Augusta County

Here are key demographics for Augusta County, Virginia (county only; excludes the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro). Figures are the latest Census/ACS estimates and rounded for clarity.

Population

• Total: ~78–79k (2023 estimate; 77,487 in 2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~58–60%
• 65 and over: ~21–22%

Sex

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Race and ethnicity (mutually exclusive; ACS)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~87%
• Black or African American (non-Hispanic): ~5%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~2%
• Asian (non-Hispanic): ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native and other (non-Hispanic): <1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~30–31k
• Average household size: ~2.5 persons
• Family households: ~65–70% of households
• Owner-occupied housing: ~74–76%

Primary sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 5-year).

Email usage in Augusta County, VA (estimates)

• County context: Population ~78.5k; density ~80 per sq mi across ~971 sq mi.
• Estimated email users: 54–58k adults (≈90–93% of ~61k adults).
• Age mix (share of users): 18–34 ≈26% (14–15k); 35–64 ≈54% (30–31k); 65+ ≈20% (~11–12k). Senior adoption trails but is rising via smartphones.
• Gender split: ≈49% male, 51% female among users (mirrors population).
• Digital access trends:
  • ~80–85% of households have home broadband; most others rely on mobile-only internet.
  • Cable/fiber clusters along the I‑81/US‑250/US‑340 corridors near Staunton and Waynesboro; western mountainous areas see more DSL, fixed‑wireless, or satellite.
  • Ongoing fiber buildouts via the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative and federal BEAD/ARPA funds; uptake is increasing, especially among older adults.
• Local connectivity facts: Large, rural county with dispersed settlements and national forest land; proximity to Staunton/Waynesboro hubs boosts service options in nearby Augusta communities.

Notes: Figures are rounded estimates using recent Census/ACS population counts, Pew email adoption rates, and regional broadband availability data. Actual counts vary by neighborhood.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Augusta County, Virginia (distinct from the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro) is high but trails Virginia’s statewide patterns in adoption, speeds, and 5G depth. Rural topography and a slightly older, lower‑income population drive more conservative device adoption and heavier reliance on mobile connections where fixed broadband is weaker.

User estimates (orders of magnitude; derived from ACS population, Pew Research adoption rates, and rural adjustments)

• Population and base: ~78,000 residents; roughly 60,000–62,000 adults.
• Smartphone users: ~49,000–53,000 adults (about 82%–86% of adults). Virginia statewide is closer to ~88%–92%, so Augusta runs a few points lower.
• Any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): ~56,000–58,000 adults (about 92%–95%).
• “Wireless‑only” telephone households (no landline): roughly 21,000–23,000 of ~30,000 households (about 70%–75%). That’s near but slightly below Virginia’s urbanized average.
• Mobile‑only internet users (rely on smartphone/hotspot, no home broadband): materially higher than the state; expect about 20%–25% of adults versus roughly mid‑teens statewide. This is concentrated in outlying and mountain‑shadowed areas.

Demographic patterns versus Virginia

• Age: Older skew than the state. Smartphone ownership among 65+ lags the state by several points; basic/feature phone retention is more common. Practical effect: lower rates of mobile payments/wearables, higher emphasis on calling/text, weather alerts, and telehealth.
• Income/education: Median income and bachelor’s attainment are below the state average. You see more prepaid/MVNO plans (e.g., Straight Talk, Total/Cricket, Visible) and tighter data budgeting. Multi‑line family plans are common but less likely to include the most expensive unlimited tiers.
• Platform mix: Android share is higher than the state average; iPhone share slightly lower, reflecting income mix and device upgrade cycles.
• Work patterns: Agriculture, logistics along I‑81, and light manufacturing drive practical, coverage‑first plan choices (e.g., Verizon/AT&T or their MVNOs, dedicated hotspots for field work).

Digital infrastructure and coverage (how it differs from state patterns)

• Terrain-driven gaps: Coverage is strong along I‑81, US‑250, and population centers (Fishersville, Verona, Stuarts Draft), but there are dead zones and weak indoor signal in valleys and forested west/east flanks (George Washington National Forest side and near the Blue Ridge). Statewide, Virginia’s urban corridors mask fewer such gaps.
• 5G availability:
  • T‑Mobile: Broad low‑band and mid‑band 5G along main corridors and towns; fades in sparsely populated valleys. Often the best 5G capacity in denser pockets.
  • Verizon/AT&T: Near‑ubiquitous low‑band 5G; C‑band/“UW” pops up mainly near towns and interstates, not uniformly countywide. mmWave is essentially absent outside specific venues. Net: 5G depth is shallower than in Virginia’s metros.
• Tower density and backhaul: Fewer sites per square mile than metro Virginia; some sectors still depend on microwave backhaul. Congestion can spike during weather events and tourist traffic near the Blue Ridge/Afton Mountain.
• Fixed broadband interplay: Fiber is spreading from towns outward (regional providers expanding; state VATI/BEAD funds are in play), but many rural addresses still lean on fixed wireless, satellite, or mobile hotspots. This drives higher smartphone‑only and hotspot use than the state average.
• Public safety and resilience: FirstNet (AT&T) and Verizon front‑line offerings focus along I‑81/I‑64 and town centers. In remote hollows, LMR (radio) remains a critical complement due to cellular shadows.

Behavioral and usage notes

• More mobile hotspot use for homework, telehealth, and small business than in metro Virginia.
• App mix tilts toward Facebook, Marketplace, weather, ag/logistics, and church/community apps; relatively lower penetration of ride‑hailing/delivery services than statewide urban areas.
• Upgrade cadence is slower; device age runs older on average, which, combined with lower mid‑band 5G reach, keeps average mobile speeds below Virginia’s metro medians.

Bottom line differences vs state-level

• Slightly lower smartphone adoption and iPhone share; more prepaid and MVNO usage.
• Higher share of mobile‑only internet users driven by patchy fixed broadband and affordability.
• Coverage is reliable on main corridors but more topography‑limited elsewhere; 5G capacity is spottier and slower to match metro Virginia.

Below is a concise, directional snapshot of social media usage in Augusta County, VA. County‑level platform stats aren’t formally published; figures are estimates based on the county’s age profile and national/rural benchmarks as of 2024–2025.

Headline user stats

• Population 13+: ~65–67k
• Estimated social media users (13+): ~50–55k (≈78–82% penetration)
• Daily active users: ~32–36k (≈60–65% of 13+ use social daily)
• Gender split among users: ~52% women, 48% men (overall)

Most‑used platforms (share of local social media users)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Instagram: 40–45%
• TikTok: 30–35%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (skews female)
• Snapchat: 25–30% overall; very high among teens/young adults
• LinkedIn: 20–25%
• X (Twitter): 18–22% (news/weather heavy)
• Reddit: 15–20% (skews male)

Age group patterns (adoption = % using any social)

• Teens (13–17): 90–95% adoption; top: YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram. Facebook minimal.
• 18–29: 95%+; YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat; Facebook moderate.
• 30–49: ~88–92%; Facebook and YouTube dominant; Instagram/Pinterest moderate; TikTok growing.
• 50–64: ~75–80%; Facebook strongest; YouTube solid; Pinterest/Instagram moderate; TikTok lighter.
• 65+: ~45–55%; Facebook primary; YouTube secondary; others niche.

Gender skews by platform (approx.)

• Facebook slight female tilt (≈54/46 F/M)
• Instagram near even (≈51/49 F/M)
• TikTok slight female tilt (≈52/48 F/M)
• Snapchat female‑leaning (≈56/44 F/M)
• Pinterest strongly female (≈70/30 F/M)
• Reddit male‑leaning (≈65/35 M/F)
• X (Twitter) male‑leaning (≈60/40 M/F)
• YouTube slight male tilt (≈55/45 M/F)

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first Facebook usage: strong participation in local groups (yard sales, schools, churches, youth sports, farm/land, road conditions, local government updates). Marketplace is heavily used.
• Short‑form video surge: TikTok and Instagram Reels growth around local sports, farming/rural life, DIY, outdoor/Blue Ridge content, and quick business promos.
• Event discovery: Facebook Events and Instagram posts drive attendance for fairs, festivals, breweries, and school activities.
• Messaging for business: Facebook Messenger and Instagram DMs are common for quotes, hours, and appointments.
• Deal‑seeking: High responsiveness to local coupons, giveaways, and cause‑related promotions; shareable posts outperform plain ads.
• Timing: Engagement generally peaks evenings (7–9 pm) and lunchtime; weekend mornings trend well for events/markets.
• Trust dynamics: Users rely heavily on friends/neighbors and local groups for recommendations and news; cross‑posting with nearby Staunton/Waynesboro pages is common.

Notes and confidence

• Figures are estimates tailored from national/rural data (e.g., Pew) and typical platform skews, adjusted to Augusta County’s older‑than‑average age profile. Treat as directional, not exact.