Dawson County

Do you want 2020 Decennial Census counts or the most recent ACS 5‑year estimates (2019–2023)? I can provide a concise breakdown (population, age/sex, race/ethnicity, households) for your preferred reference year.

• Snapshot: Dawson County, MT is sparsely populated (about 4 people per square mile; ~9K residents, centered on Glendive).
• Estimated email users: ~6,800–7,300 residents (roughly 75–80% of the population), applying national email adoption to the county’s age mix.
• Age distribution of email users (approx. share of users):
  • Teens (13–17): 10–12% (near-universal access via school/smartphone)
  • 18–29: 15–18% (very high usage)
  • 30–49: 30–32% (work/commerce heavy users)
  • 50–64: 22–25% (high usage)
  • 65+: 18–20% (slightly lower but majority use email)
• Gender split: Roughly even; expect about 51% male, 49% female among email users, tracking the county’s slightly male-leaning population.
• Digital access trends:
  • About three-quarters to four-fifths of households have a broadband subscription; mobile-only internet likely 10–15%.
  • Best fixed broadband in/near Glendive and the I‑94 corridor; outside town, fixed wireless and satellite fill gaps.
  • Fiber and upgraded cable/DSL buildouts are expanding in town; smartphone reliance is rising for email.
  • Public access via schools and the county library remains important for lower-income and remote residents.

Below is a concise, evidence‑informed snapshot of mobile phone usage in Dawson County, MT, with estimates, demographic context, and infrastructure notes. Figures are rounded ranges based on 2020 Census/ACS demographics, Pew Research national/rural mobile adoption, and FCC coverage patterns for eastern Montana; treat them as planning estimates rather than exact counts.

County context (why usage differs from MT overall)

• Small, older, more rural: Population ~9,000; older age profile than the state average and lower density than the I‑90/I‑15 corridor counties.
• Economy and geography: Agriculture/energy mix and broken terrain (coulees/badlands) around Glendive/Makoshika create spotty radio propagation outside the I‑94/Yellowstone River corridor.
• Infrastructure mix: Strong local co‑op fixed broadband presence and highway‑centric mobile buildouts shape how people use mobile vs. Wi‑Fi.

User estimates (adults, phones, plan types)

• Adults with any mobile phone: ~6,300–6,700 (roughly 92–97% of adults), slightly below MT statewide at the low end because of an older population share.
• Smartphone users: ~5,500–6,000 adults (about 80–88% of adults), a few points below statewide averages, mainly due to higher 65+ share.
• Basic/feature phone users: ~700–1,000 adults, concentrated among residents 65+ and some field workers preferring rugged/long‑battery devices.
• Wireless‑only households (no landline): ~60–68% (statewide likely a bit higher), reflecting persistence of legacy landlines in rural co‑op areas and among seniors.
• Primary carriers (qualitative share): Verizon strongest in and beyond Glendive; AT&T solid on I‑94 and in town; T‑Mobile competitive in town/highway but patchier off‑corridor. This skews more Verizon‑heavy than Montana’s urban counties.

Demographic breakdown (how ownership and usage vary)

• Age
  • 18–34: Smartphone ownership ~95%+, heavy app/social/video use; rely on unlimited or high‑cap plans.
  • 35–64: ~85–90% smartphone; mixed mobile/Wi‑Fi behavior, work messaging, navigation, and farm/field apps.
  • 65+: ~60–70% smartphone; higher share of flip/basic phones; heavier voice/SMS and telehealth via Wi‑Fi at home.
• Income/affordability
  • Budget plans and MVNOs (e.g., Verizon‑ or AT&T‑based) are common. End of the ACP subsidy in 2024 likely pushed some residents to smaller data buckets or Wi‑Fi‑first behavior.
• Workforce patterns
  • Agriculture/energy jobs drive use of rugged devices, signal boosters in trucks, and offline/low‑bandwidth tools. Seasonal/rotational work can cause short‑term spikes in prepaid lines.
• Household tech stack
  • More Wi‑Fi calling and home Wi‑Fi offload than in MT’s urban centers, thanks to local co‑op broadband and patchy off‑highway mobile coverage.

Digital infrastructure notes

• Coverage geometry
  • Best coverage: Glendive and the I‑94 corridor (LTE and low‑band 5G from Verizon/AT&T; T‑Mobile 5G typically along the interstate).
  • Weaker zones: North and south of the corridor in broken terrain; can require external antennas/boosters for reliable voice/data.
  • 5G flavor: Predominantly low‑band (coverage‑first) with limited mid‑band capacity; mmWave not expected.
• Backhaul and towers
  • Interstate fiber and town fiber support upgraded sites; off‑corridor sites often rely on microwave backhaul, which can constrain capacity during peaks.
• Fixed broadband interplay
  • Mid‑Rivers and similar providers offer fiber in town and fixed wireless/DSL in rural areas, encouraging Wi‑Fi‑first mobile usage at home and in shops.
  • Starlink use is visible on ranches and far outside town; residents often pair it with Wi‑Fi calling to overcome weak indoor cellular.
• Public safety
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage along I‑94 and in Glendive is a reliability anchor; volunteer EMS and ranch operations frequently use boosters and radios where cellular is marginal.

How Dawson County trends differ from Montana statewide

• Carrier mix: More Verizon‑centric than the statewide average; T‑Mobile comparatively weaker off‑corridor.
• Device mix: Higher share of basic/flip phones due to older population; smartphone penetration a few points lower.
• Usage pattern: More voice/SMS and Wi‑Fi‑offloaded data; lower on‑the‑go video streaming outside the highway/town footprint.
• Reliability tactics: Greater reliance on vehicle/home boosters and Wi‑Fi calling compared with urban Montana counties.
• Affordability impacts: ACP wind‑down likely had a larger relative effect on plan sizes and upgrade cycles than in higher‑income urban counties.

Estimation method at a glance

• Base population and age structure: 2020 Census/ACS for Dawson County.
• Ownership rates: Pew Research (2019–2024) national and rural splits, adjusted downward modestly for older age mix.
• Wireless‑only rates: CDC NHIS national trend, adjusted slightly lower for rural seniors/landline persistence.
• Coverage/infrastructure: FCC mobile maps and carrier public coverage narratives for eastern MT; local co‑op broadband footprint informs Wi‑Fi offload assumptions.

Here’s a concise, planning-ready snapshot. Where exact county data aren’t published, figures are best-available estimates modeled from Pew Research (2023–2024), rural usage patterns, and Dawson County’s age mix (U.S. Census/ACS).

Headline numbers

• Population: ~8,800; adults (18+): ~6,700–7,000
• Social media users: 5,000–5,600 adults (≈70–80% of adults), plus ~500–600 teens (13–17)

Age and gender

• Adoption by age (adults):
  • 18–29: ~85–90%
  • 30–49: ~80–85%
  • 50–64: ~70–75%
  • 65+: ~50–60%
• Share of the user base (all users): roughly 18–22% ages 18–29; 24–28% ages 30–44; 26–30% ages 45–64; 18–22% ages 65+; teens ~10–12%
• Gender among users: ~51–53% female, ~47–49% male (women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; men on YouTube, Reddit, X)

Most-used platforms (adult reach, estimated % of adults using)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–68% (Messenger usage is similarly widespread)
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 22–30%
• Snapchat: 22–30% (concentrated in teens/20s)
• Pinterest: 25–32% (skews female)
• X (Twitter): 10–15%
• Reddit: 10–14%
• LinkedIn: 8–12%
• Nextdoor: <5% (limited footprint in rural MT)

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook = digital town square: heavy use of local groups (buy/sell/trade, events, school sports, county fair, obituaries, road conditions, wildfire/weather updates). Boosted posts to Glendive + 20–30 miles perform well.
• Video habits: YouTube for how‑tos, ag/ranch repairs, outdoor/hunting, local sports; short, captioned clips perform best due to variable bandwidth; vertical video growth on Facebook/Instagram Reels and TikTok.
• Messaging-first: Many residents contact businesses via Facebook Messenger over email; quick replies drive conversions.
• Peak times: Evenings (6–10 pm) and weekend afternoons; spikes around storms, closures, high school sports, hunting season, and county events.
• Younger users: Snapchat and TikTok dominate daily socializing; Instagram for local food spots and fitness; cross-posting to Reels improves reach.
• Trust cues: Real faces, local landmarks, and word-of-mouth (comments/shares) matter more than polished creative. Community service and sponsorships get outsized engagement.
• Commerce: Facebook Marketplace and local groups drive resale and service leads; simple offers (promos, hours, menus, appointment links) outperform complex funnels.
• News and alerts: Local news orgs, schools, and agencies rely on Facebook posts/live; X used narrowly for sports, weather, and highway updates.

Note on method: County-level platform stats aren’t directly published. Figures above are modeled from Pew Research’s U.S./rural adoption rates and Dawson County’s demographics (Census/ACS).