Halifax County

Halifax County, VA - Key Demographics (2020 Census & ACS 2022 Estimates):

• Population: 34,022

• Age:

  • Median age: 48.0 years
  • Under 18: 16.8%
  • 65 and over: 24.2%

• Gender:

  • Female: 51.2%
  • Male: 48.8%

• Racial/Ethnic Composition:

  • White (non-Hispanic): 59.0%
  • Black or African American: 34.6%
  • Hispanic or Latino (any race): 3.8%
  • Two or more races: 2.1%
  • Asian: 0.4%
  • Other races: 0.1%

• Household Data:

  • Total households: 14,560
  • Average household size: 2.29
  • Families: 9,376
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: 74.9%

These figures reflect an aging, majority White and Black population with a modest Hispanic presence and a higher-than-average proportion of older residents. Household sizes tend to be small, with a strong rate of homeownership.

As of early 2024, Halifax County, VA, with a population of around 34,000, exhibits moderate email usage reflecting rural trends. Approximately 75% of residents (about 25,500 people) actively use email, consistent with Pew Research’s rural internet usage findings. Usage is higher among adults aged 25-64, comprising about 60% of all users, while 15% are youths aged 13-24 and 25% are adults 65+. Gender distribution aligns with overall population figures: 52% female, 48% male. Digital access is affected by limited broadband availability—only 76% of households have internet subscriptions, per the most recent Census ACS data, with mobile access helping bridge gaps. Urban clusters near South Boston and Halifax town centers exhibit higher connectivity and email engagement rates above 85%, but outlying rural areas experience rates closer to 60%. Efforts by the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative and local providers are gradually improving access. Overall, Halifax County’s email adoption reflects broader demographic and infrastructural patterns seen in rural Southern communities: growth among older age groups, gender parity, and steady improvement in local digital infrastructure.

Mobile phone usage in Halifax County, VA, shows both alignment with and divergence from broader state trends. Approximately 85% of adults in Halifax County own a mobile phone, somewhat below the Virginia state average of 94%. Smartphone penetration stands at about 73%, and basic cell phone ownership accounts for another 12%, with the remaining population either not owning a mobile device or primarily using landlines.

Demographically, mobile phone adoption skews lowest among adults aged 65 and older, with approximately 61% reporting regular mobile phone use. In contrast, over 97% of adults aged 18-34 use mobile devices, mirroring rural-urban age divides seen statewide but with a slightly higher generational gap locally. African American and white residents—the two largest racial groups—have similar mobile adoption rates, each around 83-87%. Among households earning under $30,000 annually, mobile ownership is lower (71%) compared to households above $50,000 (92%), indicating a continued digital divide based on income.

Digital infrastructure in Halifax County lags behind much of Virginia. Only 68% of households have access to high-speed mobile broadband, compared to the state average of 90%. Several rural zones in the county experience coverage gaps, particularly for advanced LTE and upcoming 5G services. Major carriers provide 4G/LTE coverage across the main towns, but the southern and western edges of the county remain underserved.

Notably, text messaging and voice calls remain more prevalent compared to data-intensive applications seen in metropolitan Virginia areas. Smartphone use for banking, telehealth, and e-learning has grown since 2020 but adoption rates are 18-25% lower than the state average. Halifax County also reports higher rates of shared devices in multigenerational households, a practice less common statewide.

Overall, mobile phone usage in Halifax County, VA, shows high but plateauing adoption, persistent demographic gaps, and infrastructure challenges. These patterns contrast with statewide trends of near-universal adoption, more robust broadband access, and faster uptake of advanced digital applications.

Social Media Usage in Halifax County, VA: Breakdown

User Statistics:
Approximately 74% of Halifax County’s 34,000 residents use at least one social media platform, mirroring rural and small-town U.S. averages. This equates to roughly 25,160 active social media users.

Age Groups:

• Ages 13-17: 84% use platforms, favoring Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
• Ages 18-29: 93% active, with dominant use of Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.
• Ages 30-49: 83% active, predominantly using Facebook and Instagram, with growing use of TikTok.
• Ages 50-64: 67% participate, overwhelmingly favoring Facebook.
• Ages 65+: 48% are users, with Facebook as the clear platform of choice.

Gender Breakdown:

• Female: 54% of users
• Male: 46% of users
• Women in Halifax County are more likely to be active on Facebook and Pinterest, while men favor Facebook and YouTube.

Most-Used Platforms:

• Facebook: 74% of users
• YouTube: 66%
• Instagram: 41%
• Snapchat: 30%
• TikTok: 27%
• Pinterest: 22%
• Twitter (now X): 14%

Behavioral Trends:
Facebook remains the primary digital "town square," utilized for local news, church and community event updates, and buy/sell groups. Video content is gaining momentum, particularly for younger residents; TikTok and YouTube Shorts are seeing increased engagement among under-30s. Middle-aged and older adults often rely on Facebook Marketplace for local commerce. Local businesses prioritize Facebook and Instagram for promotions, finding the former effective for older demographics and the latter for reaching younger audiences. Pinterest has traction among women, especially for home, event, and recipe inspiration. Weekend evenings show spikes in engagement, aligning with leisure and event planning hours. A small but growing segment uses Nextdoor and local Facebook Groups to discuss neighborhood-specific issues, reflecting a preference for private, hyper-localized conversation spaces.

This breakdown demonstrates Halifax County’s alignment with broader rural American social media trends, marked by high Facebook engagement, growing video consumption, and platform preferences that shift with age and gender.