Nicholas County

Nicholas County, West Virginia — key demographics

Population size

• 24,604 residents (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: 45.8 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: 19.7%
• 65 and over: 22.3%

Gender

• Female: 50.6%
• Male: 49.4% (ACS 2018–2022)

Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census; race alone unless noted)

• White: 94.7%
• Black or African American: 1.3%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.3%
• Asian: 0.2%
• Two or more races: 3.3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 1.5%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: 93.5%

Household data (ACS 2018–2022)

• Households: ~10,200
• Average household size: 2.31
• Family households: ~64%
• Nonfamily households: ~36%

Nicholas County, WV email usage snapshot (estimates based on latest ACS/Census totals and national email-adoption benchmarks):

• Estimated adult email users: ~14,000 residents.
• Age distribution (share using email): 18–34: ~95%; 35–54: ~93%; 55–64: ~88%; 65+: ~72%. Among all email users, approximate composition: 18–34: 26%; 35–54: 34%; 55–64: 18%; 65+: 22%.
• Gender split: essentially even (~50% female, ~50% male), with negligible usage difference by gender.

Digital access and connectivity:

• Households with a broadband subscription: ~74%.
• Households with a computer (any type): ~89%.
• Smartphone-only internet access (no home broadband): ~18% of households.
• No home internet subscription: ~24% of households.
• Population density is low (roughly mid-30s per square mile), and terrain is mountainous, so fixed broadband is strongest in and around Summersville, Craigsville, and Richwood, with patchier service in outlying hollows; mobile 4G/5G coverage tracks major corridors (e.g., US‑19).
• Email adoption lags national urban levels primarily due to lower broadband adoption and income constraints, but remains the dominant digital communication channel among connected adults.

Nicholas County, WV mobile phone usage summary (with county-versus-state contrasts)

Headline findings

• Smartphone access is somewhat lower than West Virginia overall, but reliance on cellular data as the primary internet connection is higher than the state average.
• A larger, older, and lower‑income population mix than the state average depresses overall smartphone adoption, while simultaneously increasing smartphone‑only internet dependence.
• 5G is present along primary corridors and in Summersville, but LTE remains the practical baseline outside towns; terrain continues to create dead zones away from US‑19 and ridge‑top routes.

User estimates and adoption (household-level; latest multi‑year ACS and FCC indications)

• Households: about 9,700 in Nicholas County.
• Households with a smartphone: ~78–83% (≈7,600–8,000 households). West Virginia: ~84–87%.
• Has a cellular data plan for a smartphone/tablet/other portable device: ~62–68% of households (≈6,000–6,500). WV: ~66–72%.
• Cellular‑only internet (has a cellular data plan but no cable/DSL/fiber at home): ~14–18% of households (≈1,300–1,700). WV: ~10–13%.
• No internet subscription of any kind at home: ~20–23% (≈1,900–2,200). WV: ~15–18%. Interpretation: Compared with the state, Nicholas County has slightly fewer households with smartphones overall, but a larger share that rely on mobile data as their primary or only home internet.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age structure: Residents 65+ comprise a larger share of the county than the state average (roughly 23% vs ~20% WV). This skews smartphone adoption down; seniors are the least likely to have smartphones or home internet, and are overrepresented in the “no internet subscription” group.
• Income: Median household income is lower than the WV median (mid‑$40k vs low‑$50k statewide). Lower‑income households in the county are disproportionately smartphone‑only for home connectivity, reflecting both affordability constraints and gaps in fixed broadband availability.
• Education and workforce: A higher share of adults with a high‑school education or less (about half of adults) correlates with lower rates of multi‑device ownership and lower fixed‑broadband uptake. Mobile tends to be the first and sometimes only on‑ramp for job search, government services, and telehealth among these households. County‑versus‑state contrast: Nicholas County’s older and lower‑income profile reduces overall smartphone penetration versus WV, but the combination of affordability and availability issues raises smartphone‑only internet use several points above the state rate.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Mobile network coverage:
  • Strongest, most consistent service is along US‑19 through Summersville and Birch River, WV‑39 toward Richwood, and WV‑41; coverage weakens quickly into interior valleys and forested areas (Gauley River/Nicholas–Greenbrier ridge systems).
  • 5G availability: Low‑band 5G is present in Summersville and along US‑19; mid‑band 5G coverage remains limited. Outside towns, LTE is the de facto standard and often the only reliable layer, especially indoors.
  • Terrain impact: Steep hollows and heavy tree cover create shadow zones; practical indoor reliability lags map‑based outdoors coverage claims.
• Carrier presence and performance:
  • All three national carriers report LTE coverage across population centers; Verizon and AT&T have the broadest rural reach, with T‑Mobile strongest along US‑19 and in town centers.
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) deployments for public safety improve reach on main corridors; commercial users benefit indirectly where infrastructure is shared.
• Fixed broadband context that shapes mobile reliance:
  • Cable (DOCSIS) is concentrated in Summersville/Craigsville; DSL remains common in outlying areas; fiber is expanding in and around population centers but is still sparse outside towns.
  • Satellite and fixed‑wireless options fill gaps in the eastern and southern parts of the county. These patterns increase the share of households using cellular data as their primary home internet. County‑versus‑state contrast: Nicholas County has fewer locales with mid‑band 5G and fewer fiber‑served areas than the state’s metro counties, making LTE and low‑band 5G more critical and pushing up cellular‑only adoption.

Trends to watch

• Expect incremental gains in smartphone penetration and 5G coverage within Summersville and along US‑19, with slower progress in interior valleys unless new macro sites or low‑band infill are added.
• Fiber buildouts and state/federal grant projects will reduce cellular‑only reliance where they reach, but affordability programs remain decisive for low‑income and senior households.

Primary data sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2018–2022 5‑year (Table S2801: Types of Computers and Internet Subscriptions) for county/state household smartphone, cellular data, and internet‑subscription figures.
• FCC Broadband Data Collection (mobile availability maps, 2023–2024) for 4G/5G service claims by carrier and terrain‑related gaps.
• West Virginia Office of Broadband public updates (2023–2024) for ongoing fiber expansion affecting reliance on mobile data.

Social media usage snapshot — Nicholas County, West Virginia (2025)

Population context

• Residents: ≈24,600 (2020 Census). Age 13+: ≈22,100.
• Households with broadband: roughly 78–82% (ACS 2018–2022; county-level rural average).
• Overall social media adoption (age 13+): ≈16,900 users, about 76% of residents 13+ (modeled from Pew Research’s 2023–2024 national/rural usage rates and local age mix).

User stats

• Total social media users (13+): ≈16,900
• By gender (users): ≈52% women, 48% men
• By age (share of users; modeled):
  • 13–17: 9% (≈1,500)
  • 18–29: 20% (≈3,400)
  • 30–49: 30% (≈5,100)
  • 50–64: 22% (≈3,700)
  • 65+: 19% (≈3,200)

Most‑used platforms in the county (age 13+; modeled reach)

• YouTube: ≈69% (≈15,200 users)
• Facebook: ≈64% (≈14,100)
• Instagram: ≈34% (≈7,500)
• TikTok: ≈26% (≈5,700)
• Pinterest: ≈28% (≈6,200)
• Snapchat: ≈15% (≈3,300)
• X (Twitter): ≈12% (≈2,700)
• LinkedIn: ≈11% (≈2,400) Note: Shares are derived by applying 2023–2024 Pew platform usage to Nicholas County’s older‑leaning, rural demographic profile; expect a ±3–5 percentage‑point margin.

Gender patterns by platform (directional skews)

• Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Pinterest: skew female (Facebook ≈55–60% female; Pinterest ≈70–75% female)
• YouTube, Reddit, X: skew male (YouTube and X modestly male; Reddit strongly male)

Behavioral trends observed in rural WV counties and consistent with Nicholas County’s profile

• Facebook as the community hub: heavy use of local Groups (schools, sports, yard sales, road conditions, outages), Marketplace buying/selling, and event posts; mid‑week and evening peaks.
• Video first: short‑form and live updates outperform text; YouTube used for how‑to, auto/home repair, hunting/fishing, church services, and local meeting uploads.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is default for coordination; Snapchat concentrated among teens/20s; limited WhatsApp use.
• Local trust dynamics: highest engagement for content from known local pages, officials, churches, and boosters; sharp spikes during weather events, school closings, and infrastructure issues.
• Younger cohorts (13–29): split attention between TikTok, Instagram Reels, Snapchat; create and consume short video, music, sports highlights; Facebook retained mainly for events and family.
• Older cohorts (50+): primarily Facebook and YouTube; lower posting frequency but high commenting/sharing on local news and public service information; Pinterest common for crafts, recipes, gardening.
• Commerce: local services, contractors, and seasonal tourism see best paid reach on Facebook/Instagram; younger-target campaigns perform better on TikTok/Instagram Reels.

Data notes and sources

• Population and broadband: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census; ACS 2018–2022).
• Platform usage baselines: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024; Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023.
• Figures are modeled estimates tailored to Nicholas County’s age and rural profile and should be interpreted with a small margin of error.