Atascosa County

Key demographics for Atascosa County, Texas (latest Census/ACS data; values rounded)

• Population

  • 2020 Census: 48,981
  • 2023 estimate: ~51,000

• Age

  • Median age: ~34 years
  • Under 18: ~27%
  • 65 and over: ~13%

• Gender

  • Male: ~50%
  • Female: ~50%

• Race/ethnicity (of total population)

  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~65%
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~28%
  • Black/African American (non-Hispanic): ~2%
  • Asian (non-Hispanic): ~1%
  • Two or more/Other (non-Hispanic): ~4%

• Households

  • Total households: ~15,800
  • Average household size: ~3.1 persons
  • Family households: ~75–76%
  • Occupied housing: ~73% owner-occupied, ~27% renter-occupied

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 5-year; Population Estimates Program). Figures are approximate and rounded for clarity.

Atascosa County, TX — email usage snapshot (2024–25 estimates)

• Population and density: ~50,000 residents across ~1,200 sq mi (≈40 people/sq mi).
• Estimated email users: 35,000–40,000 residents. Assumptions: ~90% of adults and ~75–85% of teens use email; limited use among children under 13.
• Age distribution of email users (approx. share of users):
  • 13–17: 6–8%
  • 18–34: 28–32%
  • 35–54: 30–33%
  • 55–64: 12–15%
  • 65+: 12–15%
• Gender split: roughly even (men 49–51%, women 49–51%); no meaningful usage gap by gender.
• Digital access and connectivity:
  • Home broadband adoption: ~80–85% of households; 15–20% are smartphone‑only for internet access.
  • Fiber concentrated in Pleasanton/Jourdanton; cable/DSL in towns; fixed wireless and satellite serve ranch/outlying areas.
  • Strongest mobile coverage and 5G/4G capacity along I‑37 and major corridors; speeds and reliability decline in sparsely populated areas.
• Trends:
  • Gradual fiber buildout and provider competition in town centers.
  • Mobile‑only reliance growing among lower‑income and highly mobile households.
  • Older adults’ email adoption improving but remains below younger cohorts.
  • Libraries and schools continue to bridge access gaps with public Wi‑Fi and devices.

Here’s a county-level picture of mobile phone usage in Atascosa County, Texas, with estimates and the main ways the county differs from statewide patterns.

High-level snapshot

• Population baseline: roughly 51,000–55,000 residents (San Antonio–New Braunfels metro fringe; mix of small towns and rural ranchland).
• Adult population: about 37,000–41,000.
• Economy and context: agriculture, oil/gas services, and commuting to the San Antonio area; incomes and educational attainment below the Texas average; large Hispanic/Latino community.

Estimated user base

• Adult smartphone users: approximately 32,000–36,000 adults (assumes 86–88% adult smartphone adoption; slightly below big-metro Texas but above national rural averages).
• Total personal mobile lines (handsets): roughly 45,000–55,000 lines in service (accounts for multi-line households and teen usage).
• Mobile-only internet users: meaningfully above the statewide share. Expect a higher-than-Texas rate of households that rely on smartphones and hotspots as primary home internet, driven by patchy fixed broadband outside town centers and cost sensitivity.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Ethnicity and language: about two-thirds of residents are Hispanic/Latino (well above the Texas average). This correlates with:
  • Higher reliance on mobile as primary internet (smartphone-dependent households).
  • Heavy use of messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger and Spanish/English bilingual plans and customer support.
• Age: slightly younger profile in families, but also a notable 65+ cohort in rural areas.
  • Teens and working-age adults show high smartphone penetration and video/social usage.
  • Seniors’ smartphone adoption trails the county average, widening the urban–rural digital gap relative to Texas metros.
• Income and plans: lower median household income than Texas overall translates to:
  • Higher prepaid and MVNO plan share.
  • Slower device upgrade cycles; more budget Android devices and bring-your-own-device plans.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Network availability:
  • 5G mid-band coverage is present in and around Pleasanton, Jourdanton, Poteet, and along major corridors (I-37, US‑281, TX‑97). Outside towns, service often falls back to LTE with lower throughput.
  • Coverage gaps persist on ranch roads and in the southern/western parts of the county; in-building coverage can be weak in metal-roof structures common to agricultural facilities.
• Carriers and performance:
  • All three nationals (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) operate here; T-Mobile often shows the widest 5G footprint along corridors; AT&T’s FirstNet presence benefits public safety; Verizon coverage is strong along highways. Speeds drop quickly off-corridor.
  • Peak-time congestion spikes during regional events (e.g., festivals in Poteet) and shift changes tied to oilfield activity; temporary capacity adds (cells-on-wheels) are sometimes needed.
• Backhaul and terrain:
  • Terrain is mostly flat brush country, so line-of-sight is workable, but tower spacing is wide. Microwave and fiber backhaul are concentrated near towns; farther out, limited backhaul constrains capacity.
• Fixed alternatives and substitution:
  • Fiber and cable are concentrated in town centers; many rural households rely on fixed wireless ISPs or satellite (e.g., Starlink) and use phone hotspots as a fallback—raising mobile data reliance more than in most Texas suburbs.

How Atascosa County differs from Texas overall

• Higher mobile-dependence: Larger share of households rely on smartphones and hotspots for home internet than the Texas average, especially among Hispanic and lower-income families.
• More prepaid/MVNO usage: Price sensitivity and credit constraints push a higher prepaid share than in big Texas metros.
• Coverage variability: Greater on/off-corridor performance spread. Texas metros enjoy dense mid-band 5G; Atascosa shows pockets of strong 5G near highways and towns but quick drop-offs to LTE and dead zones.
• Lower average speeds, higher latency: Typical rural pattern, but more pronounced than the statewide median due to sparse tower density and constrained backhaul.
• Event- and shift-driven congestion: Network strain aligns with agricultural festivals and oilfield activity more than with conventional commuter peaks.
• Device lifecycle: Slower upgrade cadence than metro Texas customers; accessories like external antennas or boosters are more common among rural users.

Implications and planning notes

• Carriers: Investments that matter most locally are new macro sites or small cells off major corridors, improved microwave/fiber backhaul to rural sectors, and Spanish-language support and prepaid channels.
• Public sector: Emergency comms benefit from continued FirstNet buildout and deployable assets for major events; school districts should plan around higher student smartphone-dependence and hotspot programs.
• Businesses and outreach: Bilingual digital channels (SMS/WhatsApp) outperform email in reach; content should be mobile-first and low-bandwidth-friendly for rural users.

Method notes

• Estimates blend ACS-style population baselines, Pew/Texas smartphone adoption norms, and rural-adjusted take-up rates; network observations reflect typical FCC map patterns for South Texas counties with similar profiles. Figures are directional; for decisions, validate with current ACS 1-year county tables, FCC Broadband Map fabric, and carrier-specific coverage/performance data.

Below is a concise, locally tuned snapshot. Note: County-level platform stats aren’t officially published; figures are estimates derived from Pew Research Center U.S. usage (2024), rural adjustments, and Atascosa’s demographics (young-to-middle age, large Hispanic population).

Headline numbers

• Population: ~52,000; adults 18+: ~38,000
• Estimated social media users: 27,000–30,000 adults (70–78% of adults). Including teens adds ~4,000–4,500 users.

Most‑used platforms (share of adults who use each at least occasionally)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 65–75% (dominant locally for groups/Marketplace)
• Instagram: 40–55% (skews <35)
• TikTok: 28–40% adults; >65% among under‑30s
• Snapchat: 20–30% adults; 60–75% among 18–29
• WhatsApp: 30–40% (higher than U.S. average due to large Hispanic community)
• Pinterest: 25–35% overall (30–40% of women)
• X (Twitter): 18–25%
• LinkedIn: 15–25% (professionals/commuters)
• Nextdoor: 8–15% of households in denser areas; limited countywide

Age patterns

• Teens (13–17): Heavy Snapchat/TikTok/YouTube; Facebook mainly for school/event info.
• 18–29: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube lead; Snapchat for messaging; Facebook for groups/Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram secondary; TikTok rising, especially among parents.
• 50–64: Facebook primary; YouTube for news/how‑to; moderate WhatsApp.
• 65+: Facebook core; Messenger for family; YouTube for church/services; minimal TikTok/Instagram.

Gender tendencies

• Women: More Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; active in local buy/sell/trade groups and Reels/Stories.
• Men: More YouTube, X, Reddit; sports/outdoors/auto content.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first: Facebook Groups (neighborhoods, schools, churches, booster clubs) are the hub; Facebook Marketplace is very active.
• Events drive spikes: Poteet Strawberry Festival, high school sports, seasonal fairs; posts with local faces/landmarks outperform.
• Messaging-centric: Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp group chats coordinate family, work crews, and church activities.
• Short-form video growth: TikTok and Instagram Reels for quick local updates, food spots, ag/ranch life; Spanish/Spanglish content performs.
• News + trust: Local news, school districts, and first responders reach audiences mainly via Facebook and YouTube; shares from known community members travel further than brand posts.
• Commerce: FB Live sales, IG Stories, and Marketplace outperform formal e‑shops; quick response and porch pickup common.
• Timing: Highest engagement evenings (7–10 pm) and weekend mid‑mornings; mobile-first viewing.

How to use this

• Default to Facebook + YouTube for reach; add Instagram/TikTok for under‑40s and creative/video.
• Include Spanish/bilingual creative; geo‑target within 15–25 miles; favor short video (6–15 seconds) and posts that tag local places/organizations.

Sources and method

• Estimates adapted from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media use and rural vs. urban splits, adjusted for Atascosa’s demographics (Census/ACS). County-specific platform data are not officially published; treat figures as planning-level estimates.