Union County

Key demographics – Union County, Tennessee (U.S. Census Bureau)

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: ~21,000
• 2020 Census: ~20,000

Age

• Median age: ~43 years
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~19–20%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race/ethnicity (ACS, mutually exclusive categories)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~94–95%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~0–1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~0–1%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~0–1%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3–4%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~2–3%

Households

• Households: ~7,500–7,800
• Persons per household (avg): ~2.6
• Family households: ~65–70% of households
• Married-couple families: ~50–55% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~25–30%

Insights

• Small, steadily growing county, older-than-state median age.
• Population is predominantly non-Hispanic White with small but growing multiracial and Hispanic shares.
• Household size slightly above the statewide average; family and married-couple shares are typical for rural East Tennessee.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; Population Estimates Program (2023); American Community Survey 5-year estimates (most recent available). Figures rounded for clarity.

Union County, Tennessee snapshot

• Population/density: ~21,000 residents (2023 Census est.), roughly 90 people per square mile; predominantly rural.
• Estimated email users: 15,000–16,000 adults (about 72–76% of all residents), derived by applying Pew Research Center’s 92% adult email-use rate to the county’s adult population.
• Age distribution of email use (penetration, based on national patterns applied locally): 18–29 ≈91%; 30–49 ≈95%; 50–64 ≈90%; 65+ ≈82%. Given Union County’s older age profile, about half of email users are 50+.
• Gender split: Near parity; roughly 50–51% female and 49–50% male among email users, mirroring the county’s overall sex ratio.
• Digital access trends and local connectivity:
  • About three-quarters of households maintain a home broadband subscription, per American Community Survey (2018–2022), with most other households relying on mobile-only access.
  • Computer/device access is widespread (high-80% of households have a computer), but smartphone-only dependence is notably higher than in urban areas.
  • Fixed broadband is strongest along the TN‑33/Maynardville corridor, with service gaps in sparsely populated ridgelines; 4G LTE is countywide and 5G is expanding on primary corridors. Insight: Email adoption is mainstream across all ages, but coverage gaps and smartphone-only reliance temper heavy, desktop-centric email use in more remote parts of the county.

Mobile phone usage in Union County, Tennessee (2024 best-available estimates)

How to read this: County-level “mobile usage” is not directly measured by a single federal dataset. The figures below synthesize 2023–2024 releases from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS internet and device subscription items), FCC mobile availability filings, statewide broadband planning documents, and national adoption patterns (e.g., Pew) applied to Union County’s demographic profile. Values are modeled point estimates with reasonable bounds.

Headline counts and rates

• Population and base: ~20.5k residents; ~16.0k adults (18+); ~7.8k households.
• Any mobile phone (adults): 14.7k users (≈92% of adults). Tennessee overall: ≈94–95%.
• Smartphone users (adults): 13.3–13.6k (≈83–85% of adults). Tennessee overall: ≈88–90%.
• Mobile-only internet households (no fixed broadband, rely on cellular data): ~2.0–2.3k households (≈26–29% of households). Tennessee overall: ≈15–18%.
• Households with any cellular data plan (alone or alongside fixed service): ≈58–62% (TN: ≈55–60%).
• Typical implications: fewer adults without any mobile phone than a decade ago, but a materially larger share of households rely on cellular as their primary or only home internet connection than the state average.

Demographic breakdown (modeled to Union County’s age, income, and education mix)

• By age (adult smartphone adoption rate; county vs. state):
  • 18–34: 95–97% (county) vs. 97–98% (state) — near parity given high baseline.
  • 35–64: 87–90% (county) vs. 90–92% (state) — modestly lower.
  • 65+: 60–67% (county) vs. 70–75% (state) — notably lower, reflecting higher rural senior share and lower incomes.
  • Count perspective: seniors comprise a larger slice of Union County than the state average, pulling down the countywide smartphone rate despite near-universal ownership among younger adults.
• By household income (smartphone ownership; mobile-only reliance):
  • <$35k: 80–85% smartphone; 35–40% mobile-only internet. This cohort is larger in Union County than statewide, driving up mobile-only reliance.
  • $35–75k: 88–92% smartphone; 18–25% mobile-only internet.
  • ≥$75k: 93–96% smartphone; 8–12% mobile-only internet.
• By education (adults):
  • High school or less: 80–86% smartphone; higher prepaid plan use; elevated mobile-only reliance.
  • Some college or more: 90–95% smartphone; more likely to combine mobile with cable/fiber.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • The county is predominantly White and rural; differences by race are less pronounced locally than in Tennessee’s metros. Socioeconomic and age factors explain more of the variance than race in Union County.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile (regional presence), with UScellular legacy coverage in parts of East Tennessee. MVNOs ride these networks.
• 4G LTE coverage: broadly available along US‑33/State Route 61 corridors and town centers; outdoor coverage exceeds 95% of populated areas, but indoor reliability drops in hollows and ridge-shadowed locations.
• 5G footprint (population coverage, any low-band): ≈55–65% in Union County, concentrated around Maynardville/US‑33 and other primary corridors. Tennessee overall: >85%.
  • Mid-band 5G (capacity layer) coverage: ≈10–20% of population in Union County, limited nodes; statewide ≈50–65%, driven by metros.
  • mmWave 5G: negligible in-county; present in select TN urban cores.
• Terrain and dead zones: Norris Lake peninsulas (e.g., interior of Sharps Chapel), Big Ridge State Park vicinity, ridge lines near Luttrell, and scattered valleys north of Maynardville show persistent weak-signal/indoor gaps. Users rely more on Wi‑Fi calling and external antennas than state average.
• Backhaul and capacity: Fewer macro sites per square mile than metro counties; some sectors show evening/weekend congestion. Where fixed broadband is scarce, sectors carry more home-usage load.
• Fixed alternatives impacting mobile reliance:
  • Cable/fiber availability is constrained outside Maynardville and select pockets; fixed wireless and DSL are more common than fiber in outlying areas.
  • Result: higher-than-state mobile-only internet dependence and more data-capped/prepaid plan usage.

Trends and contrasts vs. Tennessee

• Adoption
  • Overall mobile phone ownership is high but 1–3 points lower than the state, owing to an older, lower-income profile.
  • Smartphone adoption grew markedly 2019–2024 but lags the state by ~4–6 points, with the gap concentrated among seniors.
• Access and reliance
  • Mobile-only internet reliance is 10–12 percentage points higher than the Tennessee average, reflecting patchier fixed broadband and affordability constraints.
  • Prepaid and budget MVNO usage is meaningfully higher than the state, aligning with income distribution and coverage variability.
• Network quality
  • Union County trails Tennessee in mid-band 5G population coverage by roughly 35–45 points, limiting peak speeds and indoor performance versus urban counties.
  • Coverage quality varies sharply with terrain; indoor coverage issues and device-to-network workarounds (Wi‑Fi calling, boosters) are more common than statewide.

Bottom line

• Nearly all adults in Union County have a mobile phone, and more than four in five use a smartphone. What distinguishes the county from the Tennessee average is not basic adoption but reliance: over a quarter of households depend on cellular as their primary home internet, significantly above the state. Coupled with lower mid-band 5G coverage and challenging terrain, this produces a usage pattern centered on ubiquitous but capacity‑constrained mobile access, higher prepaid uptake, and a persistent adoption gap among seniors.

Social media usage snapshot: Union County, Tennessee (2025)

Overview and user stats

• Population context: Rural county with roughly 20,000 residents; age profile skews older than the U.S. average.
• Estimated active social media users: ≈11,000 adults (modeled by applying national social media adoption rates to local population).
• Access pattern: Higher reliance on smartphones and mobile data than wired broadband; platforms that work well on mobile (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Messenger) dominate.

Most‑used platforms (baseline adoption rates among U.S. adults from Pew Research Center; local rank order reflects Union County’s older, rural profile)

• YouTube (≈83% of U.S. adults) — locally top‑tier; strong across all ages for how‑to, local sports clips, church services.
• Facebook (≈68%) — locally top‑tier and likely above national average; anchors local Groups, schools, churches, youth sports, Marketplace.
• Instagram (≈47%) — moderate locally; strongest under 35 and among local businesses for visuals and Reels.
• Pinterest (≈35%) — moderate; strong among women for recipes, crafts, home/DIY.
• TikTok (≈33%) — moderate but growing; strongest under 35 for entertainment, local eats, events.
• Snapchat (≈30%) — meaningful for teens/young adults; used for messaging and Stories.
• LinkedIn (≈30%) — lower locally given occupational mix; mainly educators, healthcare, public sector, business owners.
• X/Twitter (≈22%) — lower; used for sports, weather, road/emergency updates.
• WhatsApp (≈21%) and Reddit (≈18%) — niche; WhatsApp for family groups, Reddit for hobby/tech/hunting/fishing communities.

Age groups (how usage concentrates)

• Teens (13–17): Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram are daily drivers; YouTube is universal. Heavy private messaging, Stories/Reels, school sports highlights.
• 18–29: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat remain strong; YouTube daily; Facebook used for events, jobs, Marketplace, and local ties.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram for Reels and local businesses; TikTok growing for quick tips and entertainment.
• 50–64: Facebook first, YouTube second; Pinterest for DIY/recipes; limited Instagram/TikTok adoption but rising via Reels/shorts.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube; Facebook Groups for churches, civic clubs, and community news.

Gender breakdown (platform skews)

• Women: Higher engagement on Facebook Groups (schools, churches, community services), Instagram, and Pinterest; strong Marketplace use.
• Men: Higher engagement on YouTube (sports, DIY, auto, outdoors), Reddit, and X; Facebook for Groups and Marketplace still common across both.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups are the hub for school announcements, youth sports, church bulletins, utility/weather updates, lost-and-found pets, and local fundraising.
• Marketplace-heavy: Facebook Marketplace is a go‑to for buying/selling equipment, vehicles, furniture, and local services.
• Video-forward consumption: YouTube for long‑form how‑to, sermons, and local government/school streams; Instagram Reels/TikTok for quick, shareable local content.
• Messaging over public posting: Messenger, Snapchat, and Instagram DMs carry a large share of daily interactions.
• Local discovery: People find small businesses via Facebook pages, Instagram posts/Reels, short TikTok clips, and word‑of‑mouth amplified through Groups.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings (7–9 pm) and early mornings; weekends see strong activity around events and Marketplace.

Notes on methodology

• County-level platform usage is not directly surveyed. Figures reflect Pew Research Center’s most recent U.S. adult platform adoption rates, weighted by Union County’s older, rural profile and typical access patterns, to provide practical, planning-grade benchmarks.