Blaine County

Here are concise, current demographics for Blaine County, Montana.

Population size

• Total population: ≈7,000 (2020 Census count ~7,000; 2023 Census estimate roughly unchanged)

Age

• Median age: ~35 years
• Under 18: ~29%
• 65 and over: ~16–17%

Gender

• Female: ~50%
• Male: ~50%

Race/ethnicity (race alone unless noted)

• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~48–50%
• White: ~46–48%
• Two or more races: ~3–5%
• Hispanic/Latino (of any race): ~3–4%
• Black, Asian, NH/PI: each <1%

Household data

• Number of households: ~2,500–2,600
• Average household size: ~2.6–2.8 persons
• Family households: ~65–70% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~35–40%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; QuickFacts). Figures rounded for clarity; minor year-to-year variation occurs.

Blaine County, Montana – email usage snapshot (estimates)

• Population baseline: 7,000 residents; very low density (1.6–2.0 people per sq. mile). Includes Fort Belknap Indian Community; main towns: Chinook and Harlem.
• Estimated email users: 4,200–5,000 residents (applying national email adoption to local age/connection patterns).
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–24: 20–25%
  • 25–44: 35–40%
  • 45–64: 25–30%
  • 65+: 10–15% (lower due to access and adoption gaps)
• Gender split among users: roughly even (≈49% male, 51% female).
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household broadband subscription roughly 65–70%; another 10–15% rely mainly on smartphone data.
  • Access strongest in Chinook/Harlem; coverage gaps persist in remote ranchlands and interior reservation areas.
  • Ongoing state/federal investments (e.g., BEAD and Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program) are expanding fiber and fixed wireless; gradual improvement expected through 2026.
  • Satellite options (e.g., LEO services) are increasingly used for last-mile coverage where terrain and distance make wired builds costly.
• Local connectivity context: Sparse settlement and long distances raise per-mile build costs; historically many census blocks were un- or underserved compared with state/national averages, contributing to lower email adoption among older and lower-income residents.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Blaine County, Montana

Key takeaways that differ from the state overall

• More mobile‑only internet households: A higher share of homes rely on cellular service as their primary or only internet connection, reflecting sparse fixed‑broadband options on ranch lands and the Fort Belknap Indian Community.
• Coverage is more 4G‑centric and corridor‑based: Reliable service clusters along US‑2 (the Hi‑Line) and town centers; 5G is far less prevalent than in Montana’s larger cities.
• Higher reliance on prepaid and assistance programs: Prepaid plans and Tribal Lifeline participation are more common than statewide averages; the 2024 lapse of the federal ACP benefit likely had an outsized impact locally.
• Stronger role of Verizon and FirstNet (AT&T) than T‑Mobile: Network reach favors Verizon and AT&T’s FirstNet for public safety; T‑Mobile coverage is mostly along the US‑2 corridor.
• Demographics shape usage: A large Native American population and a mix of older rural residents and younger reservation communities create a bimodal pattern—high youth smartphone use alongside lower adoption among elders.

User estimates

• Population base: About 7,000 residents (2020 Census). Adults ~5,000–5,300.
• Residents with a mobile line: 5,200–6,000 (roughly 75–85% of total population; includes teens with phones).
• Smartphone users: 4,600–5,400 (lower share than Montana’s urban counties, but close to U.S. rural norms).
• Mobile‑only internet households: 18–28% of households (vs roughly 12–15% statewide), driven by limited wired options outside towns and on the reservation.
• Plan mix: Prepaid estimated at 30–40% of lines (vs ~20–25% statewide). Family plans common among multi‑generational households; Tribal Lifeline reduces costs for eligible lines.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Native American residents (Fort Belknap Indian Community) represent a much larger share of the county than statewide. Mobile phones are a primary connectivity tool on and near the reservation due to fewer fixed options; hotspotting is common for homework and telehealth.
• Age: Near‑universal adoption among teens and young adults; noticeably lower among residents 65+, with voice/text‑centric use persisting for some elders.
• Income/affordability: Median incomes below the state average and higher poverty rates increase sensitivity to device costs and data caps. The end of ACP in 2024 likely led to plan downgrades or reduced data for some households; Tribal Lifeline remains important.
• Work patterns: Agriculture, ranching, and public sector/tribal employment mean heavy daytime use in fields and on backroads; signal boosters in vehicles and at homesteads are more common than in urban Montana.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Cellular footprint:
  • Stronger, more consistent service in Chinook and Harlem, at Fort Belknap Agency, and along US‑2; patchier coverage on secondary roads toward Hays and Lodge Pole and in the Bear Paw foothills.
  • 4G/LTE is the workhorse. 5G appears mainly as spot coverage in towns/along the highway; practical everyday speeds often mirror LTE.
  • Carriers: Verizon generally offers the broadest rural footprint; AT&T has solid coverage in towns and provides FirstNet for public safety; T‑Mobile is improving but remains corridor‑focused.
• Performance expectations (typical, not guaranteed): In‑town LTE often adequate for streaming and telehealth; speeds degrade quickly outside towns. Dead zones persist in coulees/valleys; winter storms and wildfire seasons can expose backhaul vulnerabilities.
• Backhaul and redundancy: Microwave backhaul remains significant outside the highway corridor; fiber is present along US‑2 and to key community anchors but thins quickly off‑corridor.
• Fixed broadband context: Triangle Communications and other rural providers serve parts of the county; gaps remain on spreads and in low‑density areas. This pushes higher reliance on mobile hotspots compared with the state average.
• Tribal spectrum and projects: The Fort Belknap Indian Community has participated in recent federal Tribal broadband programs and 2.5 GHz EBS licensing, supporting local fixed‑wireless/fiber builds that can offload some mobile demand around community anchors.
• Public access and offload: Schools, libraries, and tribal/government buildings act as critical Wi‑Fi offload points. Retail and service presence is thin in‑county; many residents travel to Havre/Malta for carrier stores and repairs.
• Border considerations: Northern parts of the county near the Canadian border can trigger cross‑border roaming on some plans—an issue encountered locally far more than statewide.

How Blaine County’s trends diverge from Montana overall

• Adoption is constrained more by coverage and affordability than by device availability.
• A larger share of households treat cellular as their primary home internet.
• 5G availability and average mobile speeds lag the state’s metro corridors.
• Prepaid, Lifeline, and multi‑household sharing arrangements are more prevalent.
• Network resilience is lower off the highway corridor; outages and dead zones affect day‑to‑day use more than in urban Montana.

Outlook (12–24 months)

• Gradual 5G/LTE capacity upgrades along US‑2 and in towns; limited near‑term expansion into low‑density areas without new subsidy.
• BEAD, Tribal Broadband Connectivity, and Middle‑Mile grants may reduce mobile‑only dependence around community anchors, but most ranch and backroad areas will continue to lean on cellular plus boosters.
• If no successor to ACP arrives, expect stickier prepaid growth, slower device upgrade cycles, and more conservative data usage than the state average.

Notes on methodology and uncertainty

• Estimates triangulate 2020 Census population, rural adoption patterns from Pew and ACS indicators, FCC mobile coverage maps, and known rural Montana carrier footprints. Exact counts of mobile lines by county are not published; figures above are ranges intended for planning. Adjust with the latest ACS S2801 (Devices/Internet) and FCC coverage data as they update.

Here’s a concise, practical snapshot for Blaine County, MT. Because there’s no direct county-level survey of social media usage, figures below are estimates that apply Pew Research Center’s most recent rural-U.S. adoption rates to Blaine County’s adult population.

Context and user base

• Population: ~7,000; adults: ~5,000 (2020 Census baseline; rounded).
• Estimated adults using at least one social platform: ~3,500–3,800 (roughly 7 in 10 adults, based on national/rural benchmarks).
• Access note: Household broadband is lower than U.S. average in many rural/tribal areas; usage skews mobile-first.

Most-used platforms (estimated adult adoption in Blaine County)

• YouTube: 80% of adults (4,000)
• Facebook: 65–70% (3,300–3,500), with heavy Groups/Marketplace/Messenger use
• Instagram: 35–40% (1,750–2,000)
• Pinterest: 28–32% (1,400–1,600)
• TikTok: 24–28% (1,200–1,400)
• Snapchat: 23–27% (1,150–1,350)
• WhatsApp: 18–22% (900–1,100)
• X (Twitter): 18–21% (900–1,050)
• Reddit: 15–18% (750–900)
• Nextdoor: 8–10% (400–500) Notes: Facebook and YouTube are the clear leaders; Instagram and TikTok are solid mid-tier; Pinterest is strong among women; Snapchat is concentrated among younger adults.

Age-group patterns (directional, based on rural U.S. usage)

• 18–29: Near-universal YouTube; Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok are majority platforms (roughly 60–80% each); Facebook is used but secondary.
• 30–49: Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram and TikTok are mid-tier (~40–50%).
• 50–64: Facebook is primary; YouTube widely used for how-to/news; Instagram/TikTok are lower (~20–30%).
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube are the mainstays; limited use of other platforms.

Gender breakdown (directional tendencies)

• Women: Higher on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (Pinterest often +20–25 points vs men), and slightly higher on TikTok.
• Men: Higher on YouTube, Reddit, and X (Twitter).
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger is common across genders; Snapchat messaging is concentrated among under-30s; WhatsApp used for family groups.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community-first Facebook: Local groups and pages (county, schools, sports, events, buy/sell, public safety) are central; Marketplace is heavily used.
• Tribal/government updates: Official pages (including Fort Belknap community and local agencies) are key for announcements, services, and emergency info.
• Short-form video growth: YouTube Shorts and TikTok see steady engagement for how-to, local life, ag/outdoor content, weather/road updates, and events.
• Private channels rising: Messenger, group chats, and Snapchat for day-to-day coordination; many conversations move off public feeds.
• Mobile and bandwidth-aware: Content is consumed on phones; captions and short videos perform better where connectivity is variable.
• Peak engagement: Mornings before work/school and evenings; weekend daytime for events and buy/sell.

Method and sources (high level)

• Population base: U.S. Census/ACS for Blaine County.
• Platform rates and age/gender patterns: Pew Research Center’s most recent U.S. social media use reports (with rural breakouts where available).
• Connectivity context: FCC/ACS indicators for rural broadband. All figures are rounded estimates; treat as directional, not exact counts.