Baylor County

Here are key demographics for Baylor County, Texas (latest available U.S. Census Bureau data; primarily 2019–2023 ACS 5-year estimates, with 2020 Census for benchmark):

• Population size:

  • ~3,400 (2023 estimate); 3,402 (2020 Census)

• Age:

  • Median age: ~48 years
  • Under 18: ~20%
  • 18–64: ~54%
  • 65 and over: ~26%

• Gender:

  • Female: ~49%
  • Male: ~51%

• Race/ethnicity (share of total population):

  • White, non-Hispanic: ~76%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~17%
  • Black/African American: ~2%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
  • Asian: ~0.3%
  • Two or more races: ~3%

• Household data:

  • Households: ~1,600
  • Average household size: ~2.1–2.2 persons
  • Family households: ~60% (married-couple families ~45–50%)
  • Households with children under 18: ~20%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 (5-year) and 2020 Decennial Census (QuickFacts/DP05/S1101). Estimates rounded for clarity.

Baylor County, TX snapshot (estimates)

• Population and density: 3,500–3,700 residents over ~870 sq mi (4 people/sq mi), highly rural; county seat: Seymour.
• Estimated email users: ~2,600–3,000 residents use email regularly. Basis: most adults use email; adoption in rural/older areas trails big cities slightly.
• Age mix of email users:
  • 18–29: ~10–15%
  • 30–49: ~25–30%
  • 50–64: ~25–30
  • 65+: ~25–30% (high senior share locally, with slightly lower adoption than younger adults)
• Gender split: Approximately even; email adoption is similar for men and women, so users are ~50/50.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Computer access: ~85–90% of households have a computer.
  • Home broadband subscription: 65–75% of households; some rely on mobile data only (10–20%).
  • Connectivity is strongest in and around Seymour; coverage becomes spottier on outlying ranchlands, where fixed wireless/satellite fill gaps.
  • Trend since 2020: gradual gains in broadband subscriptions and speeds, but affordability and last‑mile availability remain constraints typical of sparsely populated Texas counties.

Notes: Figures synthesize recent ACS/FCC rural Texas patterns and Pew email adoption benchmarks; treat as directional estimates.

Here’s a concise, decision‑oriented snapshot of mobile phone usage in Baylor County, Texas, with estimates grounded in ACS (Computer & Internet Use), FCC broadband/coverage filings, and rural Texas benchmarks. Emphasis is on how the county differs from statewide patterns.

Overview

• Small, rural county (population roughly mid‑3,000s) with an older age profile and lower median income than Texas overall. That mix generally yields slightly lower smartphone adoption but a noticeably higher reliance on cellular service as the primary or only internet connection.

User estimates (adults and households)

• Adult smartphone users: about 2,100–2,400 people (roughly 77–83% of adults), vs. ~87–90% statewide.
• Households with at least one smartphone: ~80–86% of households (several points below Texas).
• Households relying on cellular for home internet (cellular hotspot/phone tethering or dedicated cellular router):
  • Primary or only connection: about 22–30% of households (well above Texas average, which is closer to the low‑ to mid‑teens).
  • Smartphone‑only internet households (no home fixed broadband): roughly 8–12% (above Texas).
• Typical mobile performance:
  • 4G LTE widely available near highways/town; fringe/ranch areas see variable service.
  • Low‑band 5G present in/near Seymour; mid‑band 5G coverage is patchier than urban Texas, so median 5G speeds are lower (often ~30–100 Mbps in covered areas vs. much higher city medians).

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: A larger 65+ share than Texas depresses overall smartphone adoption and app usage; however, many older residents use basic smartphones primarily for voice/text and essential apps.
• Income: Lower household incomes correlate with higher mobile‑only or mobile‑first internet reliance to avoid fixed broadband costs.
• Race/ethnicity: Baylor County is predominantly non‑Hispanic White with a smaller Hispanic share than Texas overall. Statewide, Hispanic households show relatively high smartphone dependence; in Baylor, that dynamic is present but affects a smaller share of the population.
• Education: Lower bachelor’s‑degree attainment than the Texas average often aligns with lower device multipliers per household and a greater likelihood of sharing plans/devices.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Carriers and coverage: All three national carriers operate in the area. Coverage is strongest in and around Seymour and along US‑82/US‑277; low‑band spectrum (e.g., 700/800/600 MHz) underpins most rural reach. Indoors, especially in metal‑roof structures, users often fall back to Wi‑Fi calling/boosters.
• 5G: Low‑band 5G is the main layer; mid‑band (capacity 5G) is limited, so real‑world 5G speeds lag Texas metro areas.
• Tower density/backhaul: Sparse macro‑tower grid with sites concentrated along highways and near town; backhaul is a mix of fiber where available and microwave elsewhere. This constrains capacity relative to urban Texas.
• Fixed broadband alternatives: Seymour and immediate surroundings may have cable/DSL options; fiber to homes/businesses is limited. In many outlying areas, fixed wireless or satellite fills gaps. Limited fixed choices push some households to depend on cellular as primary internet.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T) presence supports agencies and incident response; it can indirectly improve rural coverage and reliability where deployed.

How Baylor County differs from Texas overall

• Lower smartphone adoption rate (several points below state average) due to older age mix and income profile.
• Significantly higher share of cellular‑only or mobile‑first households, reflecting limited/expensive fixed broadband in outlying areas.
• More constrained 5G capacity (less mid‑band coverage), so median speeds and app experiences are less consistent than in Texas metros.
• Usage skews toward essential communications, weather/emergency alerts, and practical apps; heavy mobile video/social use grows but is tempered by data caps, signal variability, and older users.
• Network experience is highly location‑dependent (near‑town and highway corridors are fine; ranchland and low‑density areas are variable), whereas Texas metros have denser, more uniform coverage and capacity.

Notes on method and uncertainty

• Figures are estimates synthesized from ACS 5‑year county data patterns (through 2022), FCC coverage/broadband filings (through 2024), and rural‑Texas benchmarks. Small‑county sampling margins are wide; for planning, treat ranges as directional and validate with local carrier RF maps, drive tests, and the most recent ACS release.

Short note on data: There isn’t a public, county-level survey of social media use for Baylor County. Figures below are modeled estimates based on (a) Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. platform adoption (with rural adjustments) and (b) Baylor County’s older-leaning age profile from recent ACS data. Treat them as directional.

Snapshot

• Adults online: roughly 1.9k–2.3k residents use the internet; about 1.6k–2.1k are active on social media monthly.
• Age mix: Skews older than Texas overall (larger 50+ share), which biases usage toward Facebook and YouTube.
• Gender: Near even overall; older cohorts tilt slightly female.

Most‑used platforms among online adults (estimated reach)

• YouTube: 75–85%
• Facebook: 60–70%
• Instagram: 25–35%
• TikTok: 20–30%
• Snapchat: 15–25% (concentrated under 30)
• Pinterest: 25–35% (skews female)
• WhatsApp: 10–20%
• X (Twitter): 10–15%
• Reddit: 5–10% (skews male/younger)

Age patterns (tendencies)

• 18–29: YouTube ~90%+, Instagram ~70–80%, Snapchat ~65–75%, TikTok ~60–70%, Facebook ~45–60%.
• 30–49: YouTube ~90%+, Facebook ~70–80%, Instagram ~45–55%, TikTok ~30–40%.
• 50–64: Facebook ~70–80%, YouTube ~80–90%, Instagram ~25–35%, TikTok ~15–25%.
• 65+: Facebook ~60–70%, YouTube ~60–70%; others much lower.

Gender notes

• Women: higher use of Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; stronger engagement with community groups, local events, schools.
• Men: higher use of YouTube, Reddit, and X; more sports, outdoors, and how‑to content.

Behavioral trends you can expect locally

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of Groups (schools, churches, civic, buy/sell), Marketplace, and local news; strongest for 40+.
• Video consumption is high and rising: YouTube across all ages; short‑form video via Facebook Reels and TikTok for under‑40.
• Messaging is integral: Facebook Messenger dominates; Snapchat among younger adults; some WhatsApp for family groups.
• Event‑driven spikes: weather alerts, school sports, hunting seasons, and county events drive bursts of engagement and sharing.
• Posting style: Older users share/comment on local updates; younger users consume more than they publicly post, favoring ephemeral or short‑form content.
• Timing: Evenings and early mornings tend to over‑index for engagement; weekends see strong local/community chatter.

Sources

• Pew Research Center, “Social Media Use in 2024” (national platform adoption by age/gender; rural patterns).
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5‑year estimates for Baylor County: age structure and internet subscription levels