Hanover County

Hanover County, Virginia — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates unless noted)

Population

• Total population: ~112,000
• Population density: ~210 per sq. mile
• Growth: steady, suburban Richmond MSA county

Age

• Median age: ~42.5 years
• Age distribution:
  • Under 18: ~22%
  • 18–24: ~7.5%
  • 25–44: ~23.5%
  • 45–64: ~27.5%
  • 65 and over: ~19.5%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (mutually exclusive; Hispanic of any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~78–79%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~11–12%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~4–5%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~1–2%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3%
• Other (including American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/PI), non-Hispanic: <1%

Households and housing

• Households: ~41,800
• Average household size: ~2.6
• Family households: ~76% of households
  • Married-couple families: ~61% of households
• With children under 18: ~31% of households
• Tenure: ~84% owner-occupied, ~16% renter-occupied
• Average family size: ~3.1

Insights

• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with a significant Black population and small but growing Hispanic and Asian communities.
• Older-than-national median age, reflecting a sizable 65+ share.
• High homeownership and a large share of married-couple, family households indicate a suburban, family-oriented profile.

• Estimated email users: ≈74,500 adults in Hanover County (population ≈111,000; ≈86,600 adults; applying ~86% adult email adoption from Pew Research).
• Age distribution of email users (estimated, applying national adoption rates to Hanover’s age mix): 18–34: ~24%; 35–54: ~35%; 55–64: ~19%; 65+: ~23%. Hanover’s older skew lifts the 55+ share slightly versus national.
• Gender split: ~51% female, ~49% male among users (mirrors county adult demographics; email adoption is near-parity by gender per Pew).
• Digital access and devices (ACS 2022, county-level patterns): ~92% of households have a computer; ~88% subscribe to broadband at home. Smartphone adoption is widespread; most adults access email on both mobile and desktop.
• Trends: Home broadband and smartphone reliance have risen steadily since 2016; email remains a default channel across all working-age groups, with strong usage among seniors due to healthcare, government, and retail account communications.
• Local density/connectivity facts: Population density ≈230 people/sq mi across ~470 sq mi. Coverage is strongest along the I‑95/US‑301 corridors and suburban tracts; northern and western rural pockets see thinner fixed-broadband options, which can shift some residents toward mobile-first email access.

Sources informing estimates: U.S. Census/ACS (population, devices, broadband) and Pew Research Center (internet/email adoption by age and gender).

Mobile phone usage in Hanover County, Virginia — 2024 snapshot

Overall penetration and user estimates

• Population: roughly 111,000 residents.
• Adult smartphone ownership: about 92% of adults, yielding approximately 77,000–79,000 adult smartphone users.
• Teen smartphone ownership (ages 13–17): about 6,000–6,500 users.
• Total smartphone users: approximately 83,000–85,000 countywide (around 75%–77% of total population).
• Total mobile phone users (smartphones + basic phones): approximately 87,000–90,000 individuals (about 78%–81% of the population).

How Hanover differs from Virginia overall

• Lower smartphone-only internet reliance: Hanover’s high homeownership, strong cable coverage in populated areas, and ongoing fiber buildouts mean a smaller share of households rely only on smartphones for internet compared with the Virginia average.
• Age-income offset: The county is older than the state average (which would normally depress smartphone adoption) but also has higher household incomes and home broadband availability (which push adoption up). Net effect: adult smartphone ownership is comparable to or slightly above the Virginia average, with less dependence on mobile as a sole home connection.
• More pronounced urban–rural split: Connectivity is strong in Mechanicsville, Ashland, and along I‑95/I‑295, with noticeable capacity/coverage variability in the county’s northwestern and far rural pockets—more variation than the largely urbanized statewide mix.
• Seasonal and corridor-driven usage spikes: Kings Dominion (Doswell) and the I‑95 logistics corridor create pronounced, seasonal peaks and weekend surges that are more prominent locally than in Virginia’s average county.

Demographic breakdown of usage

• By age (approximate smartphone ownership rates applied to Hanover’s age mix):
  • 18–29: ~97% ownership; about 14,000 users.
  • 30–49: ~96% ownership; about 25,000–26,000 users.
  • 50–64: ~90% ownership; about 21,000 users.
  • 65+: ~78% ownership; about 16,000–17,000 users.
  • 13–17: ~85%–90% ownership; about 6,000–6,500 users.
• By income: Higher-income households (which make up a larger share in Hanover than statewide) show near-universal smartphone adoption and are more likely to have both mobile and fixed broadband, reducing smartphone-only dependence relative to the state.
• By housing and geography:
  • Suburban Mechanicsville/Ashland: high adoption, multi-device households, strong 5G availability.
  • Rural west/north (Beaverdam, Montpelier, far edges): similar phone ownership but more signal variability; external antennas or carrier selection matter more for reliable service.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage and technology
  • All three national carriers provide countywide LTE; 5G coverage is broadly available in and around Mechanicsville, Ashland, and along I‑95/I‑295/US‑301, with LTE-only or weaker 5G in some rural sectors.
  • Capacity is densest near interstates, town centers, schools, industrial parks, and commercial corridors (e.g., Route 360/Mechanicsville Turnpike).
• Backhaul and fiber
  • Ongoing fiber expansions (VATI-funded partnerships and utility middle‑mile builds) are extending fixed broadband into previously unserved areas, which reduces reliance on smartphone hotspots for home connectivity over time.
• Public safety and resiliency
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) is present; overlapping carrier coverage is strongest along I‑95 and major corridors. Rural sites remain comparatively more vulnerable to capacity constraints and power outages during severe weather than the statewide average, though hardening and backup power projects continue.

Key takeaways

• Hanover’s smartphone adoption is high and on par with or slightly above Virginia’s, but the county stands out for lower smartphone-only internet dependence due to its housing profile and accelerating fiber availability.
• The spatial pattern of usage and performance is more bimodal than the state’s: excellent capacity and 5G in the suburban/interstate corridors contrasted with measurable rural variability.
• Seasonal and corridor-driven surges (notably around Kings Dominion and I‑95) are distinctive local demand drivers that shape network planning more than in a typical Virginia county.

Hanover County, VA social media snapshot (2024)

Baseline

• Population: ≈111,000 residents (2023 est.). About ≈93,800 are age 13+.
• Estimated social media users (13+): ≈69,000 (about 74% of residents age 13+), combining adult and teen usage benchmarks.

Most‑used platforms in Hanover (share of residents age 13+, with modeled user counts)

• YouTube: 84% (78,800 users)
• Facebook: 65% (61,200)
• Instagram: 48% (45,000)
• TikTok: 36% (33,400)
• Pinterest: 32% (30,300; mostly adults, female‑skewed)
• Snapchat: 30% (27,700)
• LinkedIn: 28% (26,000; adults)
• X (Twitter): 22% (20,700)
• WhatsApp: 21% (19,200)
• Reddit: 19% (17,500)
• Nextdoor: 12% (11,300; adults, neighborhood/useful for local info)

Age profile (who uses what, locally)

• Teens (13–17): Near‑universal YouTube; heavy TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram; minimal Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Young adults (18–29): Very high YouTube; Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat strong; Facebook moderate; Reddit/X notable niches.
• Adults 30–49: YouTube and Facebook anchor use; Instagram rising; TikTok growing; LinkedIn meaningful for careers.
• Adults 50–64: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok/Nextdoor growing from a smaller base.
• 65+: Facebook is the default social hub; YouTube for news/how‑to; some Nextdoor for neighborhood updates.

Gender breakdown

• Overall users roughly mirror the population (≈51% women, 49% men).
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Instagram lean female; Reddit, YouTube, and X lean male; Facebook is close to balanced; LinkedIn slightly male‑tilted.

Behavioral trends observed in suburban/rural Virginia counties like Hanover

• Facebook as the community backbone: local groups for schools, youth sports, yard sales, events, and public safety updates; highest cross‑age reach.
• Video‑first consumption: Short‑form video (Reels, Shorts, TikTok) drives discovery; YouTube remains the go‑to for longer tutorials, product research, and local how‑to content.
• Neighborhood chatter and civic info: Nextdoor and Facebook Groups used for HOA issues, lost/found, contractor referrals, roadwork/closures, and hyperlocal alerts.
• Commerce and services: Local businesses rely on Facebook + Instagram for promotions and messaging; younger shoppers discover via Instagram/TikTok while older buyers convert via Facebook.
• Events and schools: High engagement around school calendars, athletics, festivals, and county events, with spikes during announcements and severe weather.
• Messaging pivot: Many interactions move to DMs (Messenger, Instagram), reducing public comment counts but increasing private inquiry volume.
• Cross‑posting works, but native video performs best: Same creative tailored per platform (vertical video, captions, local landmarks) outperforms simple reposts.

Notes on method and reliability

• Figures are modeled for Hanover County using 2023 ACS population structure and 2023–2024 Pew Research Center platform adoption rates for U.S. adults and teens; counts are rounded to the nearest ~100 and shares to the nearest percentage point. They represent best‑available local estimates in the absence of platform‑released county‑level data.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2023); Pew Research Center, Social Media Use (2023–2024).