Fremont County

Here are current, high-level demographics for Fremont County, Colorado. Figures are rounded; latest available are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates unless noted.

Population

• Total population: ~49,600

Age

• Median age: ~42 years
• Under 18: ~16%
• 18 to 64: ~66%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Sex

• Male: ~59%
• Female: ~41% (Note: Large correctional facilities in the county raise the male share.)

Race and ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

• Non-Hispanic White: ~74%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~14%
• Black/African American: ~6%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~2%
• Asian: ~1%
• Two or more races: ~5%

Households

• Total households: ~20,000–21,000
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~60–62% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~23–25%
• One-person households: ~28–30%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates (table series DP05, S0101, S1101).

Summary: Email usage in Fremont County, CO

• Estimated users: 31–34k regular email users. Method: 49k residents, ~78% adults; applying rural Colorado internet adoption (85–88%) and the fact that most internet users use email (>90%), plus some teen users.
• Age mix of email users (approximate):
  • 18–34: 20–25%
  • 35–54: 30–35%
  • 55–64: 18–22%
  • 65+: 20–25%
• Gender split: roughly even; about 51% female, 49% male among civilian (non‑institutional) users.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband subscription around low‑ to mid‑80s percent of households; smartphone‑only internet access about 15–18%.
  • Stronger cable/fiber availability in Cañon City/Florence; many outlying areas rely on fixed wireless or satellite.
  • 4G/5G mobile coverage is robust along the US‑50 corridor and patchier in canyons and foothills.
  • Affordability pressures increased after the federal ACP wind‑down; public libraries and community Wi‑Fi remain important access points.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Population density ~32 people per square mile (rural).
  • Most residents cluster along the Arkansas River/US‑50 corridor, where wired speeds are highest; terrain and distance drive higher last‑mile costs in sparsely populated zones.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Fremont County, Colorado (how it differs from statewide)

Headline estimate (civilian residents)

• Unique mobile phone users: roughly 32,000–35,000 people
• Of these, estimated smartphone users: roughly 26,000–30,000 How this was derived: Fremont County’s total population is about 49,000, but the county hosts a large incarcerated population that does not use mobile phones yet is counted in census totals. Backing out an estimated 5,500–8,000 incarcerated residents leaves roughly 41,000–43,500 civilian residents. Applying age structure typical of Fremont (older than the state average) and rural adoption patterns, about 88–92% of civilian residents age 13+ use a mobile phone, with 80–85% of those being smartphones.

What’s different from Colorado overall

• Population mix affects per-capita metrics: The unusually large incarcerated population depresses “per capita” device counts versus Colorado averages; comparisons should use the civilian, non-institutionalized population.
• Older age profile: Fremont is older than the state, which pulls smartphone adoption and mobile data-plan take-up below Colorado’s urban Front Range counties.
• More prepaid, more Android: Lower median incomes and rural profiles correlate with a higher share of prepaid plans and Android devices than the state average (which skews more postpaid and slightly more iOS in metro areas).
• Coverage and capacity are spottier: Rugged terrain (Royal Gorge, canyons, mesas) creates dead zones and weaker indoor service outside Cañon City and Florence. Statewide, 5G mid-band and dense LTE are common in metro counties; in Fremont, 5G is largely town-centered with LTE-only or weak service in outlying areas.
• Higher reliance on mobile as primary internet: A larger share of households use mobile hotspots, fixed wireless, or satellite as their main connection compared with the state’s fiber/cable-rich metros.
• Seasonal/daytime load swings: Tourism (Royal Gorge area) and the corrections complex workforce create sharper, localized peaks in network load than you see in typical Colorado suburban counties.

Demographic breakdown (usage tendencies)

• Age
  • 13–34: Near-universal mobile ownership; smartphone use ~90–95%.
  • 35–64: High ownership; smartphone use ~85–90%, but more budget/prepaid plans than state average.
  • 65+: Notable gap versus state; smartphone use closer to ~70–80%, with more basic/flip phones and limited-data plans.
• Income and plan type
  • Under ~$50k household income: Greater use of prepaid, family/shared plans, and budget Android devices; more hotspotting for home internet.
  • Above ~$50k: Closer to statewide patterns (postpaid, 5G-capable devices), but still less device turnover than Denver/Boulder metros.
• Geography within the county
  • Cañon City/Florence: Strongest coverage and 5G availability; highest smartphone and mobile data adoption.
  • Rural east/west and canyon areas: More coverage gaps, slower speeds; higher use of voice/SMS and Wi‑Fi offload when available.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Cellular coverage
  • All three national carriers provide LTE in population centers; 5G (primarily low-/mid-band) is concentrated in Cañon City/Florence with rapid drop-off outside town cores.
  • Terrain-induced shadowing affects canyons, river corridors, and parts of US‑50; indoor coverage can be inconsistent in older buildings and low-lying areas.
• Backhaul and sites
  • Fiber backhaul follows main corridors (US‑50, CO‑115), with microwave backhaul supporting some rural sites; this can constrain peak capacity compared with fiber-dense Front Range markets.
  • Tower density is lower than statewide urban averages; new small-cell builds are limited to the most trafficked town areas, not widespread.
• Fixed wireless and satellite
  • Multiple regional WISPs serve exurban and rural addresses; performance depends on line of sight.
  • Satellite, especially newer LEO options, has meaningful uptake among acreage properties and canyon/mesa locations with weak terrestrial service.
• Public safety networks
  • FirstNet (AT&T) provides priority coverage for responders, but terrain still creates gaps; incident-driven portable cells (COWs/COLTs) are used during large events or fire seasons.

Usage patterns and behavior

• More conservative data use and device refresh cycles than the state’s metro users.
• Greater reliance on voice/SMS in fringe areas; streaming and high-bandwidth apps are more common in town cores and at home via Wi‑Fi.
• Hotspotting substitutes for wired broadband more often than in the state overall.

Notes on data and method

• Estimates combine county population, the presence of large correctional facilities, and rural/mobile adoption rates from national and Colorado studies (e.g., ACS, Pew, FCC). Exact carrier footprints and 5G availability vary by neighborhood and are evolving; verify with current coverage maps before making location-specific decisions.

Below is a concise, data‑informed snapshot of social media usage in Fremont County, CO. Figures are modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2024 social platform adoption benchmarks, adjusted for a largely rural county age mix and the local non‑institutionalized (household) population. Treat these as useful planning estimates, not exact counts.

Overall user stats

• Adult population using social media: roughly 26,000–30,000 people (about 68–74% of adults).
• Mobile-first usage; home broadband is uneven outside towns, so short video and light, quick-loading posts perform best.
• Note: Fremont County’s prison population skews the raw male share higher, but incarcerated residents are not active online. Among likely social users (household population), the online audience skews slightly female.

Most-used platforms (share of adults)

• YouTube: ~72–78%
• Facebook: ~65–72%
• Instagram: ~35–45%
• TikTok: ~25–35%
• Snapchat: ~22–30%
• Pinterest: ~25–35% (notably higher among women 25–54)
• WhatsApp: ~18–25%
• LinkedIn: ~10–16%
• X (Twitter): ~10–15%
• Reddit: ~10–14%
• Nextdoor: ~8–12% (stronger in Canon City/Florence neighborhoods than rural areas)

Age-group picture (usage and tendencies)

• 18–29: ~90%+ use social. Heavy TikTok/Snapchat/Instagram; YouTube daily. Facebook is secondary, used for events and local groups.
• 30–49: ~80–90%. Facebook + Instagram core; YouTube ubiquitous; TikTok rising (especially parents). Marketplace and local services/groups are key.
• 50–64: ~70–75%. Facebook is primary; YouTube for DIY/how‑to; Pinterest for projects, recipes; modest Instagram/TikTok uptake.
• 65+: ~50–55%. Facebook highest; YouTube for news/how‑to; some Nextdoor in town centers.

Gender breakdown (active social users, estimated)

• Female: ~52–55%. Higher engagement with Facebook Groups, Marketplace, Instagram, and Pinterest; strong response to community, family, school, and local-deal content.
• Male: ~45–48%. Higher YouTube, Facebook, Reddit/X; strong interest in outdoor, DIY, auto, trades, and local news/alerts.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community backbone: local news, school updates, wildfire/road conditions, buy/sell/trade, and event promotion. Groups drive much of the reach.
• Video leads: short, vertical video (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) performs best; practical “how‑to,” outdoor, and hyperlocal storytelling resonate.
• Marketplace matters: price‑sensitive audiences rely on local deals; service providers gain leads via Recommendations in Groups.
• Local trust: content from recognizable local people, schools, teams, churches, nonprofits, first responders, and small businesses outperforms polished “outsider” creative.
• Timing: evening peaks (6–9 pm) and early morning checks (7–9 am). Midday engagement is common among retirees and shift workers. Weekends (especially Sunday evenings) work well for community/event content.
• Tourism/outdoors: seasonal spikes tied to Royal Gorge, rafting, hiking, hunting; visual IG/TikTok content converts visitors; YouTube/FB for trip planning and safety info.

Practical notes

• Validate audience sizes for campaigns using platform ad tools (Meta, TikTok, Snap, Google) with Fremont County geo-targeting.