Charles City County

What data vintage would you like? I can provide:

• 2020 Decennial Census (official counts), or
• Latest ACS 5-year estimates (e.g., 2019–2023), which include detailed age, race/ethnicity, and household characteristics.

Also confirm if you want specific household metrics (e.g., number of households, average household size, family vs. nonfamily, tenure).

Charles City County, VA (small, rural county; population roughly 7–8k) – estimated email usage profile:

• Estimated email users: ~5.5k–6.5k residents. Basis: adult email adoption in the U.S. ~90–95%, plus partial use among teens; adjusted for a rural, older-leaning age mix.
• Age distribution of email users (approx.):
  • Under 18: 8–12% (many younger teens use email, children less so)
  • 18–34: 20–25%
  • 35–64: 45–50%
  • 65+: 20–25% (lower adoption than younger adults but still majority)
• Gender split among users: ~48–52% male / ~48–52% female (email adoption is near‑parity by gender).
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband adoption likely ~70–75% (in line with rural U.S. averages).
  • Smartphone ownership ~85–90% of adults; smartphone‑only internet users ~15–20%.
  • Affordability pressures increased after the 2024 lapse of the Affordable Connectivity Program; some households may have downgraded or churned.
  • Ongoing rural fiber expansions in Virginia (VATI/BEAD) are improving coverage through 2026–2028; gains typically first appear along main corridors.
• Local density/connectivity context: Low population density (on the order of a few dozen residents per square mile) raises last‑mile costs and contributes to uneven fixed broadband; mobile coverage varies by carrier.

All figures are estimates based on national/rural benchmarks applied to local scale.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Charles City County, Virginia (focus on how it differs from statewide patterns)

Context snapshot

• Rural, low-density county between Richmond and Williamsburg with most residents clustered along VA-5 and a few north–south corridors. This geography and sparse settlement pattern shape cellular coverage and how residents use mobile data.

User estimates

• Total mobile phone users: roughly 5,500–6,500 residents. Method: apply adult share of the population to the county’s ~7–8k residents and use widely observed adult smartphone adoption (mid‑80s to ~90%). Including teens pushes the upper end of the range.
• Smartphone penetration is slightly below the Virginia average because the county is older and has lower median income than the state. Expect a 2–4 percentage point gap in adult smartphone adoption versus statewide.
• Mobile-only internet households (no wired home broadband, rely on cellular data plans/hotspots): materially higher than the Virginia average. A reasonable planning range is 15–25% of households in Charles City County vs roughly high single digits to low teens statewide. This reflects limited cable/fiber availability in much of the county.

Demographic patterns that shape usage (vs state)

• Age: Older age structure than Virginia’s average. Seniors are less likely to own smartphones and more likely to use basic voice/text or share devices; this pulls down overall smartphone penetration but increases reliance on simpler, lower-cost plans.
• Income: Household incomes are below the state median. More residents use prepaid or budget carriers, share family plans, and substitute mobile data for home internet to save costs—raising the mobile‑only share.
• Race/ethnicity: A larger share of Black residents than the state average intersects with historical gaps in wired broadband availability. In practice, Black households in the county are more likely to be mobile‑only than their White counterparts, widening racial gaps in at‑home broadband compared with statewide averages. Small population size means year‑to‑year percentages can swing, but the direction is consistent.

Usage behaviors that differ from statewide norms

• Higher dependence on smartphones as the primary internet device for schoolwork, job applications, government services, and streaming due to sparse wired options.
• More hotspot use (phone tethering or dedicated hotspots) for home connectivity than the state average.
• Daytime traffic shifts: many commuters travel to Richmond/Williamsburg; cellular load in-county is relatively lighter during workdays and heavier evenings/weekends.

Digital infrastructure notes (where the county diverges)

• Coverage pattern: Service is strongest along VA‑5, VA‑106/156, and near the courthouse area, with weaker or inconsistent signal in low‑lying, forested, and riverside areas away from main corridors. This unevenness is more pronounced than in most Virginia counties.
• Technology mix:
  • 4G LTE remains the primary layer countywide.
  • Low‑band 5G is present along major roads for the national carriers, but mid‑band 5G (for higher speeds/capacity) is sparse compared to urban/suburban Virginia. Indoor 5G can be unreliable in wood‑frame homes surrounded by trees.
• Sites/backhaul: Fewer macro towers per square mile than typical for Virginia; many sectors serve long ranges, which can depress speeds at edges. Backhaul is a mix of microwave and limited fiber; where fiber is absent, carriers are less likely to add capacity or mid‑band 5G compared to fiber‑rich counties.
• Wired alternatives: Cable coverage is limited and legacy DSL is common in some pockets; new fiber buildouts are occurring but are not yet universal. This lag versus Virginia’s urban counties is the main driver of above‑average mobile‑only usage.
• Public/anchor connectivity: County buildings and the library provide important Wi‑Fi offload points; reliance on these is higher than the state norm.

Implications and trends to watch

• As fiber expands incrementally, expect the share of mobile‑only households to fall, but more slowly than statewide.
• Adding a small number of new macro sites or upgrading backhaul to fiber on existing sites could yield outsized improvements because of today’s long sector ranges.
• Mid‑band 5G deployments will meaningfully boost capacity where backhaul allows; without it, performance will remain LTE‑like in many areas.

Notes on methods and data

• Estimates synthesize ACS county demographics (age/income), national smartphone adoption benchmarks, and typical rural Virginia infrastructure patterns plus FCC mobile coverage filings. Small population means local percentages can vary year to year; ranges above are intended for planning rather than precise counts.

Charles City County, VA — social media snapshot (estimates)

Notes

• County-level social media metrics aren’t published; figures below are directional estimates based on Pew Research (2023–2024), rural-county usage patterns, Virginia averages, and the county’s older-skewing age profile.

Overall usage

• Estimated social media users (age 13+): 4,500–6,000 people
• Share of residents 13+ using at least one platform: 65–80%

Age mix of social media audience (share of local users)

• 13–17: 6%
• 18–24: 9%
• 25–34: 14%
• 35–44: 16%
• 45–54: 16%
• 55–64: 16%
• 65+: 23% Interpretation: Audience skews older than the U.S. average; strong presence of 45+ on Facebook and YouTube.

Gender breakdown

• Overall active audience: roughly 52–58% female, 42–48% male
• Platform tendencies: Facebook and Pinterest skew female; YouTube, Reddit, X skew male. Non-binary users are under-reported in platform data.

Most-used platforms (estimated adult reach, monthly)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70% (dominant for 35+; heavy use of local Groups and Marketplace)
• Instagram: 25–35% (concentrated under 35)
• TikTok: 20–30% (fastest growth, 13–34)
• Snapchat: 15–25% (teens/young adults)
• Pinterest: 15–25% (women 25–54)
• LinkedIn: 10–18% (professionals; some commuters to Richmond/Williamsburg)
• Reddit: 8–12% (younger male skew)
• X (Twitter): 8–15% (news/sports followers)
• WhatsApp: 8–15% (lower than urban VA; varies by community)
• Nextdoor: 3–8% (limited in low-density areas)

Behavioral trends

• Local info hubs: Facebook Groups for county news, schools, churches, youth sports, historical societies; trust is highest for posts from known local institutions.
• Transactions: Heavy Facebook Marketplace usage for yard sales, equipment, vehicles; event-driven spikes around holidays and back-to-school.
• Video habits: YouTube for how-to, outdoor/recreation, home repair, local sports; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) growing among under 35.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger dominates group coordination; DMs often outperform public comments for responses.
• Timing: Peaks before work (6–8 am), lunch (12–1 pm), and evenings (7–10 pm); weekend bumps for events and Marketplace.
• Content that performs: Community updates, photos from local events, practical tips, weather/closures, giveaways; concise text plus a clear call-to-action.
• Targeting note: Effective radius-based targeting often extends 10–25 miles to reach adjacent communities and commuters.