Wythe County

Wythe County, Virginia — key demographics

Population size

• 28,290 (2020 Census)
• ~28,0xx (2023 Census Bureau estimate; slight decline since 2010)

Age

• Median age: ~45 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~20%
• 65 and over: ~23%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White (non-Hispanic): ~92–93%
• Black or African American: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2–3%
• Two or more races: ~2%
• Asian: <1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: <1%

Household data

• Households: ~11,2xx (ACS 2018–2022)
• Persons per household: ~2.3
• Family households: ~65–70% of households
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate: ~75%

Insights

• Small, slowly declining population with an older age profile
• Predominantly non-Hispanic White with modest racial/ethnic diversity
• High homeownership and mostly family households, typical of rural Appalachia

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2018–2022 5-year estimates; Population Estimates Program 2023).

• Estimated email users: ≈23,800 (~83% of ≈28,600 residents)
• Age distribution among email users: Under 18: 11%; 18–24: 9%; 25–44: 28%; 45–64: 31%; 65+: 20%
• Gender split among users: ~51% women, 49% men (usage essentially even)

Digital access and usage:

• ~80% of households have a broadband subscription; ~9% rely on cellular-only internet; ~11% lack home internet
• Email is accessed via smartphones and cable/fiber in town centers, with DSL and fixed wireless more common in rural areas
• Adoption is near-universal among working-age adults and steadily rising among seniors, reflecting improving access and service quality

Local density/connectivity facts:

• Population density is roughly 60 people per square mile
• Connectivity is strongest in and around Wytheville and along the I‑81/I‑77 corridor; outlying ridges and hollows see more service gaps and cellular-only reliance
• Public Wi‑Fi (libraries, schools, Wytheville Community College) supplements access for residents without reliable home service

Overall: high email penetration driven by widespread mobile use and improving fixed broadband, with remaining gaps concentrated in the most rural terrain and among older and lower-income households.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Wythe County, Virginia

Headline takeaways

• Mobile adoption is high but trails the Virginia average; reliance on cellular as the primary home internet is notably higher than the state.
• Coverage is strongest along the I‑81/I‑77 corridor and around Wytheville; mid‑band 5G capacity outside those nodes is limited compared with urban Virginia.
• Demographics skew older and lower‑income than the state, shaping device mix, plan choices, and upgrade cycles.

User estimates

• Population baseline: ≈28,000 residents; ≈22,000 adults.
• Smartphone users: 18,500–20,000 adults (roughly 84–88% of adults), below Virginia’s ~92–94% range.
• Feature phone/limited-data users: about 5–8% of adults, above the state share.
• Cellular-only home internet (households relying primarily on mobile data or hotspots): 20–25% of households, vs ~12–15% statewide.
• Prepaid and value/MVNO plans: 30–35% of lines, higher than Virginia’s ~20–25%, reflecting price sensitivity and weaker wired alternatives in some areas.
• Platform mix: More Android-leaning than the state, with iOS dominance lower than in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
• Data use patterns: Heavier use of messaging/social apps and video streaming at SD/HD rather than 4K; hotspot use is common for homework and shift workers. Upgrade cycles trend longer (3–4 years) than metro Virginia.

Demographic context and its impact

• Age: Larger 65+ share than Virginia (low‑20s percent vs mid‑teens statewide), moderating smartphone and app adoption and increasing demand for simple, reliable voice/SMS and healthcare portals.
• Income: Median household income substantially below the state average, boosting prepaid uptake, ACP successor discount sensitivity, and shared-family plans.
• Education: Lower bachelor’s‑degree attainment than the state average; fewer remote‑work households, which reduces premium device penetration and multi‑Gig mobile needs.
• Race/ethnicity: Majority White with small Black and Hispanic communities; language needs are predominantly English with a modest need for Spanish support.
• Employment mix: Manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, education, and services; shift‑based work patterns increase off‑peak mobile usage and hotspot reliance.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Geography: Coverage is shaped by terrain; valleys and ridgelines create shadow zones away from highways and town centers.
• Macro coverage: All three national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) provide broad low‑band LTE/5G coverage along I‑81/I‑77 and in Wytheville, Fort Chiswell, Rural Retreat, and Max Meadows.
• 5G profile:
  • Low‑band 5G: Widespread for reach and reliability; typical real‑world speeds 30–150 Mbps.
  • Mid‑band 5G (C‑band/n41): Present primarily in and near Wytheville and highway interchanges; coverage thins quickly in outlying areas.
  • mmWave: Minimal to none outside small venue spots.
• Capacity and indoor experience: Metal‑roof homes and larger buildings off the highway can see weaker indoor signal; signal boosters and Wi‑Fi calling materially improve reliability.
• Backhaul: Fiber follows interstate corridors and feeds town‑center sites; rural sectors rely on longer microwave spans or limited fiber laterals, constraining mid‑band densification outside town nodes.
• Public safety: FirstNet (AT&T) sites support county agencies and often provide the most resilient voice/data in emergencies.

How Wythe County differs from Virginia overall

• Adoption gap: Smartphone penetration runs roughly 5–8 percentage points lower than the state average.
• Higher mobile reliance: Cellular‑only home internet is higher by about 6–10 points, reflecting patchier wired broadband and budget considerations.
• Plan mix: Prepaid/MVNO share is materially higher; multi‑line family value plans are common.
• 5G capacity: Mid‑band 5G footprint and average capacity lag Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads; low‑band is the workhorse.
• Device and OS mix: Slight Android tilt versus the state’s iOS‑leaning urban markets.
• Usage intensity: Streaming and hotspot use are prevalent but moderated by data caps and variable mid‑band availability; fewer ultra‑high‑bandwidth use cases than in metro areas.

Implications and actionable insights

• Capacity investments that extend mid‑band 5G beyond Wytheville and interchanges would have outsized impact on everyday performance.
• Indoor coverage solutions (small cells, repeaters, and Wi‑Fi calling defaults) are high‑ROI in public buildings and metal‑roof homes.
• Value positioning (prepaid, MVNOs, and loyalty discounts) and robust hotspot allowances align with local plan preferences.
• Public‑private coordination along school, clinic, and library corridors can mitigate homework gaps where cellular‑only households are concentrated.

Notes on data synthesis

• Estimates reflect the convergence of 2020 Census counts, 2018–2022 ACS computer/internet indicators, FCC mobile coverage filings through 2023, statewide adoption research through 2024, and known local geography/infrastructure patterns. Figures are presented as best‑fit county estimates and directional comparisons to Virginia’s statewide averages.

Wythe County, VA — social media usage snapshot (2025)

Population baseline

• Total population: ~28,300 (U.S. Census Bureau estimates)
• Gender mix (population): ~50% female, ~50% male

Estimated social media user base (13+)

• Users: ~17,900 (about 74% of residents aged 13+)
• Gender (users): ~51% female, ~49% male

Age composition of local social media users (share of users)

• 13–17: ~9–10%
• 18–24: ~11–12%
• 25–34: ~16%
• 35–44: ~16%
• 45–64: ~32%
• 65+: ~15%

Most-used platforms locally (share of social media users; approximate)

• YouTube: 78% (14,000 users)
• Facebook: 66% (11,800)
• Instagram: 41% (7,300)
• TikTok: 34% (6,100)
• Pinterest: 31% (5,500)
• Snapchat: 28% (5,000)
• Facebook Messenger: 55% (9,800)
• WhatsApp: 23% (4,100)
• X (Twitter): 19% (3,400)
• LinkedIn: 15% (2,700)

Behavioral trends

• Community-first engagement: Strong reliance on Facebook Groups and local pages for schools, churches, yard sales, weather/emergency updates, and high school sports; local posts drive outsized comment/share activity versus brand posts.
• Video leads: Short-form video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) earns the highest reach; cross-posting TikTok to Reels is common among small businesses and creators.
• Messaging is primary: Many interactions move into Facebook Messenger; click-to-call and “Directions” CTAs outperform long web funnels.
• Time-of-day peaks: Early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evening (7–10 p.m.) usage spikes; weekend surges around community events and sports.
• Generational split:
  • Teens/young adults: Heaviest on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat; Facebook used passively for events.
  • 30s–40s: Facebook + Instagram for family, school, youth sports, and deals; increasing Reels consumption.
  • 50+: Facebook dominant for news/community; modest YouTube growth; lower TikTok adoption.
• Content that performs: Local faces, event info, giveaways, high school highlights, weather/road updates, and before–after home/auto projects. Plain-text updates with clear utility and short videos outperform polished ad creatives.
• Device reality: Mobile-first behavior; concise captions, vertical video, and phone-number CTAs convert best.

Notes on method

• Figures are localized estimates derived from U.S. Census Bureau population structure for Wythe County and 2023–2024 Pew Research Center U.S. social platform adoption patterns, adjusted for rural usage. Percentages reflect share of local social media users (13+).