Duval County Local Demographic Profile
Here are the latest high-level demographics for Duval County, Texas.
Population
- Total population: ~10.9k (ACS 2019–2023 5-year; 2020 Census: 11,017)
Age
- Median age: ~36
- Under 18: ~25%
- 65 and over: ~18%
Sex
- Male: ~51%
- Female: ~49%
Race/ethnicity
- Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~90%
- White alone, non-Hispanic: ~8–9%
- Black or African American alone, non-Hispanic: ~0.5–1%
- American Indian/Alaska Native alone, non-Hispanic: ~0.5–1%
- Asian alone, non-Hispanic: ~0.3–0.5%
- Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~1%
Households and housing
- Households: ~3.6k
- Average household size: ~3.0
- Family households: ~75%
- Homeownership rate: ~75–80%
- Median household income: ~$43k
- Persons in poverty: ~24–26%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census; American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101, DP04, S1901, S1701). Notes: Hispanic is an ethnicity; race groups shown are non-Hispanic. Estimates rounded for readability.
Email Usage in Duval County
Duval County, TX (pop. ~11,000) — estimated email users: 7,500–8,000.
Age distribution of users (est.):
- 13–17: ~500 (≈75% use)
- 18–34: ~2,300 (≈95% use)
- 35–64: ~3,400–3,600 (≈90% use)
- 65+: ~1,200–1,400 (≈80% use)
Gender split: roughly even (~50/50); minimal gender gap in email adoption.
Digital access and connectivity trends:
- Very low density (~6 people per sq. mile) increases last‑mile costs and limits wired build‑out.
- Household broadband subscription likely ~60–70%, below Texas average; many residents are mobile‑only and check email primarily via smartphones.
- Fixed high‑speed service is strongest in/near San Diego, Freer, and Benavides; fiber remains limited. Outside towns, options skew to older DSL, cable pockets, satellite, or fixed‑wireless.
- Gradual improvement as fixed‑wireless and selective fiber projects expand, but affordability and device quality remain barriers for some low‑income households.
Notes: Estimates apply national email adoption rates to Duval County’s population and reflect ACS broadband indicators and Pew research patterns.
Mobile Phone Usage in Duval County
Summary of mobile phone usage in Duval County, Texas (2025 snapshot)
Context
- Population and composition: About 11–12k residents; predominantly Hispanic/Latino (~90%), with small towns (San Diego, Freer, Benavides) and large rural areas. Median household income well below the Texas average; poverty rate notably higher. Age profile is slightly older than the state overall.
- Implication: Lower incomes and rural dispersion shape mobile adoption, plan choice, and network experience in ways that differ from statewide trends.
User estimates
- Adult population (18+): ~8–9k.
- Mobile phone users: ~7–8k adults carry a mobile phone on a typical day.
- Smartphone users: ~6.5–7.5k adults (roughly 80–85% of adults), a few points below Texas urban markets but still high.
- Smartphone-only internet households: 28–38% of households rely primarily on a smartphone for internet (vs roughly 15–22% in Texas overall). With ~3.5–4.5k households in the county, that’s approximately 1,100–1,500 households.
- Plan types: Prepaid/MVNO usage is elevated, estimated 35–45% of smartphone lines (vs ~25–30% statewide), driven by budget sensitivity, credit constraints, and month‑to‑month flexibility.
- Device replacement cycle: Longer than the state average (often 3–4+ years), with more second‑hand/refurbished devices.
Demographic breakdown of usage
- Language and culture: Very high Spanish‑preferring/Spanish‑bilingual segment. Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger see heavy use; community groups often coordinate via WhatsApp/Facebook rather than email.
- Age:
- Youth and families: High mobile video/social use; above‑average reliance on school‑issued hotspots or shared family data due to limited home broadband.
- Older adults: Lower smartphone adoption than younger cohorts; some continued feature‑phone use and basic plans, plus interest in large‑screen/low-cost Android devices when they do adopt.
- Income and employment:
- Lower‑income households gravitate toward prepaid, family bundles, and MVNOs; careful data management and use of public Wi‑Fi to stretch plans.
- Oilfield, ranching, and field-based work increase demand for coverage along highways/backroads, vehicle chargers, offline maps, and signal boosters.
Digital infrastructure and network experience
- Coverage pattern:
- 4G LTE: Generally solid along US‑59 (Freer), SH‑44 (San Diego), and other primary routes; notable dead zones on ranch roads and sparsely populated tracts.
- 5G: Primarily low‑band in/near town centers; mid‑band (e.g., C‑band or 2.5 GHz) footprints are patchier than in Texas metros. Expect good-to-moderate 5G in towns, rapid fallback to LTE outside.
- Speed and reliability:
- Typical town-center mobile speeds: often 20–150 Mbps; outside towns can drop to single‑digit to ~20 Mbps, with evening congestion where backhaul is microwave or limited fiber.
- Reliability is more weather- and power‑event sensitive than in urban Texas; backup power at some macro sites mitigates but doesn’t eliminate outages.
- Home and enterprise broadband interplay:
- Limited cable/fiber beyond town cores; DSL legacy plant persists. Fixed wireless (including 4G/5G home internet) is available in and around towns; coverage thins in the hinterlands.
- Satellite internet (including newer LEO options) is increasingly adopted on ranches; many households keep robust mobile plans as a backup.
- Public connectivity:
- Libraries, schools, and city buildings supply essential Wi‑Fi; E‑rate funded hotspots distributed during/after the pandemic remain in circulation.
- Public safety:
- FirstNet buildouts have improved AT&T coverage for first responders in and around towns and along main corridors, but handheld coverage can still be challenging off‑road without vehicle boosters.
How Duval County differs from Texas overall
- Higher smartphone-only reliance: +10–15 percentage points vs the state, due to limited wireline options and affordability constraints.
- More prepaid/MVNO usage: materially higher than Texas average, reflecting price sensitivity and credit barriers.
- Patchier rural coverage: Larger and more frequent dead zones off major corridors; higher use of signal boosters and offline workflows.
- Slower 5G rollout depth: Lower availability of mid‑band 5G and lower median speeds than urban/suburban Texas.
- Longer device lifecycles and more refurbished devices; accessory sales (battery packs, rugged cases, boosters) play a bigger role than in metros.
- Community communications lean heavily on WhatsApp/Facebook groups versus email; Spanish-language content/support is more critical.
Implications for planning and outreach
- Prioritize affordable, high‑value plans (prepaid/MVNO, family bundles), Spanish-first support, and clear data management tools.
- Network investments that matter most: additional rural macro sites or small cells near populated ranch corridors; stronger backhaul in town centers to reduce evening slowdowns; targeted mid‑band 5G in San Diego and Freer.
- Promote fixed wireless where feasible; partner with schools/libraries on digital literacy and hotspot programs.
- For field-based users, emphasize coverage maps by road segment, vehicle boosters, and offline-capable apps.
Data notes and where to verify locally
- Demographics and households: U.S. Census/ACS 5‑year estimates for Duval County.
- Broadband availability: FCC National Broadband Map; NTIA Indicators of Broadband Need.
- Mobile coverage/performance: Carrier coverage maps (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon), FirstNet updates, and third‑party tests (Ookla, RootMetrics, OpenSignal).
- Local context: School districts, library systems, and county IT/public safety for hotspot programs and FirstNet adoption.
All quantitative figures above are estimates based on rural Texas patterns, national adoption rates, and Duval County’s known demographics. For a formal plan, validate with the cited sources and a short local survey/drive test.
Social Media Trends in Duval County
Below is a concise, model-based snapshot of social media usage in Duval County, TX. Where county-level data aren’t published, figures are estimated by applying recent Pew Research Center usage rates (by age, gender, rural status, and Hispanic identity) to Duval County’s ACS demographics.
Headline user stats
- Population baseline: ~10.7–11.0k residents; predominantly Hispanic/Latino.
- Estimated social media users (13+): 6.8k–7.3k (about 63–68% of total population; ~80–83% of adults).
- Daily usage among users: ~65–70% check at least once per day.
- Typical platform mix: Most active users engage on 2–4 platforms monthly.
User mix by age (share of social users)
- 13–17: 12–14%
- 18–29: 18–22%
- 30–44: 26–30%
- 45–64: 24–27%
- 65+: 10–12%
Gender breakdown (users)
- Female: ~52%
- Male: ~48% Notes: Women skew higher on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; men skew higher on Reddit/X.
Most-used platforms in Duval County (estimated % of 13+ users who use monthly)
- YouTube: 80–85%
- Facebook: 62–70%
- Instagram: 48–55%
- WhatsApp: 42–50% (notably high due to large Hispanic population)
- TikTok: 35–42% (very high among teens/20s; moderate 30–49; lower 50+)
- Snapchat: 26–33% (teen/young adult heavy)
- Pinterest: 28–35% (strong among women 25–54)
- X (Twitter): 18–22%
- Reddit: 18–22%
- Nextdoor: 5–10% (low in rural areas)
Behavioral trends to know
- Language and tone: Bilingual content performs best. Older residents often prefer Spanish; younger audiences are comfortably bilingual.
- Private-first culture: Heavy reliance on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger group chats and private Facebook Groups for family coordination, school updates, church, FFA/4-H, and youth sports.
- Community hubs: Facebook Pages/Groups for school districts (e.g., San Diego, Freer, Benavides ISDs), churches, booster clubs, county offices, and sheriff/emergency updates drive engagement and trust.
- Marketplace mindset: Facebook Marketplace is a top use case (vehicles, ranch equipment, livestock, tools, services).
- Video formats: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) and YouTube how-tos outperform static posts. Live streams used for games, ceremonies, and church services.
- Timing: Engagement peaks evenings 7–10 pm and weekends; secondary check-ins around lunch hours.
- Youth patterns: Teens favor Snapchat streaks, TikTok/IG Reels; minimal Facebook posting (but may keep accounts for events/community).
- Civics and alerts: Spikes around local elections, school issues, road/weather advisories. Local sources are more trusted than national outlets.
Practical implications
- Use Facebook for broad local reach and groups; pair posts with Events and Marketplace when relevant.
- Pair Instagram and TikTok for under-40 reach; lead with short, captioned vertical video.
- Offer Click-to-WhatsApp or Messenger for inquiries and customer service.
- Post bilingually; lean Spanish for 35+.
- Geo-target within 15–30 miles; include neighboring towns where residents shop or commute.
Notes and sources
- Estimates modeled from Pew Research Center (2023–2024 social media use by platform, age, gender, rural residence, and Hispanic adults) and U.S. Census/ACS demographics for Duval County. County-specific platform audits can refine these ranges further.
Table of Contents
Other Counties in Texas
- Anderson
- Andrews
- Angelina
- Aransas
- Archer
- Armstrong
- Atascosa
- Austin
- Bailey
- Bandera
- Bastrop
- Baylor
- Bee
- Bell
- Bexar
- Blanco
- Borden
- Bosque
- Bowie
- Brazoria
- Brazos
- Brewster
- Briscoe
- Brooks
- Brown
- Burleson
- Burnet
- Caldwell
- Calhoun
- Callahan
- Cameron
- Camp
- Carson
- Cass
- Castro
- Chambers
- Cherokee
- Childress
- Clay
- Cochran
- Coke
- Coleman
- Collin
- Collingsworth
- Colorado
- Comal
- Comanche
- Concho
- Cooke
- Coryell
- Cottle
- Crane
- Crockett
- Crosby
- Culberson
- Dallam
- Dallas
- Dawson
- De Witt
- Deaf Smith
- Delta
- Denton
- Dickens
- Dimmit
- Donley
- Eastland
- Ector
- Edwards
- El Paso
- Ellis
- Erath
- Falls
- Fannin
- Fayette
- Fisher
- Floyd
- Foard
- Fort Bend
- Franklin
- Freestone
- Frio
- Gaines
- Galveston
- Garza
- Gillespie
- Glasscock
- Goliad
- Gonzales
- Gray
- Grayson
- Gregg
- Grimes
- Guadalupe
- Hale
- Hall
- Hamilton
- Hansford
- Hardeman
- Hardin
- Harris
- Harrison
- Hartley
- Haskell
- Hays
- Hemphill
- Henderson
- Hidalgo
- Hill
- Hockley
- Hood
- Hopkins
- Houston
- Howard
- Hudspeth
- Hunt
- Hutchinson
- Irion
- Jack
- Jackson
- Jasper
- Jeff Davis
- Jefferson
- Jim Hogg
- Jim Wells
- Johnson
- Jones
- Karnes
- Kaufman
- Kendall
- Kenedy
- Kent
- Kerr
- Kimble
- King
- Kinney
- Kleberg
- Knox
- La Salle
- Lamar
- Lamb
- Lampasas
- Lavaca
- Lee
- Leon
- Liberty
- Limestone
- Lipscomb
- Live Oak
- Llano
- Loving
- Lubbock
- Lynn
- Madison
- Marion
- Martin
- Mason
- Matagorda
- Maverick
- Mcculloch
- Mclennan
- Mcmullen
- Medina
- Menard
- Midland
- Milam
- Mills
- Mitchell
- Montague
- Montgomery
- Moore
- Morris
- Motley
- Nacogdoches
- Navarro
- Newton
- Nolan
- Nueces
- Ochiltree
- Oldham
- Orange
- Palo Pinto
- Panola
- Parker
- Parmer
- Pecos
- Polk
- Potter
- Presidio
- Rains
- Randall
- Reagan
- Real
- Red River
- Reeves
- Refugio
- Roberts
- Robertson
- Rockwall
- Runnels
- Rusk
- Sabine
- San Augustine
- San Jacinto
- San Patricio
- San Saba
- Schleicher
- Scurry
- Shackelford
- Shelby
- Sherman
- Smith
- Somervell
- Starr
- Stephens
- Sterling
- Stonewall
- Sutton
- Swisher
- Tarrant
- Taylor
- Terrell
- Terry
- Throckmorton
- Titus
- Tom Green
- Travis
- Trinity
- Tyler
- Upshur
- Upton
- Uvalde
- Val Verde
- Van Zandt
- Victoria
- Walker
- Waller
- Ward
- Washington
- Webb
- Wharton
- Wheeler
- Wichita
- Wilbarger
- Willacy
- Williamson
- Wilson
- Winkler
- Wise
- Wood
- Yoakum
- Young
- Zapata
- Zavala