Pendleton County

Pendleton County, West Virginia — key demographics

Population

• 6,143 (2020 Census)
• 2023 estimate: ~6,190 (U.S. Census Bureau)

Age

• Median age: ~50 years (ACS 2018–2022)
• Under 18: ~18%
• 65 and over: ~26%

Gender

• Female: ~49%
• Male: ~51%

Race/ethnicity

• White, non-Hispanic: ~95%
• Black or African American: ~0.6%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~0.2%
• Asian: ~0.3%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~1–2%

Households and housing

• Households: ~2,630 (ACS 2018–2022)
• Persons per household: ~2.2
• Family households: ~63%
• Living alone: ~30% of households; ~14% are 65+ living alone
• Housing units: ~4,700; owner-occupied rate: ~84%

Insights

• Small, aging population with a high share of seniors, predominantly White, and smaller household sizes typical of rural Appalachia.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; Vintage 2023 Population Estimates.

Pendleton County, WV snapshot

• Population and density: ≈6,100 residents across ~700 sq mi (≈9 people/sq mi), among the most sparsely populated WV counties.
• Estimated email users: 3,600–4,000 adult users (≈72–80% of residents), derived from rural internet adoption and near-universal email use among internet users.
• Age distribution of email users (share of user base): • 18–34: ≈20–22% (very high adoption, ~95%) • 35–64: ≈48–52% (high adoption, ~90%) • 65+: ≈26–30% (lower but rising adoption, ~70–80%)
• Gender split: Approximately even (≈49–51% each), with no meaningful gender gap in email usage.
• Digital access and devices: • Broadband subscription: ≈75–80% of households (below WV average ≈83%) • Smartphone-only internet: ≈10–15% of households • Computer/smartphone access: widespread, though multi-device households are less common than in urban WV.
• Connectivity context and trends: Mountainous terrain and very low density elevate last‑mile costs, leaving pockets with limited wired options; fixed wireless fills some gaps and fiber builds are steadily expanding. Adoption and speeds trail state and national averages, but upgrades are narrowing the gap, supporting continued growth in email and general internet usage.

Pendleton County, West Virginia: mobile phone usage, demographics, and infrastructure profile

Population baseline

• Population: 6,143 (2020 Census), spread across roughly 700 square miles (≈9 residents per square mile vs ≈75 statewide), making network deployment unusually challenging.
• Age structure (ACS-like profile): median age just under 50; residents 65+ are about 27–30% of the population (vs ≈20% statewide). This older skew materially affects smartphone uptake and plan types.

Estimated mobile users and adoption

• Adults (18+): ≈5,000.
• Adult smartphone users: ≈3,900–4,100 (roughly 77–82% of adults). This is a few points below West Virginia’s overall rate, reflecting the county’s older age profile and spottier coverage.
• Mobile phone (any handset) users: ≈4,600–4,800 adults use a mobile phone of some kind, with the balance being feature‑phone users or adults without a personal handset.

Demographic breakdown of smartphone use (modeled from local age mix and national rural adoption patterns)

• Ages 18–34: high adoption (≈90–95%); ≈1,000 smartphone users.
• Ages 35–64: upper‑80s adoption; ≈2,000 smartphone users.
• Ages 65+: lower adoption (≈55–65%); ≈900 smartphone users. Compared with the state overall, Pendleton’s 65+ cohort is larger, pulling down the countywide rate despite near‑parity in younger groups.

How usage differs from statewide patterns

• More mobile‑only internet at home: An estimated 24–28% of households primarily rely on cellular data plans/hotspots for home internet (≈650–750 households), several points higher than the statewide share. This reflects sparse fixed broadband options in outlying areas.
• Slightly lower smartphone penetration but heavier reliance where available: Overall adoption is marginally lower than the state, yet those with service often lean on mobile for everyday connectivity (banking, telehealth, messaging) due to limited wired alternatives.
• Greater coverage variability: Indoor and valley coverage is more inconsistent than the typical West Virginia county, producing a wider gap between “coverage on highways” and “reliable service at the home.”

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Terrain constraints: North Fork Mountain, Spruce Knob–Seneca Rocks, and large tracts of Monongahela National Forest create line‑of‑sight barriers and shadowing. Coverage is strongest along US‑33, US‑220, and in/around Franklin, with notable dead zones on secondary roads and in hollows.
• Network generation mix:
  • 4G LTE: Present from major national carriers along primary corridors; practical outdoor coverage extends across most populated corridors but leaves substantial land area without strong signal.
  • 5G: Low‑band 5G appears in and near the county seat and along select highway segments; countywide 5G land coverage remains sparse and discontinuous. Mid‑band 5G is limited; mmWave is not a factor.
• Site density and backhaul: The county’s very low density implies a small macro‑site count relative to its area (on the order of the teens), with microwave backhaul still common away from fiber routes. This contributes to variable capacity during peaks and in tourist seasons near recreation areas.
• Road‑mile vs land‑area coverage: Consistent with FCC mapping patterns for rural Appalachia, a majority of primary road miles have at least one 4G operator, while a significantly smaller share of total land area has dependable signal. This gap is wider here than the state average due to topography.
• Public safety: FirstNet/AT&T coverage is present along main corridors and in population centers, supporting EMS and volunteer fire operations; off‑corridor reliability still depends on terrain and site spacing.

Practical implications for users and providers

• Users: Expect solid service in towns and along US‑33/US‑220, with frequent signal drop‑offs on side roads and indoors in valleys. Wi‑Fi offload is important for both speed and data‑cap management.
• Providers and planners: The most effective improvements involve additional low‑band/mid‑band coverage on ridge lines, small cells or repeaters in valleys, and more fiber backhaul to existing sites. Targeted fills near recreation corridors would reduce seasonal congestion and broaden 5G reach.

Bottom line

• Pendleton County has roughly 4,000 adult smartphone users today, a slightly lower adoption rate than West Virginia overall but a distinctly higher reliance on cellular for home connectivity. Coverage is corridor‑centric with substantial terrain‑driven gaps, and 5G remains spotty. These differences from the state average are driven primarily by the county’s very low population density, older age mix, and challenging mountain topography.

Social media usage in Pendleton County, WV (adults 18+; 2024–2025 modeled snapshot)

Headline metrics

• Adult penetration: ~76% of residents use at least one social platform.
• Daily use: ~65–70% of adults use social media daily (driven by Facebook and YouTube).
• User base size: roughly 3,700–3,900 adult users (out of ~5,000 adults in the county).

Age profile (share of users and usage rates)

• 18–29: ~16% of local users; ~84% use social media.
• 30–49: ~32% of local users; ~81% use social media.
• 50–64: ~30% of local users; ~73% use social media.
• 65+: ~21% of local users; ~45–50% use social media. Interpretation: The county skews older, so a large share of the active user base is 50+; platform mix tilts toward Facebook and YouTube rather than TikTok/Snapchat.

Gender breakdown

• Overall users: approximately even, with a slight female tilt (about 52% women, 48% men) due to the county’s age mix and platform preferences.
• Platform skews: women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X (Twitter).

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

• YouTube: ~76%
• Facebook: ~66%
• Instagram: ~36%
• TikTok: ~29%
• Pinterest: ~28% (skews female)
• LinkedIn: ~24%
• WhatsApp: ~21%
• Snapchat: ~18% (concentrated among under-30s)
• X (Twitter): ~17%
• Reddit: ~16%

Behavioral trends on the ground

• Local information hub: Facebook Groups and Pages are primary for county news, school updates, road closures, events, and high school sports.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace is the dominant local buy/sell venue (vehicles, farm equipment, home goods).
• Video habits: YouTube is used broadly for how‑to content (home, auto, farm), outdoor/hunting/fishing, and church livestreams; Instagram Reels/TikTok are growing among younger adults and small businesses for short-form promos.
• Tourism and small business: Instagram and Facebook are key for showcasing Seneca Rocks/Spruce Knob, lodging, guides, and eateries; posts with scenery, seasonal events, and service hours perform best.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the default; WhatsApp remains niche; Snapchat is used mainly by teens/20s for friends-only communication.
• Timing and devices: Engagement peaks evenings and weekends; mobile-first usage dominates, with posts that load quickly and feature clear visuals outperforming long text.

Method and sources

• Figures are modeled for Pendleton County by weighting Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social platform adoption rates by age and gender against the county’s older-leaning demographic profile from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2018–2022). Platforms include YouTube as “social media” consistent with Pew’s methodology.
• Key sources: Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5‑year estimates for Pendleton County, WV.