Clarke County

Here are key demographics for Clarke County, Virginia. Figures are rounded; sources are U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 ACS 5‑year estimates).

Population size

• Total population: 14,783 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~46.5 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Gender

• Female: ~50–51%
• Male: ~49–50%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone: ~86%
• Black or African American alone: ~7%
• Asian alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.3–0.4%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~6%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~81%

Households

• Number of households: ~5,600
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~70% (Married-couple families ~55–60%)
• Households with children under 18: ~25–30%
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~80–82%

Clarke County, VA — estimated email usage snapshot

• Estimated users: 10,000–12,000 residents use email regularly (roughly 80–90% of adults), consistent with national adoption in small rural counties.
• Age distribution (share using email):
  • Teens (13–17): 80–90% (school-driven accounts)
  • 18–34: 95%+
  • 35–64: 90–95%
  • 65+: 65–80% (rising via telehealth/banking)
• Gender split: Approximately even (near 50/50); slight female tilt among older users due to demographics.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscriptions are likely in the mid-to-high 80% of households, comparable to rural Virginia ACS levels; remaining households are mobile-only or unserved.
  • Smartphone-first access is common; roughly 10–15% of households may rely mainly on cellular data.
  • Ongoing expansion of fiber and fixed wireless; adoption is moderated by cost and terrain.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Small, largely rural county (15k residents) with low population density (80–90 people per sq. mile); Berryville is the primary town.
  • Strongest fixed and cellular coverage in/near Berryville and along US-7/US-50 corridors; coverage gaps can occur near the Blue Ridge and dispersed farm areas.

Notes: Figures are reasoned estimates from national email behavior and rural Virginia connectivity patterns; check latest ACS S2801 and FCC maps for precise local metrics.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Clarke County, Virginia (focus on how it differs from statewide patterns)

Bottom line

• Clarke County is a small, largely rural, older, high‑commuter community. Smartphone access is high, but coverage and capacity are more corridor‑based than countywide, and “smartphone‑only” reliance is likely lower than the Virginia average.

User estimates

• Population and households: ~15,000 residents and ~6,000 households (2024 ballpark).
• Smartphone users: Roughly 10,000–12,000 adult smartphone users, assuming U.S./VA‑typical adoption among adults and Clarke’s older age mix. Most households have at least one smartphone.
• Smartphone‑only internet users: Share is likely below the Virginia average due to higher home broadband take‑up in the eastern/commuter areas; pockets in the western/rural parts of the county still rely heavily on mobile and fixed wireless where wired options are limited.
• Service mix: Postpaid penetration likely above the state average (older, higher‑income profile); prepaid share likely below state average.

Demographic patterns that shape usage (vs Virginia overall)

• Older age structure: Clarke skews older than Virginia, which typically lowers smartphone adoption and heavy app usage among 65+. This pulls overall adoption slightly below Northern Virginia metro counties but still high among working‑age commuters.
• Higher incomes and homeownership: Affluence and commuting into Northern Virginia support strong device ownership and multi‑line family plans, but also higher home broadband adoption—hence less “mobile‑only” dependence than state urban centers.
• Race/ethnicity mix: With a smaller share of groups that, statewide, have higher smartphone‑only rates, Clarke’s smartphone‑only reliance is comparatively lower.
• Commuter behavior: Weekday demand concentrates along VA‑7 and US‑340 (Berryville–Loudoun/Fairfax flows). Daytime usage spikes on these corridors can exceed what you’d expect for a county of this size.

Digital infrastructure and coverage (what’s different from statewide)

• Corridor‑centric coverage: Macro sites and strongest 4G/5G signals align with VA‑7 and US‑340 and around Berryville. Western and Blue Ridge foothill areas see more dead zones, handoff drops, and indoor coverage challenges than typical in urban Virginia counties.
• 5G profile: Mid‑band 5G (e.g., C‑band/2.5 GHz) is present along primary corridors and population clusters; mmWave is effectively absent. Outside corridors, LTE remains the primary layer. This is a sparser, more uneven 5G footprint than in Northern Virginia’s dense suburbs.
• Capacity/backhaul: Sites along VA‑7 benefit from proximity to Northern Virginia fiber routes, so corridor capacity is competitive; off‑corridor sites are fewer and can feel congested during events or tourist peaks (river access, trailheads), a pattern less pronounced statewide.
• Competition and device experience: Verizon and AT&T typically provide the most consistent rural coverage; T‑Mobile performance has improved on main roads but is more variable indoors and off‑corridor than in metro Virginia.
• Resilience: Storms and power outages can isolate pockets (hollows, river valleys) more readily than in suburban counties; residents frequently rely on Wi‑Fi calling at home, which is a bigger factor here than in most of Virginia’s urban localities.

Implications and trends to watch

• Coverage gaps will persist without additional rural macro/Small‑cell sites, especially west of Berryville and near the Blue Ridge.
• As mid‑band 5G densifies on VA‑7/US‑340, user experience on corridors will continue to improve faster than in outlying areas—widening the intra‑county digital divide.
• Given demographics, growth in older‑adult smartphone adoption (telehealth, public safety alerts) is a key driver of incremental usage, more so than new‑device churn.
• Smartphone‑only households will likely remain below the state average, but fixed‑wireless (5G home internet) may expand as an alternative where wired broadband is thin.

Notes on data

• Figures above are estimates synthesized from recent population levels, national/VA adoption norms, and the county’s demographic and geographic context.

Clarke County, VA social media snapshot (estimates; based on U.S./Virginia patterns and rural–exurban adjustment)

Overview

• Population ~15,000; adults ~11,500. Active social media users: ~9,000–12,000 (≈75–85% of adults).
• County-specific measurements are scarce; figures below use Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. adoption rates, ACS demographics, and rural/exurban adjustments typical for the northern Shenandoah/NOVA fringe.

Most‑used platforms among adults (estimated share of adults who use the platform)

• YouTube: ~80%
• Facebook: ~70%
• Instagram: ~45%
• TikTok: ~32%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• LinkedIn: ~32% (boosted by NOVA/DC commuters)
• Snapchat: ~28%
• WhatsApp: ~24%
• X (Twitter): ~20%
• Nextdoor: ~18%
• Reddit: ~18%

Age patterns (who’s active where)

• Teens (13–17): Very high on TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube; Instagram active; Facebook minimal except for school/sports announcements.
• 18–29: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok dominant; Snapchat common; Facebook used for events/Marketplace.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube lead; Instagram strong; TikTok growing; LinkedIn higher than rural norm (commuter workforce).
• 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominant; Pinterest notable; Instagram moderate; Nextdoor use for neighborhood info.
• 65+: Facebook first, YouTube second; lower use elsewhere.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Overall users roughly match population (~51–52% women).
• Women: more active on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; higher participation in local groups, school/activities, buy‑sell‑trade.
• Men: higher on YouTube, Reddit, X; follow local sports, outdoor/recreation, tech/auto content.
• Both: Facebook Marketplace, local news/safety updates.

Behavioral trends (local context)

• Community-first: High engagement with county/town government, public schools, sheriff/EMS, weather and road updates.
• Groups > pages: Neighborhood and interest groups (parent/booster, 4‑H/equestrian, hunting/outdoors, yard/estate sales) drive most Facebook activity.
• Event-driven spikes: School sports, county fair, equestrian events, severe weather, and elections noticeably lift reach and sharing.
• Marketplace and micro‑commerce: Strong Facebook Marketplace and group-based selling/trading; DMs finalize transactions.
• Video preference: Short‑form video (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) outperforms static posts; how‑to, local highlights, and event recaps perform best.
• Timing: Peaks early morning (6:30–8:30 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekends strong for events/Marketplace.
• Cross‑posting: Small businesses, wineries, farms, and nonprofits post to Facebook + Instagram; some use TikTok or Reels for reach.
• Trust anchors: Posts from official local entities and well-known community figures get higher engagement and shares.

Notes and sources

• Estimates derived from Pew Research Center 2024 U.S. social media adoption, U.S. Census/ACS for population/age, and typical rural–exurban usage patterns in Virginia. Local figures likely within ±5–10 percentage points of the estimates above.