Tucker County

Tucker County, West Virginia — key demographics

Population size

• 6,762 (2020 Decennial Census)

Age

• Median age: 48.9 years
• Under 18: 17.6%
• 18 to 64: 58.4%
• 65 and over: 24.0%

Gender

• Male: 51.1%
• Female: 48.9%

Race/ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White, non-Hispanic: 95.6%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): 1.7%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 1.9%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 0.4%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 0.2%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: 0.2%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: 3,090
• Average household size: 2.17
• Family households: 61%
• Married-couple households: 52%
• Nonfamily households: 39%
• One-person households: 33%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: 79% (renter-occupied: 21%)

Insights

• Small, aging population with nearly one-quarter age 65+ and a median age well above the U.S. median.
• Overwhelmingly non-Hispanic White.
• Household structure skews toward smaller, owner-occupied homes and a high share of one-person households.

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

• Population base: ≈6,700 residents (Tucker County, WV).
• Estimated email users: ≈5,300 residents (≈79% of the population), modeled from adult share and national email adoption by age.

Age distribution of email users

• 13–17: ~5%
• 18–34: ~23%
• 35–54: ~31%
• 55–64: ~21%
• 65+: ~20%

Gender split among email users

• Female: ~51%
• Male: ~49%

Digital access and usage trends

• Household broadband subscription: ≈78% (2023), up ~4–5 percentage points since 2019, reflecting steady gains in rural broadband adoption.
• Fiber and higher-speed options are expanding in town centers (e.g., Parsons, Davis, Thomas), while remote hollows remain more dependent on legacy DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
• Smartphone-only internet reliance: ~16–20% of households, indicating a notable mobile-first segment.
• Public access points (schools, libraries, tourist hubs) bolster connectivity for residents and seasonal workers.

Local density and connectivity context

• Population density: ≈16 people per square mile, highlighting very low-density, mountainous terrain that raises last‑mile costs and creates service variability.
• Connectivity is measurably stronger in and around town centers and main travel corridors than in dispersed ridge-and-valley areas, influencing email access frequency and reliability.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Tucker County, West Virginia (2024)

Top-line estimates

• Population and adult base: Approximately 6,800–6,900 residents; about 5,550 adults (18+).
• Mobile adoption: ~5,270 adult mobile phone users (≈95% of adults).
• Smartphone users: ~4,400 adult smartphone users (≈79% of adults).
• 5G‑capable devices: ~2,700 active 5G‑capable smartphones (≈62% of local smartphone base).
• Mobile-only internet reliance: Approximately 14–18% of households use cellular data as their primary or sole home internet connection, above the statewide share.

Demographic breakdown (modeled from ACS age structure for Tucker County and Pew adoption by age, adjusted for rural WV)

• Age 18–34: ~1,050 adults; smartphone adoption ≈92% → ~970 users.
• Age 35–64: ~3,220 adults; smartphone adoption ≈82% → ~2,640 users.
• Age 65+: ~1,280 adults; smartphone adoption ≈62% → ~790 users.
• Income effect: Lower-income households (under ~$25k) are less likely to have smartphones and postpaid data plans; Tucker County’s higher share of lower-income and retired households depresses smartphone and 5G device penetration by several percentage points vs the state average.
• Race/ethnicity: The county is overwhelmingly White; adoption differences by race are not a major driver locally. Age and income explain most of the variation.

Digital infrastructure and coverage characteristics

• Terrain and land use: Mountainous, heavily forested topography and large public lands (Monongahela National Forest; Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley state parks) create persistent dead zones and shadowed valleys.
• Where coverage is strongest: Town centers and resort corridors—Parsons (US‑219), Davis/Thomas (WV‑32), Canaan Valley (WV‑32/CR‑45)—have the most consistent LTE/5G low‑band service and the highest capacity.
• Known weak corridors: WV‑72 and backcountry routes (e.g., Blackwater Canyon, Dolly Sods, Otter Creek Wilderness) experience long stretches of limited or no service.
• 5G profile: Limited mid‑band 5G; most 5G availability is low‑band coverage (good reach, modest speeds). LTE remains the primary layer for capacity.
• Carrier presence: AT&T, Verizon, and T‑Mobile all provide service in population centers; reliability drops quickly outside towns due to sparse macro sites. FirstNet build-outs have improved public‑safety LTE in and around key corridors but do not eliminate backcountry gaps.
• Performance envelope (typical user experience):
  • LTE: roughly 5–50 Mbps down in towns, often single‑digit Mbps at edges.
  • Low‑band 5G: roughly 30–120 Mbps in best‑case town locations; mid‑band bursts are uncommon.
• Seasonal load: Visitor influxes (ski season, summer weekends, fall foliage) drive pronounced but short-lived congestion in Davis/Thomas and Canaan Valley; off‑peak periods see stable performance.

How Tucker County differs from the West Virginia statewide pattern

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration: Tucker’s adult smartphone adoption (~79%) trails the statewide pattern by a few points, reflecting an older age structure and lower incomes relative to metro counties.
• Lower 5G readiness: A smaller share of handsets are 5G‑capable versus the statewide average; most 5G use is low‑band, with little mid‑band footprint compared with WV’s more urban counties.
• Higher cellular dependence for home internet: A larger portion of households rely on mobile data as their primary connection, owing to limited wired options in outlying areas; this pushes up off‑peak mobile data usage compared with the state.
• Greater seasonality in network demand: Tourism concentrates usage into weekend and holiday peaks far more than the state average, producing localized congestion despite a small resident base.
• More severe terrain-driven dead zones: While WV is generally rugged, Tucker’s combination of steep relief and protected lands yields above-average coverage gaps outside towns and resort corridors.

Notes on method and sources

• Population and age structure are based on recent ACS 5‑year estimates (2019–2023). Mobile and smartphone adoption rates are modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 device ownership data with rural and age adjustments, applied to the county’s age mix. 5G-capable share reflects national installed-base data adjusted downward for rural WV. Coverage characterizations reflect FCC mobile coverage maps (2024), carrier maps, state broadband reporting, and documented terrain/land-use constraints. All figures are for 2024 conditions unless otherwise noted.

Social media usage in Tucker County, West Virginia (2025 snapshot)

Overall adoption (18+)

• Use at least one social platform: ~76%
• Daily users: ~63%
• Multi‑platform users (use 2+ platforms monthly): ~49%

Most‑used platforms (share of adults using each at least monthly)

• YouTube: ~74%
• Facebook: ~65%
• Instagram: ~31%
• TikTok: ~27%
• Pinterest: ~22%
• Snapchat: ~21%
• X (Twitter): ~12%
• LinkedIn: ~10%
• Reddit: ~9%

Age profile of social media users

• 18–29: ~16% of county social users
• 30–49: ~34%
• 50–64: ~28%
• 65+: ~22% Notes: The county skews older than the U.S. average, concentrating usage in the 30–65+ brackets; teens and 18–29s are highly active on visual/video platforms but smaller in number locally.

Gender breakdown of users

• Women: ~53%
• Men: ~47% Platform tilt: Women over‑index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over‑index on YouTube, Reddit, and X.

Behavioral trends

• Platform roles: Facebook is the default community layer (Groups, local news, school sports, weather/road conditions, Marketplace). YouTube is the main video and how‑to hub. Instagram and TikTok are event- and season‑driven, spiking with tourism (Canaan Valley, Blackwater Falls) and outdoor content.
• Posting vs consuming: Engagement is weighted toward viewing, reacting, and sharing in groups; original posting is concentrated among a smaller set of active community members, local businesses, and event organizers.
• Timing: Peak activity evenings 7–10 pm; secondary midday check‑in around lunch. Weekends and seasonal events (ski season, festivals, fall foliage) raise visual content engagement.
• Devices: Predominantly mobile use; desktop is secondary and tied to work or long‑form video viewing.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is the dominant private channel; Snapchat is common among younger residents. WhatsApp remains niche.

Source notes

• Figures are 2025 county‑specific estimates modeled from Pew Research Center 2023–2024 platform adoption by age/gender, U.S. rural usage patterns, and Tucker County’s age/sex distribution from recent ACS data. These provide the most reliable view available for a small, rural county market.