Northumberland County

Key demographics for Northumberland County, Virginia (most recent available):

Population

• Total population: ~11,800–11,900 (2024 Census estimate); 2020 Census ~11,800

Age

• Median age: ~56–57 years
• Under 18: ~14%
• 65 and over: ~36–38%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

• White: ~75–77%
• Black or African American: ~18–20%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Asian: ~0.5%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%

Households and housing

• Households: ~5,700–5,800
• Persons per household: ~2.05–2.10
• Family households: ~58–60% of households
• Married-couple households: ~50–55% of households
• Nonfamily households: ~40%
• Households with someone age 65+: ~45–50%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80–85%

Insights

• The county is older than Virginia and U.S. averages, with a high share of residents 65+ and small shares of children.
• Household sizes are small, and homeownership is high, consistent with an older, largely rural/coastal community.

Primary sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (2024) and 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

Northumberland County, VA (2020 pop. 11,839; land area ≈191 sq mi; ≈62 residents/sq mi).

Estimated email users

• Adults using email: ≈9,244 (≈91% of adults; ≈78% of total population).
• By age among users: 18–64 ≈5,517 (≈60%); 65+ ≈3,727 (≈40%).
• Gender split among users: ≈51% female (≈4,714), ≈49% male (≈4,530).

Digital access and trends

• Connectivity is expanding rapidly via the Northern Neck fiber-to-the-home initiative led by All Points Broadband through Virginia’s VATI awards (2021–2023), with buildout aimed for near-universal coverage of previously unserved locations by 2024–2025.
• Cable broadband (Breezeline) serves denser corridors; legacy DSL and fixed wireless persist in sparsely populated areas, reflecting the county’s low density.
• Public anchors (schools, county facilities, library) provide free Wi‑Fi, bolstering access for residents in coverage gaps.
• Email engagement is strong across cohorts: near-ubiquitous among working-age adults and high among retirees, with many residents checking email primarily on mobile where wired options are limited.

Notes: Estimates combine 2020 Census age structure (older-skewing population) with age-specific U.S. email adoption rates (≈95% for 18–64; ≈85% for 65+).

Summary of mobile phone usage in Northumberland County, Virginia

Headline size and adoption

• Population: ≈11.6k residents (2023 Census estimate), with a markedly older age profile than Virginia overall.
• Estimated mobile phone users: 8.8k–9.4k residents.
• Estimated smartphone users: 8.0k–8.6k residents. Method note: Estimates blend the county’s age structure with recent U.S. smartphone adoption rates by age; they are intended to reflect local demography rather than statewide averages.

Demographic breakdown relevant to mobile usage

• Age structure (ACS 2018–2022 style profile): roughly 36–38% age 65+, 20–22% age 50–64, 16–20% age 30–49, 6–9% age 18–29, remainder under 18.
• Race/ethnicity: approximately 70–75% White, 20–25% Black/African American, ~3% Hispanic/Latino, small shares other groups.
• Implications for usage:
  • The large 65+ share depresses smartphone take-up compared with Virginia’s younger statewide profile.
  • Working-age adults (30–64) are a smaller share of the population than statewide, so peak commuter-hour mobile demand is less pronounced; daytime usage is more evenly distributed.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks present: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile operate countywide 4G LTE; each reports 5G service in and around population centers and along main corridors (e.g., VA‑200, VA‑360, VA‑3). 5G is predominantly low-band with pockets of mid-band capacity where upgrades have occurred.
• Geography effects: A sparse macro-tower grid, heavy tree cover, and extensive waterfront peninsulas create coverage variability. Outdoor coverage is common along highways and towns such as Heathsville, Callao, Reedville/Burgess; indoor coverage weakens in low-lying and wooded waterfront areas and on smaller peninsulas.
• Capacity and seasonality: Seasonal second-home and tourism traffic drive summer/weekend load spikes near marinas and waterfront communities—more pronounced here than statewide.
• Fixed broadband interplay:
  • Cable and DSL coverage is limited outside town centers; this historically pushed some households to rely on cellular data for home internet in higher proportions than the statewide average.
  • All Points Broadband’s fiber build (state- and utility-partnered Northern Neck project) has been expanding since 2023 across the county, which is steadily shifting some data load from cellular to fiber-backed Wi‑Fi calling and home broadband.
  • Fixed wireless access (FWA) from major carriers is available in parts of the county, filling gaps where fiber/cable has not yet reached.

How Northumberland differs from Virginia overall

• Older population drives:
  • Lower smartphone penetration than the state average.
  • Slower turnover to the newest 5G devices and plans.
• Infrastructure density:
  • Fewer cell sites per square mile than urban/suburban Virginia; coverage is more terrain- and vegetation-limited, with more indoor-reception challenges.
• Usage patterns:
  • Less commuter-peak traffic, more midday and seasonal/weekend peaks tied to retirees and second-home users.
• Connectivity mix:
  • Historically higher reliance on cellular data for primary internet than the state average, now declining progressively as countywide fiber reaches more homes.
• Coverage constraints unique to the Northern Neck:
  • Signal shadows and capacity constraints around waterways and fringe peninsulas are more common than in most Virginia counties without significant shoreline.

Key takeaways

• Expect roughly 8–9 thousand smartphone users in a county of about 11.6 thousand, with adoption tempered by a much older population than the Virginia norm.
• Mobile networks cover main travel and town corridors with LTE and spotty-to-moderate 5G, but indoor and waterfront edge coverage can be inconsistent.
• The rapid expansion of fiber is the biggest near-term shift: as households transition to fiber, cellular networks should see reduced fixed‑home data loads but continued strong voice/text reliance, especially among older residents.

Northumberland County, VA — social media usage snapshot (modeled 2025 local estimates informed by 2024 Pew Research Center platform usage and 2023 ACS demographics)

Headline user stats

• Population: ~12,000; adults 18+: ~10,000
• Social media users (any platform): 70–75% of adults (~7,000–7,500)
• Daily social media users: 60–66% of adults (~6,000–6,600)
• Average platforms used per user: ~3
• Household broadband subscription: modestly below Virginia average; mobile-only access is common in lower-density areas

Most-used platforms (share of adults)

• YouTube: 72–78%
• Facebook: 70–75%
• Instagram: 28–34%
• TikTok: 20–25%
• Pinterest: 30–34%
• Snapchat: 10–15%
• X (Twitter): 12–15%
• LinkedIn: 12–16%
• Reddit: 8–12%
• Nextdoor: 8–12%

Age profile of adult social media users

• 18–29: 95%+ use at least one platform; most-used: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat
• 30–49: ~90% use; most-used: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram; TikTok moderate
• 50–64: ~80% use; most-used: Facebook, YouTube; Instagram/TikTok lower but growing
• 65+: 60–68% use; most-used: Facebook, YouTube; limited Instagram/TikTok

Gender breakdown (share of user base)

• Overall social media users: ~55% women, ~45% men
• Platform skews: Facebook and Pinterest over-index female; YouTube and X over-index male; Instagram and TikTok slightly female-skewed; LinkedIn modest male skew

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: heavy use of local Groups (county services, churches, schools, volunteer fire/rescue, buy/sell/trade, yard sales). Marketplace is highly active for vehicles, tools, boats, and home goods.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube dominates for DIY, home/boat maintenance, fishing/outdoors, local sports, church services; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) growing among under-50s.
• Lurkers > posters: a minority creates most posts; comment activity clusters around local news, weather, safety, and school updates.
• Peak times: morning (7–9 a.m.) and evening (6–9 p.m.), with Sunday afternoon spikes tied to church and community events.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is widely used for community coordination; SMS remains prevalent; WhatsApp usage is low.
• Commerce: High engagement with local promotions, seasonal services (landscaping, marine, home repair), and event marketing; coupon and giveaway posts drive outsized response.
• Civic engagement: Noticeable surges around storms, road closures, elections, and county meetings; Facebook remains primary for public information.
• Seasonality: Spring–summer activity lifts with boating/tourist season; event imagery and short video perform best during these periods.

Notes

• Figures are modeled local estimates using Northumberland’s older age profile and rural setting; direct platform-by-county datasets are not publicly reported. Patterns should be directionally reliable for planning, targeting, and content strategy.