Pittsylvania County

Pittsylvania County, Virginia — key demographics

Population size

• 60,5xx (2023 population estimate; U.S. Census Bureau)

Age

• Median age: ~46–47 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~23% (ACS 2019–2023 5-year)

Gender

• Female: ~50–51% (ACS 2019–2023)

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone: ~74–76%
• Black or African American alone: ~22–23%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0.2–0.3%
• Asian alone: ~0.4–0.6%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.0–0.1%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~2–3%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~72–74% (ACS 2019–2023)

Household data

• Households: ~24–25k
• Average household size: ~2.38
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~78%
• Median household income (in 2023 dollars): ~$55–58k
• Per capita income (in 2023 dollars): ~$28–30k
• Persons in poverty: ~13–15% (ACS 2019–2023)

Insights

• Older age structure than the U.S. average, with a high share of residents 65+ and a median age in the mid‑40s.
• Predominantly White and Black population; relatively small Hispanic/Latino and Asian shares.
• High homeownership and smaller household size; incomes below the U.S. median, with modest poverty rates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts and American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program (2023).

Pittsylvania County, VA overview (population ≈60,000; area ≈970 sq mi; density ≈62 people/sq mi)

Estimated email users: ≈43,200 adults (≈72% of all residents). Method: applied current U.S. email adoption by age to the county’s age structure.

Age distribution of email users

• 18–29: ≈6,840 (15.8%)
• 30–49: ≈13,680 (31.7%)
• 50–64: ≈11,592 (26.8%)
• 65+: ≈11,088 (25.7%)

Gender split among users

• Female: ≈51% (~22,000)
• Male: ≈49% (~21,000)

Digital access and trends (ACS, recent years)

• ≈82% of households have a broadband internet subscription
• ≈86% have a computer at home
• ≈12–14% report no home internet subscription, aligning with lower email use among 65+ and remote areas
• Email is near-universal among working-age adults; usage dips modestly among 65+ primarily due to access and proficiency gaps

Local density/connectivity facts

• Largest county by land area in Virginia, which increases last‑mile costs and makes fiber coverage uneven
• Subscription and speed outcomes are strongest along the U.S. 29 corridor and population centers; scattered rural census blocks show lower take‑rates

Overall: robust email penetration among working-age residents, with remaining growth tied to rural broadband expansion and senior digital inclusion.

Mobile phone usage in Pittsylvania County, Virginia — 2025 snapshot

Size of the user base

• Population: ~60,300 residents (2023 estimate)
• Households: ~25,200
• Adult smartphone users (estimate): ~44,000
  • Basis: adult share of population and rural smartphone uptake (~mid-80% among adults), plus high teen adoption
• Mobile-only internet households (cellular data plan with no wired broadband): ~14% of households
• Households with no home internet subscription: ~16%

Adoption and device profile (ACS 2019–2023 five-year, plus industry norms for rural counties)

• Households with a smartphone: ~86% (Virginia: ~92%)
• Households with any cellular data plan (for a phone, tablet, or hotspot): ~71% (Virginia: ~78%)
• Smartphone dependence is more common as income drops; the county’s lower median income increases the share of mobile-only access relative to the state

Demographic drivers of usage (county vs Virginia)

• Median age: ~47 vs ~39 statewide — older age profile modestly depresses smartphone ownership and heavy app use
• Median household income: ~$56,000 vs ~$87,000 — lower income correlates with higher reliance on smartphones as primary internet, more prepaid plans, and data caps
• Education (age 25+ with bachelor’s or higher): ~17% vs ~41% — lower attainment aligns with lower multi-device ownership and less fixed broadband adoption
• Rural settlement pattern: predominantly rural outside small towns (Chatham, Gretna, Hurt), which increases coverage variability and indoor signal challenges compared with urban/suburban Virginia

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Network availability: All three national carriers operate LTE; 5G is present along primary corridors (US‑29, US‑58, VA‑40/57) and in/near towns; coverage thins in sparsely populated tracts and inside metal-roof structures common in the county
• Spectrum mix: Coverage leans on low-band 5G/LTE for reach; mid-band 5G capacity is more localized than in metro Virginia, yielding lower median speeds and more congestion at peak times
• Fixed–mobile substitution: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Verizon 5G/LTE fixed wireless are available in and around populated corridors; availability is patchier in outlying areas. This expands mobile-based home internet options where cable/fiber is limited
• Wired backhaul: Cable broadband is present in town centers and corridors; fiber-to-the-home is growing but less prevalent than statewide, which sustains higher mobile-only internet rates

How Pittsylvania differs from Virginia overall

• Lower smartphone penetration at the household level (mid‑80s vs low‑90s percent)
• Higher share of mobile-only internet households (mid‑teens vs high‑single‑digits), reflecting both infrastructure gaps and income profile
• Greater reliance on low-band coverage and smaller mid-band 5G footprints, resulting in more variable speeds and weaker indoor performance than the statewide urban/suburban norm
• Older population and lower incomes tilt usage toward essential apps, messaging, and video streaming with tighter data budgets; multi-line family plans and prepaid offerings represent a larger slice of the market than in metro areas
• Digital divide is more pronounced: households without any internet are roughly double the statewide share, and device ownership beyond a single smartphone (laptops/tablets per household) is notably lower

Key takeaways

• Expect roughly 44,000 active smartphone users in the county, with mobile-only internet a material segment of access
• The county’s age, income, rural topology, and wired backhaul constraints collectively reduce smartphone and 5G performance metrics relative to Virginia’s averages
• Expansion of mid-band 5G and incremental fiber buildouts will be the main levers to narrow the gap; until then, fixed wireless will continue to anchor mobile-led connectivity in many homes

Pittsylvania County, VA — social media snapshot (modeled 2024 local estimates using latest U.S./VA benchmarks mapped to county demographics)

Population baseline

• Total population: ~60,600 (ACS 2023 est.)
• Adults (18+): ~48,500

How many use social media

• Estimated active social media users: ~41,000 (about 68% of total population; ~84% of adults)

Gender breakdown (of social media users)

• Women: 54% (22,100)
• Men: 46% (18,900)

Age profile and adoption (share of people in each bracket who use social media; est. local)

• Teens 13–17: ~96% use; ~3.2k users
• 18–29: ~93% use; ~6.8k users
• 30–44: ~90% use; ~9.8k users
• 45–64: ~80% use; ~12.6k users
• 65+: ~62% use; ~8.3k users

Most-used platforms in the county (share of social media users; monthly reach; est.)

• YouTube: 86% (~36.0k)
• Facebook: 74% (~30.3k)
• Instagram: 34% (~13.9k)
• Pinterest: 33% (~13.5k)
• TikTok: 31% (~12.7k)
• Snapchat: 24% (~9.8k)
• X (Twitter): 19% (~7.8k)
• LinkedIn: 17% (~7.0k)
• Nextdoor: 9% (~3.7k)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, public safety updates, churches, civic groups, school and youth sports, and Marketplace drive the highest comment/share volume.
• Video leads: YouTube dominates long-form how‑to, faith content, local sports replays; Facebook Reels and TikTok capture short, personality‑driven clips. Vertical video under 30–45 seconds outperforms for reach.
• Marketplace and local services matter: strong interest in vehicles, home services, farm/rural equipment, pets, and yard/estate sales.
• Messaging is central: Facebook Messenger is widely used for coordinating teams, churches, and parent groups; quick replies and clear CTAs improve conversion.
• Time-of-day patterns: peaks 7–10 pm; secondary spikes at lunch (11:30 am–1 pm) and Sunday afternoon/evening. Weeknight engagement tends to beat weekday mornings.
• Creative that feels local wins: faces over graphics, mentions of towns (e.g., Chatham, Gretna, Hurt), school mascots, and recognizable landmarks boost response.
• Platform nuances:
  • Older adults (55+) skew heavily to Facebook and YouTube; lower on Instagram/TikTok but rising on Reels/shorts.
  • 18–34 split attention across Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube; DM responses are fast but brand loyalty is low unless content is entertaining or useful.
  • Pinterest usage is strong for DIY, recipes, home projects; good for seasonal campaigns.
  • LinkedIn/X are niche, better for hiring, B2B, and civic/government updates.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are modeled from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 demographics for Pittsylvania County, combined with Pew Research Center 2023–2024 platform adoption rates, DataReportal (2024) U.S. social media penetration, and rural-leaning adjustments typical for Southside Virginia. Percentages reflect share of local social media users unless noted.