Putnam County

Putnam County, West Virginia — key demographics (U.S. Census Bureau)

Population size

• Total population: 57,440 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~42 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 5 years: ~5–6%
• Under 18 years: ~22%
• 65 years and over: ~18–19%

Gender

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023; Hispanic can be any race)

• White alone: ~94–95%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• Asian alone: ~1–1.5%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~0.2%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~1–2%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~93–94%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Number of households: ~23,000
• Average household size: ~2.5
• Family households: ~69%
• Married-couple families: ~53–55%
• Households with children under 18: ~27–29%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~80–83%

Insights

• Putnam County is one of West Virginia’s more suburban, higher-income counties with stable population, predominantly White non-Hispanic, modest youth share, and an above-average share of owner-occupied, married-couple family households.

• Estimated email users: ≈46,000 residents (13+) in Putnam County, based on a population near 58,700, adult email adoption around 92%, and high teen adoption.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 18–34: ≈28% of users (≈12.9k); adoption ≈97%
  • 35–54: ≈35% (≈16.1k); adoption ≈96%
  • 55–64: ≈17% (≈7.8k); adoption ≈92%
  • 65+: ≈20% (≈9.2k); adoption ≈85%
• Gender split of users: Female ≈51% (≈23.5k), Male ≈49% (≈22.5k), reflecting the county’s slight female majority.
• Digital access and devices:
  • Home broadband subscription: ≈88–90% of households (ACS-like levels for Putnam’s profile)
  • Households with a computer: ≈92%
  • Smartphone-only internet users: ≈12–15% of households
  • Fixed broadband ≥100 Mbps available to >95% of households; gigabit widely available along the I‑64 corridor; 5G covers primary population centers.
• Density and connectivity context: Population density ≈170 per sq. mile, concentrated along the Teays Valley–Hurricane–Winfield I‑64 corridor, supporting strong cable/fiber builds; more rural northern/southern areas rely more on DSL and fixed wireless.
• Trend insights: Broadband subscription and speeds have climbed since 2018; email usage is near-universal among working-age adults, with steady gains among seniors narrowing the adoption gap.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Putnam County, West Virginia

Topline user estimates

• Population and adult base: Putnam County has roughly 58–59 thousand residents, of whom about 45–46 thousand are adults (18+).
• Smartphone users: 40–42 thousand adults use a smartphone (estimated 88–90% adult adoption), modestly higher than West Virginia overall (about 84–86%).
• Wireless-only phone households: Roughly two-thirds of adults live in wireless-only households (no landline), about in line with the state, but slightly lower among seniors in Putnam due to better broadband alternatives.
• Smartphone-only internet households: 9–12% of households rely on a cellular data plan as their only home internet in Putnam, versus roughly 15–18% statewide. This indicates greater fixed broadband take-up and less dependence on phones for home connectivity than the West Virginia average.

Demographic breakdown (how Putnam differs from the state)

• Age: Putnam is slightly younger than West Virginia overall (smaller 65+ share). Estimated smartphone adoption by age in Putnam:
  • 18–34: ~95% (state: ~92–94%)
  • 35–64: ~90–93% (state: ~86–90%)
  • 65+: ~70–75% (state: ~65–70%) The smaller senior share in Putnam lifts overall adoption 2–3 percentage points above the state.
• Income and education: Median household income and bachelor’s attainment are both higher than the state average. That correlates with:
  • Higher device ownership per person (smartphone plus tablet/laptop).
  • Lower smartphone-only internet reliance among middle- and higher-income households.
  • Faster uptake of 5G-capable devices.
• Household profile: Suburban, commuter-heavy areas around Teays Valley–Hurricane–Scott Depot show the county’s highest rates of multi-line family plans and bundled mobile-plus-home broadband, unlike many rural WV counties where mobile often substitutes for home internet.

Digital infrastructure and performance

• Coverage footprint:
  • 4G LTE: Countywide population coverage is strong; geographic coverage still varies with hills/valleys, with weaker spots away from the I-64 and US-35 corridors.
  • 5G: All three national carriers offer 5G along the I-64 corridor (Hurricane, Teays Valley, Scott Depot, Winfield). Mid-band 5G is most consistent in these population centers; low-band 5G extends broader but with lower peak speeds. Rural pockets remain LTE-only or experience 5G at lower signal quality.
• Capacity and speeds:
  • Along I-64 population centers, median on-device 5G downloads commonly reach 100–250 Mbps; LTE typically 20–60 Mbps.
  • Outside the corridor and in topographically challenging areas, observed speeds frequently drop to 5–25 Mbps, with higher variability and occasional signal fades in river valleys and hollows.
• Network assets:
  • Tower/site density is highest near I-64 interchanges and schools/healthcare clusters; sparser north of WV-62 and along ridge/valley transitions.
  • Recent upgrades have focused on mid-band 5G sectors in the Teays Valley–Hurricane area and capacity augments along US-35; mmWave remains limited or venue-specific.
• Fixed broadband interplay:
  • Cable and growing fiber footprints in suburban tracts reduce mobile-only reliance and increase Wi‑Fi offload of smartphone traffic compared with the statewide pattern.
  • Fixed wireless access (FWA) via 5G is available to many suburban addresses; its presence further differentiates Putnam from rural WV counties that lean on smartphone plans for primary internet.

Trends that diverge from West Virginia overall

• Higher smartphone adoption and multi-device households, driven by higher income/education and a younger age mix.
• Lower dependence on smartphone-only internet, thanks to stronger availability of cable and fiber in suburban neighborhoods.
• Earlier and broader mid-band 5G rollout along the I-64 corridor, translating to higher median mobile speeds for most residents than the statewide median.
• Smaller urban–rural performance gap within the county than the statewide urban–rural gap, though pockets with terrain-induced limitations persist.
• More consistent enterprise and commuter use (navigation, telework, mobile productivity) relative to counties with primarily rural economies.

Key takeaways

• Putnam County’s mobile ecosystem is suburban-leaning: high adoption, strong 5G where most people live, and relatively low smartphone-only home internet use.
• The main constraints are geographic, not demand-driven: valley and ridge topography still causes localized LTE/5G weaknesses away from I-64 and US-35.
• Compared with the state, Putnam’s residents experience faster typical mobile speeds, rely more on bundled fixed broadband at home, and upgrade to 5G devices sooner—resulting in heavier app, video, and work usage over cellular in the daytime and Wi‑Fi offload in the evenings.

Notes on sources and method

• Estimates synthesize U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2018–2022 (population, age, income; household device and internet subscription patterns), CDC NHIS 2022 (wireless-only households, state benchmarks), FCC mobile coverage filings (2023–2024), and carrier/network reporting for 5G deployment. Figures are rounded to reflect survey margins of error and county sample sizes.

Putnam County, WV social media snapshot (modeled from 2023–2024 national/state research and county demographics; rounded)

Population and user base

• Residents: ~59,000
• Social media users (13+): ~42,000 (≈71% of residents)
• Daily active users: ~31,000–33,000

Age mix of users

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–29: 19%
• 30–49: 37%
• 50–64: 24%
• 65+: 11%

Gender breakdown

• Users: ~52% female, 48% male
• Skews: Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and Reddit

Most‑used platforms in Putnam County (share of residents 13+ using monthly)

• Facebook: 74%
• YouTube: 76%
• Instagram: 46%
• TikTok: 36%
• Pinterest: 29%
• Snapchat: 26%
• X (Twitter): 14%
• LinkedIn: 13%
• Reddit: 11%
• Nextdoor: 7% Note: Platform shares reflect local age/gender mix; expect ±3–5 percentage points.

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community backbone: heavy use of Groups for schools, youth sports, churches, local government, yard sales, and neighborhood watch; Marketplace is a top local shopping channel.
• Video-first consumption: YouTube for how‑to/home projects, outdoor content, and high‑school sports; short-form video (Reels/TikTok) drives discovery for local food, events, and small businesses.
• Messaging > commenting: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are preferred for inquiries and coordination; many local businesses rely on DMs for leads.
• Event- and weather-driven spikes: Severe weather, school closings, and festival/ballgame weekends produce rapid engagement surges on Facebook and local Pages.
• Time-of-day cadence: Peaks before work (6:30–8:30 am), lunch (11:30 am–1:00 pm), and evenings (8:00–10:00 pm). Weekend mornings are strong for Marketplace and errands.
• Trust and voice: Content from known local figures, schools, churches, and booster clubs outperforms brand-only messaging; UGC and testimonials carry outsized credibility.
• Commerce behaviors: High intent for local services (home, auto, medical, pet, youth activities). Click-to-call and Messenger CTAs convert better than off-platform forms.

Implications for outreach

• Prioritize Facebook (Pages, Groups, Marketplace) plus YouTube and Instagram Reels for reach; add TikTok for 13–34 and Pinterest for women 25–54.
• Use short, locally grounded creative (faces, landmarks, school colors) and evening/weekend flighting.
• Lean into DM-based conversion, local event tie-ins, and community partnerships to amplify trust and lift response.