Fayette County

Fayette County, West Virginia — key demographics (latest available)

Population size

• ~39,000 residents (2023 population estimate; 2020 Census: 40,488)

Age

• Median age: ~44–45 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone, non-Hispanic: ~89%
• Black or African American alone: ~6%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Asian: ~0.3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1.8% (Note: Hispanic is an ethnicity and overlaps with race categories.)

Households

• Total households: ~17,000–17,500
• Average household size: ~2.27 persons
• Family households: ~60–62%
• With children under 18: ~24%
• One-person households: ~33% (about ~14% are 65+ living alone)

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

Summary of email usage in Fayette County, WV

• Estimated email users: 28,000–33,000 residents (out of ~40K), assuming ~80–85% overall adoption with near‑universal use among working‑age adults.
• Age distribution (share using email):
  • 13–17: ~60–70% (often tied to school accounts)
  • 18–29: ~95%+
  • 30–49: ~95%+
  • 50–64: ~85–90%
  • 65+: ~70–80%
• Gender split: Roughly even; no meaningful male/female gap in email adoption or frequency.
• Access and usage trends:
  • Primary access via smartphones; many residents rely on mobile data or smartphone‑only internet.
  • Household broadband subscription likely around 70–75%, lower than national averages; affordability and terrain contribute to gaps.
  • Public access points (libraries, schools, municipal Wi‑Fi) remain important for students and lower‑income households.
  • Email remains essential for job applications, government services, health portals, and school communication.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Rural, mountainous county with ~60 people per square mile; service is strongest in/around Oak Hill, Fayetteville, and along US‑19/Route 60.
  • Coverage can be spotty in hollows and near the New River Gorge; ongoing fiber and fixed‑wireless buildouts are improving reach but dead zones persist.

Below is a concise, planning-grade snapshot of mobile phone usage in Fayette County, West Virginia, with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns. Figures are estimates synthesized from ACS 5-year patterns on device/Internet access, Pew smartphone adoption benchmarks, FCC coverage filings, and Appalachia rural-telecom norms. Use ranges as ballpark planning figures.

County snapshot

• Population: roughly 39–40k residents; about 30–32k adults (18+).
• Settlement/topography: small towns (Fayetteville, Oak Hill, Montgomery) separated by steep hollows and river gorges; terrain strongly shapes radio coverage and backhaul.

User estimates

• Adult smartphone users: about 22–26k (roughly 72–82% of adults). This is a bit below West Virginia overall (often 80–85%).
• Adults with any mobile phone (smartphone or basic): roughly 90–94% (≈27–30k). Non-users are concentrated among the oldest and lowest-income residents.
• Basic/feature phone-only users: roughly 3–4k adults (8–12%); skew older.
• Household “smartphone-only internet” (no fixed home broadband): about 3.7–4.8k households (≈22–28% of households), higher than the state average by several points.
• Prepaid share: elevated versus statewide; used disproportionately by lower-income and younger workers in tourism/service jobs.

Demographic breakdown (what stands out locally)

• Age:
  • 18–29: 90–95% smartphone adoption (near state levels).
  • 30–49: ~85–90%.
  • 50–64: ~75–85% (a bit lower than state).
  • 65+: ~45–60% (notably lower than state), with higher basic-phone retention.
• Income:
  • Under $25k: smartphone adoption ~65–75%, but a high share are smartphone-only for internet (≈35–45% of these households).
  • $25–50k: adoption ~75–85%; smartphone-only still common (≈25–35%).

  • $50k: adoption ~85–95%; most also maintain home broadband.

• Education/employment:
  • Lower educational attainment and seasonal/outdoor recreation work correlate with higher prepaid usage and smartphone-only reliance.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • County is predominantly White; Black residents form a small share. After adjusting for age/income, adoption rates are broadly similar across groups; sample sizes locally are small.

Digital infrastructure points (and how they diverge from statewide norms)

• Coverage and technology:
  • 4G LTE is the workhorse; coverage is decent in towns/along US-19 and major corridors but breaks down in hollows and gorge areas. Coverage gaps are more frequent than the state average due to terrain.
  • 5G low-band is present mainly in/near town centers and highways; mid-band 5G capacity is spotty. Net result: less 5G availability and lower average speeds than statewide urban/suburban WV.
• Carriers:
  • Verizon and AT&T generally strongest; T-Mobile has improved low-band reach but remains inconsistent off-corridor. MVNOs reflect the same patterns.
• Backhaul and resiliency:
  • More microwave-fed sites and fewer fiber-fed towers than state population centers; storms and power outages can degrade service. Backup power runtimes at remote sites are often limited—an outage risk higher than the state average.
• Terrain and siting:
  • New River Gorge topography and protected lands complicate tower placement and line-of-sight; dead zones and handoff challenges are more acute than statewide norms.
• Public safety and tourism demand:
  • Seasonal spikes (e.g., Bridge Day, peak park season) strain capacity near the Gorge. Public-safety coverage has improved in towns/corridors, but canyon/hollow shadows persist more than average.
• Fixed broadband interplay:
  • Fewer cable/fiber options than statewide population centers lead to higher smartphone-only households, heavier tethering, and Wi‑Fi calling at home.

Key trends that differ from West Virginia overall

• Slightly lower adult smartphone adoption, driven by an older age profile and lower incomes.
• Meaningfully higher dependence on smartphone-only internet in households (by several percentage points).
• More pronounced coverage gaps and signal variability because of mountainous terrain and protected lands.
• Lower 5G availability and capacity outside town centers and highways.
• Higher reliance on prepaid plans and hotspot/tethering for work and school.
• Greater vulnerability to service disruption during storms due to limited fiber backhaul and backup power at remote sites.

Planning implications

• Prioritize mid-band 5G and LTE capacity upgrades in Fayetteville–Oak Hill and along US‑19, plus targeted small cells or repeaters at event sites and park overlooks to handle seasonal surges.
• Extend fiber backhaul to hillside and ridge-top sites to improve resilience and enable carrier aggregation.
• Encourage device/plan subsidy outreach for seniors and low-income households; smartphone adoption and digital inclusion lag most in those groups.
• Pair mobile network improvements with public Wi‑Fi and indoor coverage solutions in community anchors (libraries, clinics, schools) where smartphone-only reliance is high.

Notes on method and confidence

• Estimates triangulate ACS device/subscription indicators, Pew smartphone adoption by age/income, and rural-Appalachia adjustment factors; use for planning, not compliance reporting.
• For a precise baseline, pull ACS table S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions) and S0101 (Age) for Fayette County, and compare to WV statewide, then validate coverage with current FCC mobile maps and carrier crowd-sourced performance data.

Below is a compact, planning-ready snapshot. Figures are best estimates based on Pew Research’s 2023–2024 U.S. usage rates, adjusted for rural West Virginia demographics and connectivity; use as directional, not exact headcounts.

Headline user stats (Fayette County, WV)

• Population: ≈40,000 residents
• Estimated social-media users (13+): 25,000–30,000 (roughly 65–75% of total population; mobile-first)

Age mix of users (share of local social-media users)

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–24: 13%
• 25–34: 19%
• 35–44: 18%
• 45–54: 16%
• 55–64: 13%
• 65+: 12%

Gender breakdown (share of users)

• Women ≈53%
• Men ≈47% Note: Women slightly over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men slightly more on YouTube/Reddit.

Most-used platforms (share of local social-media users; ranges reflect uncertainty)

• YouTube: 80–85%
• Facebook: 70–75% (strongest daily-use platform, all ages)
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 32–40% (very strong under 35)
• Snapchat: 28–35% (teens/young adults)
• Pinterest: 25–30% (skews female, home/crafts/DIY)
• X (Twitter): 10–15% (news, sports, weather)
• LinkedIn: 10–14% (lower than national; professional niches)
• WhatsApp: 8–12% (family ties, some shift workers)
• Reddit: 8–12% (younger, hobby/outdoors)
• Nextdoor: 5–8% (neighborhood chatter where available)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub:
  • Heavy use of Groups and Marketplace (yard sales, jobs, contractors, rentals).
  • Local news, school updates, church and volunteer fire department notices, weather/flood alerts.
  • Event promotion and UGC around New River Gorge/Bridge Day; high engagement with photo/video posts featuring familiar places and people.
• Video-first growth:
  • Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery for outdoor recreation (rafting, climbing, hiking) and local food/lodging.
  • YouTube used for how-tos, gear reviews, and trip planning; older users watch via smart TVs.
• Youth split:
  • Teens/young adults favor Snapchat (messaging/stories), TikTok/IG Reels for entertainment; Facebook primarily for events, school sports, and family.
• Mobile and timing:
  • Mobile dominates due to limited home broadband; data-conscious behavior favors short videos and Wi‑Fi posting.
  • Peak engagement: early morning (6–8 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.), and evenings (7–10 p.m.); weekends see spikes for events and sports.
• Trust and local voice:
  • High trust in local admins, coaches, pastors, small-business owners, and outdoor guides.
  • Word-of-mouth amplification is strong; recommendations in comments move decisions.
• Commerce and tourism:
  • Facebook Groups/Marketplace for micro-commerce, local services, and seasonal jobs.
  • Visual platforms (IG/TikTok/YouTube) influence bookings for cabins, outfitters, and dining; “what to do this weekend” content performs well.

Notes on methodology and caveats

• County-level platform data aren’t published; figures blend national usage (Pew) with rural WV adjustments and known platform skews by age/gender.
• Validate targeting and counts with platform ad tools (Facebook/Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok) before campaigns.