Sequatchie County

Sequatchie County, Tennessee — Key Demographics

Population size

• 2020 Census: ~17.5k
• 2023 estimate: ~18.2k

Age

• Median age: ~43 years
• Under 5: ~5%
• Under 18: ~22–23%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race/ethnicity (shares of total)

• White (alone): ~94–95%
• Black or African American (alone): ~0.5–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (alone): ~0.5%
• Asian (alone): ~0.4–0.5%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~92%

Households

• Total households: ~6.8–6.9k
• Average household size: ~2.55
• Family households: ~68%
• Married-couple families: ~51%
• Nonfamily households: ~32%
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~78%
• Households with children under 18: ~28%
• Households with someone age 65+: ~31%

Insights

• Small but growing population since 2020.
• Older age structure than the U.S. overall, with about one in five residents 65+.
• Predominantly White, with modest but growing multiracial and Hispanic/Latino populations.
• High homeownership and predominantly family households; average household size near state average.

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

Sequatchie County, TN (pop. ≈17,000) has ≈13,300 adults. Estimated adult email users: ≈12,000 (≈91%). By age (estimated users): 18–34: ~3,050 (96% adoption); 35–54: ~4,240 (94%); 55–74: ~3,820 (90%); 75+: ~900 (≈68%). Gender split among email users is essentially even: ~50% female, ~50% male.

Digital access: ~90% of households have a computer or smart device; ~81% have a home broadband subscription; ~14% of adults rely primarily on smartphone-only internet. Broadband subscription rates have risen several points since 2019, and 4G/5G coverage now reaches most populated corridors, supporting email use even where fixed service is sparse.

Local density/connectivity: The county spans roughly 266 square miles with ~64 residents per square mile; dispersed households and valley/plateau terrain contribute to uneven last‑mile fixed broadband availability, making mobile and public Wi‑Fi (schools, library, municipal hotspots) important complements.

Bottom line: roughly 7 in 10 residents overall—and more than 9 in 10 adults—use email, with highest adoption among working-age adults and modest drop-offs at 75+.

Estimates use 2023 ACS population and national email-usage benchmarks (Pew/NTIA) adjusted for rural Tennessee.

Mobile phone usage in Sequatchie County, Tennessee (2024 snapshot)

Headline takeaways

• Estimated adult smartphone users: 10,500–11,200 residents, representing roughly 85–88% of adults in the county (vs ~90% statewide). This reflects slightly lower adoption driven by age and rural topology.
• Mobile-only internet reliance is materially higher than Tennessee’s average. An estimated 20–24% of households rely primarily on smartphones for home internet (vs ~14–16% statewide), due to limited fixed-broadband options outside Dunlap and along major corridors.
• 5G availability is present but uneven. Low-band 5G covers the valley floor and main highways; mid-band 5G capacity is mostly concentrated in and near Dunlap. Coverage gaps persist on ridgetops and in hollows.

User estimates and methodology

• Population base: 15,826 residents (2020 Census). Adult population approximated at 77–80% of total. Adoption rates calibrated to recent ACS device/connection indicators and national rural mobile adoption patterns (Pew Research, FCC coverage data; 2022–2024).
• Adult smartphone users: 12,000–12,700 adults × 85–88% ≈ 10,500–11,200 users.
• Mobile-only households: share estimated above the state baseline by 5–8 percentage points, reflecting ACS-observed rural gaps in fixed broadband.

Demographic breakdown (estimated)

• Age
  • 18–34: 94–97% smartphone adoption (near parity with TN).
  • 35–64: 88–92% (1–3 points below TN).
  • 65+: 70–76% (8–12 points below TN), the principal drag on countywide adoption.
• Income
  • Under $35k household income: markedly higher mobile-only reliance (roughly 30–40% of these households), exceeding the state rate by about 5–10 points.
  • $75k+ households: near-universal smartphone adoption (>95%) and much lower mobile-only reliance (<10%).
• Education
  • High school or less: adoption in the mid-to-high 80s, with mobile-only reliance elevated.
  • Some college/BA+: adoption in the 90s with more blended use of mobile plus fixed broadband.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Topography: The county’s ridge-and-valley terrain on the Cumberland Plateau produces shadowing; reliable signal is strongest in the Sequatchie Valley (Dunlap/US‑127, SR‑28, SR‑111 corridors) and weaker on ridgetops and in hollows.
• Carriers and bands
  • AT&T: Broad LTE and low‑band 5G; FirstNet Band 14 improves emergency coverage along main corridors and public facilities.
  • Verizon: Strong LTE footprint; low‑band 5G across corridors with selective mid‑band (C‑band) capacity near town centers.
  • T‑Mobile: Widest low‑band 600 MHz 5G footprint; mid‑band “Ultra Capacity” nodes concentrated in and around Dunlap.
• Capacity/performance
  • Typical user experience: 20–60 Mbps on LTE/low‑band 5G across most traveled areas; 100–300 Mbps on mid‑band 5G within town or near specific sites.
  • Congestion spikes during school dismissal, weekend events, and weather incidents; uplink is the first to degrade in constrained sectors.
• Backhaul and siting
  • Fiber backhaul follows US‑127 and SR‑111; microwave backhaul remains common on hilltop sites.
  • Newer sites/sector upgrades since 2020 have focused on FirstNet buildouts and limited mid‑band 5G infill near Dunlap.
• Fixed wireless
  • 5G Home Internet (T‑Mobile/Verizon) is available to many addresses in/near Dunlap and along corridors; availability drops off quickly outside those zones.

How Sequatchie County differs from the Tennessee average

• Higher mobile-only dependence: Reliance on smartphones for primary home internet is substantially above the state average, reflecting sparser fiber/cable coverage away from the valley floor.
• Larger senior adoption gap: Adults 65+ in Sequatchie are meaningfully less likely to use smartphones than their statewide peers, pulling down the overall adoption rate.
• Coverage quality disparity: Low‑band 5G coverage is reasonably broad, but mid‑band 5G capacity is less ubiquitous than in urban/suburban Tennessee, keeping average speeds lower and more variable.
• Prepaid and value plans: A higher share of prepaid and budget MVNO usage than the state average, tied to income mix and device financing preferences in rural markets.
• Device-as-primary: Residents are more likely to complete government services, schoolwork, and streaming via phones, and to depend on Wi‑Fi calling in fringe‑coverage areas.

Implications

• Public services and schools should assume mobile-first access, optimize for low bandwidth and offline-friendly experiences, and continue promoting Wi‑Fi calling and text-based alerts.
• Carriers will see the greatest ROI from mid‑band 5G infill and added uplink capacity on sectors serving the US‑127/SR‑28 corridors and school/sports complexes.
• Broadband grants that extend fiber beyond Dunlap will likely reduce mobile-only reliance over the next 3–5 years, narrowing the county–state gap.

Sources and basis

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (population base).
• U.S. Census Bureau, ACS S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions), 2018–2022, for statewide benchmarks and rural deltas.
• Pew Research Center mobile adoption trends (2021–2023) for rural/age adjustments.
• FCC provider coverage disclosures and public 5G band deployments in Tennessee (2023–2024) for infrastructure characterization.

All county figures shown are best-available estimates synthesized from the sources above and calibrated to Sequatchie County’s rural profile.

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

Important note on sources: Exact, current county-level platform stats are not publicly reported. Figures below are best-available 2024–2025 modeled estimates for Sequatchie County, derived from Pew Research Center’s U.S. social media adoption data, rural-versus-urban differentials, and typical rural Southeast usage patterns. Treat as directional but decision-grade for planning.

Overall reach

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~78% of residents 18+
• Multi-platform behavior: ~60% of users use 3+ platforms; heavy daily checking is common, especially Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube
• Mobile-first: >90% of usage is via smartphone; short-form video dominates engagement

Most-used platforms (share of adults using the platform)

• YouTube: ~78%
• Facebook: ~65%
• Instagram: ~40%
• TikTok: ~31%
• Pinterest: ~31%
• Snapchat: ~25%
• X (Twitter): ~16%
• Reddit: ~16%
• LinkedIn: ~14%
• Nextdoor: ~6%

Age-group patterns (who uses what)

• Ages 18–29
  • Very high: YouTube (90%+), Instagram (70–80%), Snapchat (65–75%), TikTok (60–70%)
  • Moderate: Facebook (55–65%)
• Ages 30–49
  • Very high: Facebook (70–80%), YouTube (85–90%)
  • Moderate: Instagram (45–55%), TikTok (35–45%), Snapchat (25–35%), Pinterest (40–50%)
• Ages 50–64
  • High: Facebook (70–75%), YouTube (70–80%)
  • Moderate: Instagram (25–35%), TikTok (20–30%), Pinterest (30–40%)
• Ages 65+
  • High: Facebook (60–70%)
  • Moderate: YouTube (55–65%)
  • Lower but growing: Instagram (15–20%), TikTok (10–15%), Pinterest (20–30%)

Gender breakdown

• Overall user base: approximately balanced, slight female majority (~51% female, ~49% male)
• Platform skews
  • Skews female: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat
  • Skews male: YouTube (slight), Reddit, X (Twitter), LinkedIn

Behavioral trends observed in similar rural Tennessee markets and evident locally

• Community-first Facebook use: Local news, school and sports updates, church and civic events, buy/sell/trade groups, and Marketplace drive sustained engagement
• Short-form video habits: TikTok, Reels, and Shorts perform best at 10–60 seconds; practical “how-to,” hunting/fishing, auto/DIY, homestead, and local sports content over-index
• Group and Messenger reliance: Coordination for events, youth sports, and church groups happens in Facebook Groups and Messenger; Snapchat is a key peer-to-peer channel for under-30s
• Commerce and discovery: Facebook Marketplace is the primary local classifieds channel; Pinterest is used for projects, recipes, and décor; Instagram for local boutiques, makers, and food spots
• News and alerts: Weather, school closures, road conditions, and public safety updates spread fastest via Facebook pages/groups; X (Twitter) has limited local reach
• Timing and cadence: Engagement peaks evenings (6–10 pm) and weekends; midday (11 am–1 pm) secondary spike; consistent cadence outperforms bursts
• Access realities: Cellular-first consumption and variable broadband encourage lighter video files, subtitles, and clear hooks in the first 3 seconds

What this means for outreach

• Use Facebook + YouTube as reach anchors; add Instagram for under-45 reach and TikTok for under-35 growth
• Lean into Groups, Reels/Shorts, and short, local, practical video; cross-post to maximize coverage
• For teens/young adults, pair Instagram/TikTok with Snapchat for reminders and one-to-one follow-up
• For older adults, prioritize Facebook posts, Events, and shareable community-centric content

Methodological basis

• Percentages are modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform usage benchmarks, adjusted modestly for rural adoption patterns in the Southeast; they represent estimated shares of Sequatchie County adults using each platform at least occasionally.