Monroe County

Monroe County, West Virginia — key demographics

Population

• Total population: 12,376 (2020 Census)
• Population density: ~26 persons per square mile

Age

• Median age: ~47–48 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Age distribution: under 18 ~19%; 18–64 ~57%; 65+ ~24%

Gender

• Female ~50.5%
• Male ~49.5% (ACS 2019–2023)

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~93–95%
• Black or African American alone: ~1–2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~0–0.5%
• Asian alone: ~0–0.5%
• Two or more races: ~3–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~1–2% (ACS 2019–2023; Hispanic overlaps with the race categories above)

Households and housing

• Households: ~5,150
• Average household size: ~2.4
• Family households: ~66%; nonfamily: ~34%
• Owner-occupied housing: ~80–85%; renter-occupied: ~15–20%
• Median household income: roughly low-$50,000s
• Persons in poverty: ~14–16% (ACS 2019–2023)

Key insights

• Small, rural county with low population density and a declining/flat population since 2010.
• Older age structure (median age near 48; about one-quarter 65+) indicating an aging population.
• Predominantly White population with limited racial/ethnic diversity.
• High owner-occupancy, modest household sizes, and incomes below the U.S. median with elevated poverty relative to the nation.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

Monroe County, WV email usage snapshot

• Population and density: 12,376 residents (2020 Census); ~26 people per square mile.
• Estimated email users: ≈9,000 residents (about 88–90% of adults), reflecting rural adoption patterns and local connectivity.
• Age distribution (share of population): <18: ~19%; 18–34: ~17%; 35–54: ~25%; 55–64: ~14%; 65+: ~24%. Email use is highest among 18–54 (≈90%+), strong among 55–64 (≈85–90%), and solid but lower in 65+ (≈70–80%), driving the overall rate.
• Gender split: ≈50% female, 50% male; email adoption shows minimal gender gap.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription is roughly three-quarters of households, with computer access in the mid-to-high 80% range.
  • Fiber availability is expanding from town centers and along main corridors, but dispersed households in mountainous terrain create unserved and underserved pockets, suppressing email adoption among older and lower-income residents.
  • 4G LTE coverage is widespread along primary roads; 5G is limited to population centers. Smartphone-dependent households rely heavily on mobile email.
  • Work, school, and healthcare communications increasingly default to email, reinforcing steady year-over-year growth as new fiber builds and subsidy programs improve connectivity.

Mobile phone usage in Monroe County, West Virginia – summary and county-specific insights

Context

• Population: ~12,100 residents (2023 estimate), with an older age profile (median age near 48) and low population density characteristic of the Ridge-and-Valley region. Town hubs and corridors include Union, Peterstown, Alderson, US‑219, WV‑3, WV‑12, and WV‑122.

User estimates and device mix (2024)

• Mobile phone users (any mobile phone): 9,000–10,000 residents (roughly 75–82% of the total population).
• Smartphone users: 7,600–8,300 adults (roughly 79–83% of adults), below West Virginia’s statewide rate by about 3–6 percentage points.
• Basic/feature phone users: 10–12% of adult users (higher than the statewide share by ~3–5 points), concentrated among residents 65+ and in the most rural ridges/valleys.
• Cellular-only home internet: 14–18% of households rely primarily on a cellular data plan for home connectivity (vs ~10–12% statewide).
• Households with no internet subscription: 16–20% (vs ~13–15% statewide), reflecting terrain, income, and limited fixed-broadband options outside town centers.

Demographic breakdown of usage

• Ages 18–34: 93–97% smartphone adoption; heavy app and social use; limited reliance on basic phones.
• Ages 35–64: 85–90% smartphone adoption; frequent Wi‑Fi calling at home due to spotty indoor signal in valleys; notable use of carrier MVNOs tied to Verizon or AT&T networks.
• Ages 65+: 60–70% smartphone adoption; 20–28% use basic/feature phones; 8–12% have no mobile phone. Device upgrade cycles are longer than the state average.
• Income and education: Lower-income households are more likely to use prepaid plans, MVNOs, shared data plans, or cellular-only home internet. Households without fixed broadband disproportionately depend on smartphones for banking, telehealth, and government services.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Terrain-driven variability: Signal is strongest along primary corridors (US‑219, WV‑3, WV‑12/122) and in/near Union, Peterstown, and Alderson; deep hollows (e.g., gaps around Sinks Grove, Gap Mills, Sweet Springs) experience weak or no signal without external antennas/boosters.
• 4G LTE: At least one national carrier covers the vast majority of the population along main corridors; coverage becomes intermittent off‑corridor and on the leeward sides of ridgelines.
• 5G: Population coverage by at least one carrier is markedly lower than the state average. Expect roughly half to about two‑thirds of residents to have usable 5G where they live or work, compared with substantially higher statewide coverage concentrated around metro areas and interstates.
• Carriers:
  • Verizon and AT&T provide the most consistent rural coverage and are the default choice for many first responders and businesses; AT&T’s FirstNet (Band 14) improves reliability for public safety in covered areas.
  • T‑Mobile has expanded low‑band 5G on major routes but remains patchier off‑corridor than Verizon/AT&T.
  • MVNOs: Heavy use of Verizon- and AT&T‑based MVNOs to manage costs without sacrificing rural coverage.
• Backhaul and fixed broadband: Fiber backhaul exists along primary roadways and into town centers; copper DSL and satellite persist in sparsely populated areas. Where fixed broadband is absent or slow, households use cellular hotspots as a primary connection.
• Emergency communications: Agencies leverage FirstNet where available and often deploy in‑building signal boosters in stations and schools due to terrain‑induced dead zones.

Trends that differ from West Virginia overall

• Lower smartphone penetration: County adult smartphone adoption is 3–6 points below the statewide average due to an older age profile and lower incomes.
• More cellular-only households: Reliance on cellular data for home internet is 4–6 points higher than statewide, reflecting limited wired options off‑corridor.
• Higher basic‑phone share among seniors: 5–8 points higher than the state average, with longer device replacement cycles.
• Slower 5G reach and upgrade pace: 5G population coverage lags the state, and users are more likely to remain on LTE devices/plans until coverage and performance justify switching.
• Greater use of Wi‑Fi calling and signal boosters: Residents and businesses more frequently depend on Wi‑Fi calling and external antennas to overcome indoor and valley shadowing.

Implications

• Mobile service in Monroe County is reliable along main corridors and in town hubs but becomes inconsistent in hollows and ridge shadow zones, nudging households toward Wi‑Fi calling, MVNO plans on rural‑strong networks, and cellular‑only home internet.
• Compared with West Virginia overall, Monroe County shows a distinctly more rural adoption profile: fewer smartphones per adult, more basic phones among older residents, higher reliance on cellular for home broadband, and a slower, corridor‑first 5G rollout.

Monroe County, WV — Social Media Snapshot (2024)

Data note: Exact platform counts are not published at the county level. Figures below are 2024 modeled local estimates derived from recent U.S. Census/ACS demographics for Monroe County and current U.S./West Virginia social media adoption patterns (e.g., Pew Research).

Overall usage

• Share of residents 13+ using at least one social platform: ~72%
• Adult (18+) social media penetration: ~70–72%
• Median age skews older than U.S. average, moderating adoption among 50+ while remaining very high for under-30s

Most-used platforms (share of adults who use each)

• YouTube: 76%
• Facebook: 66%
• Facebook Messenger: 60%
• Instagram: 38%
• TikTok: 27%
• Pinterest: 23%
• Snapchat: 22%
• X (Twitter): 12%
• LinkedIn: 10%
• Reddit: 9%

Age group usage (share using at least one platform; top platforms in each)

• 13–17: 94% (YouTube 92%, Snapchat 74%, TikTok 72%, Instagram 58%, Facebook 29%)
• 18–29: 90% (YouTube 88%, Instagram 71%, Snapchat 63%, TikTok 60%, Facebook 51%)
• 30–49: 83% (YouTube 85%, Facebook 72%, Instagram 47%, TikTok 29%, Pinterest 31%)
• 50–64: 70% (Facebook 68%, YouTube 73%, Instagram 29%, Pinterest 25%, TikTok 16%)
• 65+: 50% (Facebook 56%, YouTube 62%, Instagram 18%, TikTok 9%)

Gender breakdown

• Share of adult social media users: ~54% women, ~46% men
• Platform skews:
  • Women over-index: Facebook (58% female), Instagram (60% female), Pinterest (~75% female)
  • Men over-index: YouTube (55% male), Reddit (70% male), X/Twitter (~58% male)

Behavioral trends

• Community-first Facebook usage: Local groups (yard sales, school updates, churches, civic clubs) and Facebook Marketplace drive the highest engagement; photos and short native videos outperform links.
• Messaging default: Facebook Messenger is the go-to for coordination; SMS remains common among 55+.
• Video habits: YouTube for how-tos, local sports, and cord-cutter news; TikTok and Reels for under-35. Rural connectivity encourages short-form over long livestreams.
• News and alerts: Local happenings spread via Facebook shares from regional outlets; public safety updates see rapid, countywide reach.
• Commerce: Heavy Facebook Marketplace activity; Instagram Shops presence is light but growing for boutiques and artisans.
• Timing: Engagement peaks evenings (7–10 p.m.) and Sunday afternoons; weekday lunchtime micro-spikes for mobile scrolling.
• Trust and voice: Posts featuring recognizable local people/places outperform generic creatives; clear, plain-language calls-to-action work best.
• Cross-county networks: Residents participate in overlapping groups spanning Greenbrier, Mercer, Summers (WV) and Giles (VA) for jobs, events, and classifieds.

Implications

• For broad reach: Prioritize Facebook (posts + groups) and YouTube; use Messenger for responses.
• For under-35 reach: Add Instagram and TikTok with short vertical video (15–45 seconds).
• Creative: Use local faces/landmarks, concise copy, and captions; avoid link-outs when possible to maintain in-platform engagement.
• Scheduling: Post evenings; boost/retarget around weekends and local event calendars.