Lincoln County

Key demographics for Lincoln County, Tennessee (latest available U.S. Census Bureau data)

Population size

• 2020 Census count: ~35,319
• 2023 estimate: ~36,000 (Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Median age: ~43 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18 to 64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~19%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• White alone: ~87%
• Black or African American alone: ~6–7%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Asian alone: ~0.4–0.6%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.3–0.5%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
• Some other race alone: ~1%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~4–6%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~14,000
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~69% of households
• Married-couple families: ~52% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~28%
• One-person households: ~24%
• Homeownership rate: ~75–77%

Insights

• Slow, steady population growth since 2020.
• Older age profile than the U.S. overall (median age > 43).
• Predominantly White, with small but growing Hispanic/Latino population.
• Household structure leans toward married-couple families and homeownership.

• Population and density: Lincoln County, TN has about 35,000 residents across ~570 sq mi (≈61 people per sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ≈29,000 residents use email (≈85% adoption, aligning with national adult rates).
• Age distribution (county population): ≈21% under 18, ≈58% aged 18–64, ≈21% aged 65+. Given near‑universal adult email use, most users are 18–64, with strong usage among 65+.
• Gender split: ≈50% female, ≈50% male; email adoption shows minimal gender difference at national and state levels, so usage is effectively even by gender locally.
• Digital access trends:
  • ≈80% of households have a broadband internet subscription.
  • ≈90% of households have a computer.
  • ≈13% are smartphone‑only internet households, reflecting mobile‑centric access in more rural tracts.
  • Adoption has risen notably since the mid‑2010s, but gaps persist outside the Fayetteville area.
• Local connectivity facts: Fayetteville is the primary population and network hub; lower rural density outside the city limits makes fiber/cable expansion uneven, with fixed wireless and mobile filling gaps. Commuter links toward the Huntsville, AL metro and US‑231/US‑431 corridors correspond to stronger connectivity clusters.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (population/density), ACS 2018–2022 (internet/computer access), Pew Research Center (email adoption).

Mobile phone usage in Lincoln County, Tennessee — 2025 snapshot

Baseline population and households

• Population: 35,319 (2020 Census). Land area: about 571 square miles. County seat: Fayetteville.
• Households: roughly 13,600. Adult population approximated at 27,000–28,000.

User estimates (adults), derived by applying current U.S. and rural ownership rates to Lincoln County’s adult population

• Any mobile phone (cellphone of any kind): about 25,500 adults. Method: ≈95% of adults own a cellphone (Pew Research Center, 2023).
• Smartphone users: about 22,000–23,000 adults. Method: rural smartphone adoption runs around 80–85% of adults; Lincoln County’s older age mix suggests the lower end of that rural range.
• Feature/basic phone users: roughly 3,000–4,000 adults (remainder after smartphone adoption), concentrated among the 65+ population.
• Practical implication: smartphone penetration is a few points lower than Tennessee’s statewide profile, but overall cellphone reach is effectively universal among adults.

Demographic breakdown of usage (directional differences specific to Lincoln County)

• Age
  • Lincoln County skews older than the Tennessee average, which depresses smartphone adoption among seniors and sustains basic-phone use longer than the statewide norm.
  • Adults 18–49 exhibit near-saturation smartphone ownership (mid-90s%), in line with state and national patterns; the 65+ segment lags by 20–30 percentage points, widening the county–state gap because Lincoln County has a larger senior share.
• Income and plan type
  • Median household incomes trail the statewide median, which translates into higher prepaid adoption and price-sensitive plan selection than the Tennessee average.
  • Budget Android devices and refurbished iPhones have a larger share than in urban Tennessee counties; device replacement cycles are longer.
• Work patterns
  • Cross-border commuting to the Huntsville, Alabama, area elevates daytime device density and 5G use along the US‑231/US‑431 corridor compared with similarly rural Tennessee counties.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (county-specific points)

• Carrier footprint: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile provide countywide 4G LTE along primary roadways, with 5G present in and around Fayetteville and along US‑64/US‑231/US‑431. Terrain and tower spacing create fringe areas with weaker indoor coverage in outlying valleys and ridgelines.
• 5G mix: Extended‑range (low‑band) 5G covers most populated areas; mid‑band 5G capacity is concentrated near Fayetteville and main corridors and is less pervasive than statewide metro buildouts.
• Fixed internet alternatives: Outside the Fayetteville core, cable and fiber availability thins out more quickly than the Tennessee average, raising reliance on:
  • Mobile hotspots and cellular home internet (notably where DSL is the only wired option),
  • Signal boosters for indoor voice/data in metal‑roof homes and farm structures.
• Performance reality: Median speeds and indoor reliability lag the statewide average outside the county seat because of greater inter‑site distances and foliage/terrain effects, though main corridors perform comparably to state norms during off‑peak hours.

Trends that differ from Tennessee’s statewide profile

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration, driven by an older age structure and more price‑sensitive households, despite near‑universal cellphone access overall.
• Higher reliance on cellular data for home connectivity in unserved/underserved pockets, leading to heavier per‑line data usage among hotspot users than the state average.
• More pronounced coverage variability: good along highways and around Fayetteville, but spottier indoors and in low‑density areas than typical statewide conditions.
• Commuter influence: daytime network load and 5G device uptake are elevated along the Alabama commute corridors compared with other rural Tennessee counties, while evening usage reverts to rural‑county patterns.

Method notes

• Counts are estimated by applying current national/rural mobile ownership rates to Lincoln County’s adult population using 2020 Census baselines and standard rural adoption adjustments; figures are rounded to emphasize order of magnitude.

Social media usage in Lincoln County, Tennessee (2025 snapshot)

Baseline and user totals

• Population: ~35,000 residents; ~27,000 adults (18+)
• Estimated monthly social media users: ~22,000 residents (about 62–64% of the total population; ~73% of adults plus most teens 13–17)

Age breakdown (share of local social media users; adoption rates by age)

• Teens 13–17: 10% of users; ~90–95% adoption
• 18–29: 22% of users; ~90–95% adoption
• 30–44: 30% of users; ~80–85% adoption
• 45–64: 25% of users; ~65–70% adoption
• 65+: 13% of users; ~45–55% adoption

Gender breakdown among users

• Women: ~53%
• Men: ~47%
• Skews: Women slightly over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, X

Most-used platforms in the county (share of local social media users; multi-platform use expected)

• YouTube: 82%
• Facebook: 73%
• Instagram: 40%
• TikTok: 32%
• Snapchat: 30%
• Pinterest: 27%
• X (Twitter): 16%
• LinkedIn: 13%
• Nextdoor: 6%

Behavioral trends and use patterns

• Community-first behavior: Heavy reliance on Facebook Groups and Pages for local news, school updates, church events, youth sports, weather alerts, and buy/sell/trade. Facebook Marketplace is a top commerce channel.
• Video dominates: YouTube is the default for how-to, DIY, farming/outdoors, and music. Short-form (Reels/TikTok) is strongest under 35 and for local discovery.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger is the primary private channel among adults; Snapchat is dominant for teens and early 20s. WhatsApp usage is present but niche.
• Participation style: Majority are “lurkers/sharers” rather than original posters. Older users share community and family content; younger users prefer Stories/Snaps and short-form video.
• Timing patterns: Engagement typically peaks 7–9 a.m., noon hour, and 7–10 p.m. Marketplace activity is strong on weekend mornings; Friday-night spikes align with school sports.
• Content that performs: Practical local info (closings, events, deals), faces from known community members, and posts tied to Fayetteville/Lincoln County landmarks. Authentic, service-oriented messaging outperforms polished, “big-city” creative.
• Trust cues: County EMA/sheriff/school district pages and established community groups carry high credibility; creator/influencer impact is localized and relationship-driven.
• Commerce: Local boutiques, services, and seasonal events see strong ROI via Facebook/Instagram posts and Reels with geo-tagging and group cross-posting; short-form video boosts reach among under-35.

Method note

• Figures are 2025 estimates derived from U.S. Census demographics for similarly sized rural Tennessee counties and Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 U.S. social platform adoption benchmarks, adjusted for rural usage patterns. Percentages represent share of local social media users unless otherwise stated.