Marion County

Marion County, West Virginia — key demographics (latest Census/ACS estimates)

Population size

• Total population: ~56,000 (2023 estimate; 2020 Census count: 56,205)

Age

• Median age: ~41.5 years
• Under 5 years: ~5%
• Under 18 years: ~19%
• 65 years and over: ~21%

Gender

• Female: ~50.5%
• Male: ~49.5%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White (non-Hispanic): ~91%
• Black or African American: ~3%
• Asian: ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.3%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~2%

Household data

• Households: ~24,000
• Average household size: ~2.3 persons
• Family households: ~60% of households; married-couple families: ~44%
• Nonfamily households: ~40%
• Households with children under 18: ~24%
• Homeownership rate: ~73%

Insights

• Older age structure with about one in five residents 65+
• Predominantly White with small but growing multiracial and Hispanic populations
• Smaller household size and high homeownership consistent with broader West Virginia patterns

• Local context: Marion County, WV has ≈56,000 residents over ~311 sq mi (≈180 people per sq mi). The I‑79 corridor, Fairmont’s I‑79 Technology Park, and NASA’s IV&V facility indicate robust backbone connectivity in and around Fairmont.

• Estimated email users: ≈43,000 residents (≈78% of all residents; ≈92% of adults), modeled from ACS population and national email adoption.

• Age distribution of email users:

  • 13–17: 8%
  • 18–34: 28%
  • 35–54: 31%
  • 55–64: 14%
  • 65+: 19%

• Gender split among email users: women 51%, men 49% (usage rates are essentially even by gender).

• Digital access and trends:

  • Computer access ≈90% of households; broadband subscription ≈80%, with cable/fiber concentrated in Fairmont and more DSL/satellite in rural areas.
  • Smartphone ownership ≈85% of adults; about 1 in 5 are smartphone‑only for home internet, lifting email access among lower‑income and younger users.
  • 4G/5G coverage is strongest along I‑79; public Wi‑Fi is common at libraries, Fairmont State University, and civic facilities.
  • Adoption is rising among older adults, narrowing the gap, though last‑mile broadband remains the main constraint outside the urban core.

Mobile phone usage in Marion County, West Virginia — summary with county-specific trends

User base and adoption

• Population and users: Marion County has approximately 56,400 residents (ACS 2018–2022). An estimated 51,000 residents use a mobile phone (≈91% penetration), above the statewide rate (≈89%). Estimated smartphone users total about 43,000 (≈76% of total population), compared with ≈72% at the state level.
• Household smartphone penetration: 89% of households in Marion County have at least one smartphone, versus 87% statewide (ACS S2801, 2018–2022 5-year). With roughly 23,300 households countywide, that equates to about 20,700 smartphone households.
• Internet via cellular: 11% of households rely on a cellular data plan as their only internet subscription in Marion County, lower than West Virginia overall (≈15%). Households with no home internet subscription are also lower in Marion (≈13%) than statewide (≈16%).

Demographic breakdown (county vs. state)

• By age of householder (households with a smartphone; ACS S2801):
  • Under 35: 97% in Marion vs. 95% WV
  • 35–64: 92% in Marion vs. 89% WV
  • 65 and over: 78% in Marion vs. 73% WV
• By household income (households with a smartphone; ACS S2801):
  • Under $25,000: 82% in Marion vs. 79% WV
  • $25,000–$74,999: 90% in Marion vs. 88% WV
  • $75,000 and above: 95% in Marion vs. 94% WV
• Implications: Marion County’s younger cohorts (bolstered by the Fairmont State University presence) and mid-income households adopt smartphones at rates notably above the state average, while older and lower-income segments still trail younger, higher-income groups but are closer to parity in Marion than elsewhere in WV.

Digital infrastructure and performance context

• Coverage footprint: 4G LTE population coverage is effectively countywide (≈99% in Marion vs. ≈96% WV). 5G population coverage is broader in Marion (≈90%) than the state overall (≈78%), reflecting focused buildouts along the I-79 corridor (Fairmont/White Hall).
• Carrier landscape: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all provide low-band 5G across the primary population centers; T-Mobile and Verizon have mid-band 5G deployments along I-79 and in/around Fairmont, improving capacity and median speeds. Rural western and northwestern pockets of the county remain more LTE-reliant with occasional weak-signal zones in hilly terrain.
• Backhaul and fiber: Fiber backbones and metro rings along I-79 (Citynet, Frontier and other regional providers) underpin mobile upgrades, which has accelerated 5G densification in Fairmont/White Hall relative to many WV counties.
• Trend since 2019: County smartphone household penetration has risen roughly 3–4 percentage points; 5G availability went from minimal to near-countywide in populated areas. Cellular-only internet reliance has eased by several points as cable and fiber subscriptions expanded in and around Fairmont.

What’s different in Marion County versus the rest of West Virginia

• Higher smartphone adoption across most demographic groups, especially under-35 and mid-income households.
• More extensive 5G coverage and earlier mid-band deployments tied to the I-79 corridor and local fiber backhaul, yielding more consistent urban/suburban performance than the WV average.
• Lower reliance on cellular-only home internet and fewer unserved households, indicating better access to wired broadband alternatives and less necessity-driven mobile substitution.
• A slightly younger user mix and a higher share of multi-line postpaid smartphone plans than typical for WV’s rural counties, contributing to faster device refresh and higher 5G-capable device share.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2018–2022 5-year, Table S2801 (Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions); FCC Broadband Data Collection (Dec 2023 reporting cycle) for mobile coverage; Pew Research Center 2023 for national smartphone ownership benchmarks; national carrier public coverage disclosures (2024) for 5G band deployments.

Marion County, WV — social media usage (modeled 2024 snapshot)

Scope and method

• Estimates reflect residents age 13+ and are modeled by applying the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS demographics for Marion County to 2023–2024 Pew Research Center social media adoption rates (adults and teens). Figures are rounded and represent “use at least once” unless noted.

Headline user stats

• Residents using any social platform: ~36,900 (about 75% of residents 13+; ~66% of total population)
• Daily users (any platform): ~26,500 (about 53% of residents 13+)
• Mobile-first: The vast majority of use is on smartphones; video and messaging dominate sessions

Age breakdown (share of each group using any platform)

• Teens 13–17: ~95%
• 18–24: ~90%
• 25–34: ~85%
• 35–49: ~85%
• 50–64: ~73%
• 65+: ~50%

Gender breakdown (any-platform adoption among 13+)

• Women: ~77%
• Men: ~72% Implications: Women over-index on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube/X/Reddit. Women 30–64 are the backbone of local Facebook Groups activity; men 25–54 are heavy YouTube consumers.

Most-used platforms in Marion County (share of residents 13+ who use each)

• YouTube: ~82%
• Facebook: ~65%
• Instagram: ~41%
• TikTok: ~33%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• LinkedIn: ~22%
• X (Twitter): ~19%

Behavioral trends and local nuances

• Facebook is the community hub: Groups and Events drive outsized engagement (yard sales, school/sports updates, church and civic info, local businesses). Marketplace is heavily used for P2P sales.
• Video is king, split by length and age: Under 35 favor short-form (Reels/Shorts/TikTok); 35+ favor YouTube how‑to, outdoors, DIY, automotive, and local sports highlights.
• Messaging habits bifurcate: Teens/college-age rely on Snapchat (and Instagram DMs); 30+ rely on Facebook Messenger and SMS. WhatsApp penetration is low relative to the national average.
• Posting vs consumption: A minority creates most posts; the majority “lurk,” react, and share. Sharing of local news, weather, school closings, road conditions, and public safety alerts is frequent.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekend mid‑day. School calendars and high‑school sports noticeably shape local spikes.
• Trust and word‑of‑mouth: Recommendations in local Facebook Groups and comments meaningfully influence small‑business outcomes (food, home services, auto, real estate).
• Advertising performance: Facebook boosted posts and Reels deliver the most efficient reach for 30+; Instagram/TikTok creatives with clear local cues perform best for under‑35. Hyperlocal geo‑targeting and community partnerships outperform broad interest targeting.
• Professional networking is niche: LinkedIn use is below national averages; good for healthcare, education, public sector, and energy-related roles but not a mass-reach channel.
• News consumption: Facebook and YouTube function as de facto news feeds; users frequently encounter regional outlets via shares rather than direct follows.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 (county population and age structure)
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use (2023 teen survey; 2024 adult platform adoption and frequency)

Note: All platform percentages are modeled estimates for Marion County by weighting national age‑/platform‑specific adoption rates to the county’s demographic mix.