Monongalia County

Monongalia County, West Virginia — key demographics

Population size

• 2023 population estimate: ~107,700 (U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program)
• 2020 Census: 105,822

Age

• Median age: ~31 years (ACS 2023 1-year)
• Age distribution: under 18: ~15%; 18–24: ~27%; 25–44: ~29–30%; 45–64: ~16–17%; 65+: ~11–12%
• Insight: Large college-age population (WVU) drives a notably young age profile relative to WV and the U.S.

Gender

• Male: ~52%
• Female: ~48%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2023 1-year)

• White alone: ~84–86%
• Black or African American alone: ~4–5%
• Asian alone: ~6–7%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~3–4%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~82–84%
• Insight: More racially/ethnically diverse than the WV statewide average, with a comparatively higher Asian share linked to the university population.

Households (ACS 2023 1-year)

• Households: ~44,000–45,000
• Average household size: ~2.2–2.3
• Family households: ~45–50%; nonfamily households: ~50–55%
• Households with children under 18: ~20%
• One-person households: ~30–32%; 65+ living alone: ~6–7%
• Insight: Elevated share of nonfamily and one-person households consistent with a large student and young adult renter base.

Monongalia County, WV (2020 Census pop. ~106,000). Estimated unique email users (age 13+): ~86,500.

Age distribution of email users (est.):

• 13–17: ~6,000
• 18–24: ~22,900
• 25–44: ~29,500
• 45–64: ~20,500
• 65+: ~7,600

Gender split (among email users, reflecting near‑parity population mix):

• Female 51% (44,100)
• Male 49% (42,400)

Digital access and trends:

• Households with broadband subscription: ~87% (wireline ~82%; smartphone‑only ~13%); ~10–12% lack any subscription.
• Computer/device access: ~91% of households have a computer.
• Connectivity is strongest in the Morgantown/WVU urban core, where ≥100 Mbps service is available to roughly 90%+ of households; coverage drops in rural townships due to terrain and last‑mile gaps.
• Population density ≈290 residents/sq. mile; a large student presence (WVU ~26–28k) drives high email adoption, multiple‑account usage, and mobile‑first access.

Notes: Estimates synthesize 2020 Census population structure, 2018–2022 ACS S2801 internet/computer access for Monongalia, and Pew Research age‑by‑age internet/email adoption patterns (2021–2023).

Monongalia County, WV — mobile phone usage summary (focus on how it differs from statewide patterns)

Core context

• Population baseline: 105,822 (2020 Census). The county is anchored by Morgantown and West Virginia University (WVU), giving it one of the youngest and most urban profiles in the state.

User estimates

• Active mobile connections: approximately 145,000–160,000 subscriptions in the county, derived by applying the 2023 U.S. average of roughly 1.4–1.5 mobile connections per resident (CTIA) to the county population. This per-capita connection intensity is materially higher than West Virginia’s more rural counties and aligns more closely with national metro profiles.
• Adult smartphone ownership: Monongalia County’s ownership rate is in the low 90s percent range, exceeding the West Virginia statewide rate (which is in the high 80s per recent ACS “Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions” 5‑year estimates). The age/education mix in Monongalia consistently pushes device ownership above the state average.
• Smartphone-reliant (mobile-only) internet use: Among younger renters and students, reliance on smartphones or cellular data plans as the primary connection is elevated relative to the county average, but overall county reliance is lower than the statewide share because fixed broadband adoption is stronger in Morgantown than in rural West Virginia overall.

Demographic drivers that separate Monongalia from WV statewide

• Age: A significantly larger 18–24 cohort due to WVU yields heavier mobile engagement (messaging, social, streaming) and higher multiple-line/device ownership than the WV average, where the population is older.
• Education and income: Adult bachelor’s attainment is roughly double the WV average, and median household income is modestly higher. Both correlate with higher smartphone ownership, 5G-capable device penetration, and paid app/subscription usage.
• Urbanization: A larger share of residents live in and around Morgantown compared with the state’s overall rural profile, raising mobile network utilization and improving coverage and speed outcomes.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage: 4G LTE covers essentially all populated areas in and around Morgantown and along I‑79/I‑68 corridors. Rural fringes north and east of the metro see more variable performance, but overall population coverage is stronger than in many WV counties.
• 5G footprint: All three national carriers (AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon) provide 5G service in Morgantown and along primary travel corridors. Mid‑band 5G deployments concentrated in the urban core materially improve capacity versus much of rural WV, where low‑band 5G is more common.
• Campus and venues: WVU facilities and major venues in Morgantown commonly use enhanced in-building systems (e.g., DAS/small cells), elevating peak and indoor performance compared with typical WV county seats.
• Backhaul and fiber: The I‑79/I‑68 routes and university-area fiber plant provide stronger backhaul resiliency and upgrade cadence than the WV rural average, enabling earlier adoption of carrier aggregation, mid‑band 5G, and higher uplink capacity.
• Public safety and resilience: AT&T FirstNet coverage is established in the metro and along interstates, with overlapping commercial coverage from Verizon and T‑Mobile; redundancy is generally better here than in sparsely populated WV regions.

Usage patterns and trends that differ from the WV average

• Higher device penetration and multi-line incidence: More connections per person than the WV average, with a noticeable student-driven segment owning multiple connected devices (handset + tablet/watch/hotspot).
• Faster 5G adoption: A greater share of users on 5G-capable plans and devices, yielding higher median speeds and lower congestion during off-peak times than typically observed across rural WV.
• Lower digital divide severity within the metro: While pockets of need persist, Morgantown’s fixed-broadband availability and campus Wi‑Fi reduce the share of households that are smartphone-only compared with many WV counties.
• Mobility-intensive demand: Commuter and campus-related mobility drives pronounced diurnal load along university corridors and interstates, a pattern less pronounced in non-university WV counties.

What this means

• For carriers: Monongalia supports metro-grade capacity planning (mid‑band 5G, small cells) and benefits from continued fiber densification; returns on 5G upgrades are higher here than the WV average.
• For public agencies and campuses: Mobile-based student services and public safety communications see strong baseline performance; targeted improvements are most needed on rural fringes and secondary corridors.
• For digital inclusion: The primary gap is not device ownership but affordability and continuity for student and lower-income renters; programs that bundle affordable 5G plans with fixed alternatives and campus/community Wi‑Fi deliver outsized impact.

Data notes

• Population: 2020 Census.
• Device ownership and internet subscription patterns: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS “Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions” (latest 5‑year estimates available countywide). Monongalia County consistently outperforms the West Virginia statewide averages on smartphone and broadband subscription rates.
• Mobile connections per capita: CTIA annual benchmarking (national), applied proportionally to the county population to derive subscription estimates.

Social media in Monongalia County, WV (2025 snapshot)

• County context

  • ≈108,000 residents; anchored by Morgantown and West Virginia University (≈24,000 students), producing a younger-than-average age profile and heavy campus-driven activity.

• User stats (adults, 18+)

  • Roughly 7 in 10 adults use at least one social platform (Pew Research Center, 2024). In a county of ~108k with a large adult population, that equates to on the order of 60,000–65,000 adult social media users.

• Most-used platforms (share of U.S. adults who use; Monongalia County tracks these rankings, with 18–29 usage notably higher because of WVU)

  • YouTube: 83%
  • Facebook: 68%
  • Instagram: 47%
  • Pinterest: 35%
  • LinkedIn: 30%
  • TikTok: 33%
  • Snapchat: 27%
  • X (Twitter): 22%
  • Reddit: 22%
  • WhatsApp: 21%
  • Nextdoor: 19%

• Usage by age group (U.S. benchmarks that reflect local patterns given the county’s large 18–29 cohort)

  • Ages 18–29: YouTube ~93%; Instagram ~78%; Snapchat ~65%; TikTok ~62%; Facebook ~49%
  • Ages 30–49: Facebook ~77%; YouTube ~92%; Instagram ~54%; TikTok ~39%; LinkedIn ~40%
  • Ages 50–64: Facebook ~73%; YouTube ~83%; Instagram ~29%; TikTok ~10%
  • Ages 65+: Facebook ~45–50%; YouTube ~61%; Instagram ~15%

• Gender breakdown

  • County population is roughly an even male–female split.
  • Platform tendencies: Pinterest skews female (~50% of women vs ~20% of men use it nationally). Instagram and Facebook have a modest female tilt; Reddit and X skew male. WhatsApp use is concentrated among international and immigrant communities (relevant for WVU’s international population).

• Behavioral trends seen locally

  • Student-driven short‑form video: High daily use of Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Snapchat for campus life, nightlife, food, outdoor activities, and WVU athletics; evening and weekend peaks.
  • Facebook for community coordination: Strong 30+ audience; heavy use of Facebook Groups (housing, yard sale, events) and Marketplace; reliable channel for local news, weather, and civic updates.
  • News and alerts: Local outlets (e.g., Morgantown-area TV and newspapers) see strong engagement on Facebook; severe weather, traffic, and public safety posts overperform.
  • Messaging patterns: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are primary; WhatsApp adoption is notable among international students and healthcare workers.
  • Professional networking: LinkedIn usage is concentrated among WVU seniors/grad students and healthcare/energy professionals; weekday, midday engagement is strongest.
  • Cross‑platform overlap: The most common stack is YouTube + Facebook + Instagram for broad reach; adding TikTok sharply improves reach among 18–29.
  • Geography: Highest activity density around WVU/Morgantown; outer suburban/rural areas lean more heavily on Facebook.

• Practical implications

  • 18–29 reach: Prioritize Instagram + TikTok + Snapchat; vertical short‑form video; post evenings/weekends; lean into events, campus culture, and sports.
  • 30–49 reach: Facebook + Instagram; Groups, Events, Reels; consistent posting on weekdays.
  • 50+ reach: Facebook-first; clear community/service info; morning posts perform well.
  • County‑wide reach and recruiting: Pair Facebook (broad) with YouTube pre‑roll; add LinkedIn for talent pipelines in healthcare, education, and energy.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 county population context), Pew Research Center (Social Media Use in 2024 platform adoption by age/gender), West Virginia University enrollment reports.