly used across all ages.
• Teens (13–17), not included in adult figures, are substantially more active on TikTok and Snapchat than adults; for school-related outreach, include those channels.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2022–2023, Henry County, Tennessee (population, age, gender)
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2023–2024 (platform adoption by age, gender, and community type)
• DataReportal/Global Web Index (U.S. device mix and mobile share of social usage)