Refugio County

Refugio County, Texas — Key Demographics

Population size

• Total population: 6,741 (2020 Decennial Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~6,7xx (U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, 2023)

Age

• Median age: ~42 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50% (ACS 2019–2023)

Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census)

• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~55–60%
• White alone, non-Hispanic: ~35–40%
• Black or African American alone, non-Hispanic: ~3–4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone, non-Hispanic: ~0.5–1%
• Asian alone, non-Hispanic: ~0.2–0.5%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~1–2%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~2,700
• Average household size: ~2.4–2.5
• Family households: ~65%
• Married-couple households: ~45–50%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~75–80%

Notes and sources

• Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census (PL 94-171, DHC), American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates, Population Estimates Program (2023).
• Figures rounded for clarity; ACS values are survey estimates and may include margins of error.

Refugio County, TX snapshot (2020 Census; ACS 2018–2022; Pew Research)

• Population/density: 6,741 residents across ~770 sq mi (≈8.8 people per sq mi).
• Estimated email users: ~4,700 residents (≈70% of the population), reflecting that ~88–92% of online adults use email.
• Age distribution (population): under 18: ~22%; 18–34: ~20%; 35–64: ~40%; 65+: ~18%. Email adoption is highest among 18–64 (≈85–95%) and lower for 65+ (≈70–80%), so most email users are 35–64.
• Gender split: ≈51% male, 49% female; email use is effectively even by gender (difference within 1–2 percentage points).
• Digital access trends:
  • ~74–78% of households have a broadband subscription.
  • ~88–90% have a computer and/or smartphone; ~10–15% are smartphone‑only internet users.
  • Fixed broadband at 25/3 Mbps is available to most addresses, but adoption lags and 100+ Mbps options thin out outside Refugio/Woodsboro.
  • LTE coverage is strong along US‑77 and in towns; 5G is present in/near population centers with gaps between communities.
• Insight: Low population density and rural last‑mile constraints suppress broadband adoption, capping email uptake; expanding affordable 100+ Mbps service and filling coverage gaps would likely push email penetration beyond 75% of residents.

Mobile phone usage in Refugio County, TX — 2025 snapshot

Executive summary

• Small, rural, older, and majority-Hispanic county with high mobile dependence and more coverage variability than Texas overall. Smartphone adoption and 5G availability trail state averages; prepaid and “mobile-only” internet reliance are higher.

Population baseline

• Population: ~6,700 (2020 Census; minimal net change since)
• Settlement pattern: small towns (Refugio, Woodsboro, Austwell, Bayside) and large ranchlands; exposure to coastal weather events affects network resilience and usage

Estimated user base and adoption

• Active mobile lines: ~6,300–7,400 (roughly 0.95–1.1 lines per resident, typical for rural counties)
• Smartphone users: ~4,500–5,200 residents (roughly 80–88% of 12+ population), 5–10 points below Texas’ urbanized average
• Mobile-only internet households (smartphone/hotspot as primary home internet): ~22–30% of households, markedly higher than the statewide share
• Prepaid share of mobile subscriptions: elevated (~35–45% vs. lower statewide), reflecting income mix and credit access

Demographic breakdown and implications for usage

• Age structure (approximate distribution): 0–17 ~22–24%; 18–34 ~16–18%; 35–64 ~38–42%; 65+ ~20–24%. The larger 65+ segment pulls down overall smartphone adoption and reduces 5G device penetration versus Texas.
• Race/ethnicity: majority Hispanic/Latino alongside a sizable non-Hispanic White population. Spanish/English bilingual usage is common; prepaid and Android uptake tend to be higher in similar rural Hispanic counties.
• Income and employment: household incomes below Texas median; more hourly/seasonal work. This correlates with:
  • Higher prepaid and BYOD usage
  • Greater hotspot tethering in lieu of wired broadband
  • Slower upgrade cycles, so a higher share of LTE-only devices remains in service

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage pattern:
  • Strongest along US‑77 and in town centers with co-located macro sites (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon)
  • Patchier in bayside and ranchland areas; signal fades in low-lying and treed terrain away from highways
• 5G availability:
  • Mid-band 5G present on main corridors and in town cores; large off-corridor areas remain LTE-only
  • Uplink speeds often LTE-class outside mid-band footprints; C‑band/n41 depth thinner than in Texas metros
• Typical performance (field-tested rural benchmarks):
  • Town cores/highway sites: 5G mid-band ~100–300 Mbps down, 10–30 Mbps up; LTE 10–40/2–10
  • Outlying areas: LTE 2–15/1–5; occasional dead spots near bays and riverine inlets
• Capacity and resilience:
  • Fewer sectorized sites per capita than metro Texas; peak-time slowdowns common during school hours, events, and weather incidents
  • Post‑Harvey hardening improved generator backup on key towers, but extended outages can still occur when backhaul is impacted
• Backhaul and wired alternatives:
  • Limited cable/fiber footprints outside town centers; legacy DSL persists
  • Fixed wireless (licensed and unlicensed) fills gaps; satellite (LEO) is increasingly used on ranchlands and for backup

How Refugio County differs from Texas overall

• Smartphone adoption: lower by roughly 5–10 percentage points due to older age mix and device upgrade lag
• Mobile-only reliance: higher by roughly 8–12 percentage points, driven by sparse wired broadband and cost sensitivity
• Prepaid share: significantly higher; postpaid family-plan penetration lower than in metro Texas
• 5G coverage depth: substantially shallower off-corridor; more LTE-only pockets and greater performance variability
• Network resilience: more exposure to weather-related congestion and backhaul outages; reliance on generator-backed sites is more operationally consequential
• Device mix: higher proportion of LTE-only and budget Android devices; slower adoption of high-band/mid-band 5G handsets than urban Texas

Practical implications for users and planners

• Carriers: T-Mobile often delivers the fastest 5G near US‑77; Verizon and AT&T can offer steadier rural LTE coverage in fringe zones. Actual best choice varies block-by-block.
• For homes without reliable wired service: pair a mid-band 5G gateway with a directional antenna or use fixed wireless/satellite as primary and keep a secondary mobile hotspot for failover.
• Public safety and emergency comms: prioritize carriers with proven generator-backed sites along evacuation and response routes; consider multi-carrier or satellite redundancy.

Notes on sources and method

• Estimates synthesize 2020 Census population, recent ACS patterns for rural Texas counties, FCC mobile/broadband availability maps (2024), carrier disclosures, and rural performance benchmarks observed in the Coastal Bend. Figures represent 2024–2025 conditions and may vary by census block and network build cycles.

Refugio County, TX — Social media usage snapshot (2025)

How many adults use social media

• Adults using at least one social platform: ~82% of adults
• Daily social-media users: ~70% of adults
• Context: Figures reflect rural-county patterns and current platform adoption among U.S. rural adults applied to Refugio County’s age/gender mix (Pew Research Center 2023–2024; U.S. Census/ACS)

Most-used platforms (share of adults)

• YouTube: ~81%
• Facebook: ~69%
• Instagram: ~36%
• TikTok: ~31%
• Pinterest: ~31% (skews female)
• Snapchat: ~23%
• X (Twitter): ~18%
• LinkedIn: ~16% Top usage is concentrated on YouTube and Facebook; Instagram/TikTok are secondary but growing, especially among under-40s.

Age-group picture

• 18–29: Near-universal use (≈95%+). Platform mix: YouTube very high; Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok each used by a clear majority; Facebook is still common but secondary.
• 30–49: Very high use (≈90%). YouTube and Facebook dominate; Instagram is mainstream; TikTok adoption in the 30–40% range; Snapchat trails.
• 50–64: Solid majority (≈75–80%). Facebook is the hub; YouTube strong; Instagram/TikTok are minority usage.
• 65+: About half use social media (≈50%). Facebook first; YouTube second; limited Instagram/TikTok.

Gender breakdown

• Overall among social-media users: ≈52% women, 48% men (women adopt slightly more often in rural counties).
• Platform skews:
  • More female: Facebook (slight), Instagram (slight), Pinterest (strong).
  • More male: YouTube (moderate), X/Twitter and Reddit (noticeable).

Behavioral trends in Refugio County

• Community-first Facebook: Local groups and pages drive information discovery (schools, sports, churches, county services, storm/emergency updates). Facebook Marketplace is a leading local-commerce channel.
• Video-led consumption: Short-form video (YouTube Shorts, Facebook/Instagram Reels, TikTok) is the fastest-growing format; most residents consume more than they post.
• Messaging over public posting: Facebook Messenger is prevalent for day-to-day coordination; WhatsApp use is meaningful for extended family and cross-border ties.
• Trust/locality: Residents give outsized attention to content from known local people, organizations, and businesses; hyperlocal news posts outperform national topics.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (6–10 p.m.) and weekends; weather events and school athletics produce sharp, short-lived spikes.
• Discovery and purchase: Local businesses get the highest ROI from boosted Facebook posts and short videos with clear CTAs (directions, call, message). Instagram matters for 18–39; TikTok helps reach under-35 with video-first creative.

Notes on interpretation

• Percentages represent the share of adults in Refugio County likely using each platform, modeled from the latest Pew Research Center adoption rates for rural adults with Texas/rural adjustments; platform rankings and age/gender skews align with 2023–2024 findings.