Gallatin County

Key demographics – Gallatin County, Montana (U.S. Census Bureau; primarily 2023 ACS 1-year; figures rounded)

Population

• Total population: ~126,000 (2023 estimate; 118,960 in 2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~33–34 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–24: ~15%
• 25–44: ~32%
• 45–64: ~22%
• 65 and over: ~12%

Sex

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (mutually exclusive; Hispanic can be any race)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~87–88%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5–6%
• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: ~3–4%
• Asian, non-Hispanic: ~2%
• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: ~1%
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: ~0.5–1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: ~0.1%

Households

• Total households: ~51,000
• Average household size: ~2.4 persons
• Family households: ~53% of households
• With children under 18: ~25% of households

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey (1-year) and 2020 Decennial Census.

Here’s a pragmatic snapshot for Gallatin County, MT (Bozeman/Belgrade/Big Sky area):

• Estimated email users: 95,000–110,000 residents. Assumes ~85–90% internet adoption and near‑universal email among connected adults in a county of ~125–135k.
• Age distribution of email users (approx.):
  • 18–34: 40% (MSU students and young professionals)
  • 35–54: 30%
  • 55–64: 14%
  • 65+: 11%
  • 13–17: 5%
• Gender split: ~50/50 (±2%), minimal difference in email adoption by gender.
• Digital access trends:
  • Above-average broadband adoption for Montana; most households report a computer and a broadband subscription.
  • Rapid fiber expansion (Yellowstone Fiber/open‑access) across Bozeman and into nearby communities; cable broadband widely available; fixed wireless and 5G present; satellite (e.g., Starlink) serves rural pockets.
  • Strong remote‑work presence and tech/startup ecosystem drive heavy daily email use.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Bozeman urban core and MSU campus area have dense, multi‑provider coverage and growing gigabit availability.
  • Outlying areas (e.g., Gallatin Gateway, parts of Big Sky and rural valleys) see more variable speeds and higher reliance on fixed wireless/satellite.

Notes: Figures are estimates based on U.S. adoption patterns applied to local population and known infrastructure build‑outs.

Below is a concise, decision-ready picture of mobile phone usage in Gallatin County, Montana, with emphasis on how it differs from statewide patterns. Figures are estimates triangulated from recent ACS “Computer and Internet Use” indicators, statewide adoption studies, carrier coverage disclosures, and local market characteristics; use them as directional ranges rather than single-point measurements.

High-level takeaways (how Gallatin differs from Montana overall)

• Higher smartphone and cellular–data adoption driven by a younger, more educated, higher-income population centered on Bozeman/MSU.
• Earlier and broader 5G uptake in population centers (Bozeman–Belgrade–Big Sky) versus many Montana counties that remain LTE-first.
• Heavier per-user data consumption (remote work, student population, streaming) and more multi-line/postpaid plans; lower dependence on landlines.
• More small-cell/DAS and campus/event capacity investments; persistent rural gaps remain in canyons and mountainous areas.

User estimates

• Population base: ~125,000–130,000 residents (fastest-growing county in MT).
• Smartphone users: ~110,000–120,000 people (roughly 88–92% adoption). This is several points higher than the Montana average, which tends to sit in the mid-80s.
• Households with a cellular data plan: ~80–85% of households in Gallatin vs ~70–75% statewide. Urban/suburban clusters and student housing raise the county’s share.
• 5G-capable device users: likely a majority in Bozeman/Belgrade (well over half of active lines), materially above the statewide share, with lower 5G device penetration in rural parts of the county.
• Plan mix: Skews toward postpaid family and bundled plans (university families, young professionals); prepaid is present but a smaller share than the state average.

Demographic patterns shaping usage (vs state)

• Age: Larger 18–34 cohort (students/early-career workers) than MT overall. This group has near-universal smartphone ownership and heavy app-based usage (ride-hail, delivery, campus apps).
• Education and income: Higher bachelor’s+ attainment and above-average household income support newer devices, unlimited data plans, and multiple lines per household.
• In-migration/remote work: Tech and professional services inflows increase eSIM adoption, hotspot/tether use, and work-collaboration apps; this is less pronounced across many rural MT counties.
• Seasonal dynamics: Tourist and seasonal-worker surges (Big Sky, Yellowstone gateway) create peak loads atypical for most of the state.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Macro coverage: Strong along I‑90 (Bozeman–Belgrade–Manhattan–Three Forks) and US‑191 to Big Sky; weaker or spotty in mountainous terrain (Gallatin Canyon), outer ranchlands, and forested valleys.
• 5G deployment: All three national carriers operate 5G in Bozeman/Belgrade; mid-band 5G is present in core urban areas with expanding footprints toward Big Sky. This yields better median speeds than many Montana counties that rely predominantly on LTE.
• Small cells and DAS: Higher density in downtown Bozeman, around Montana State University, and key venues; targeted upgrades in ski/resort areas to handle seasonal peaks.
• Backhaul/fiber: Multiple fiber routes and providers support dense mobile sites (e.g., municipal/open-access fiber in Bozeman, regional/national carriers, and local ISPs serving Big Sky). Fiber availability and competitive backhaul are stronger than the state average, enabling higher-capacity mobile networks.
• Public Wi‑Fi and offload: Extensive on campus, in city facilities, the airport (BZN), and hospitality corridors; offloads some indoor traffic compared to rural MT locales.
• Public safety: FirstNet coverage is established along primary corridors; topography still challenges incident communications in canyons, prompting use of deployables during events/fires.

Behavioral and market trends distinct from state-level

• Higher data use per line: More video, conferencing, and tethering among students and remote workers.
• Faster device refresh cycles: Newer 5G handsets, greater eSIM usage, and multi-device plans (watches/tablets) than the MT average.
• App-centric mobility: Ride-hail, micromobility, and delivery apps are routine in Bozeman; these services are sparse or absent in many Montana counties.
• Enterprise and campus integration: Stronger BYOD policies and managed mobility for MSU and local employers; more campus-specific apps and private Wi‑Fi networks easing cellular loads indoors.
• Persistent rural gaps: Despite better-than-average county coverage, mountainous terrain creates more dead zones than population statistics alone would suggest—an issue shared with much of MT but more concentrated here in recreation corridors with high seasonal demand.

Key implications

• Network planners: Continue mid-band 5G densification and small cells in Bozeman/Belgrade; bolster capacity and redundancy along US‑191 to Big Sky and in tourist hotspots during peak seasons.
• Public sector and anchors: Leverage open-access fiber and campus partnerships for neutral-host DAS/small cells; target canyon corridors for coverage/safety improvements.
• Consumer markets: Emphasize unlimited plans, 5G device promos, and multi-line bundles; MVNOs with strong T‑Mobile/Verizon host networks perform best in town, but check native-carrier coverage for rural commutes.

Here’s a concise, data-informed snapshot of social media use in Gallatin County, MT. Numbers are modeled by applying Pew Research’s 2023 U.S. platform/age adoption to Gallatin’s young-skewing age mix (ACS), then adjusted for Montana State University’s presence. Treat figures as best-available estimates, not official counts.

At-a-glance user stats

• Population: ~125k; age 13+: ~105k
• Any social media use (13+): ~80–90% → roughly 84–94k people
• Broadband/smartphone access is relatively high for Montana; adoption trends closer to U.S. averages due to MSU/Bozeman tech workforce

Age groups (approx. share of total population and dominant platforms)

• 13–17 (~7%): Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube; Instagram strong; Facebook mainly for Marketplace/groups
• 18–24 (~16%): Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; YouTube; Facebook for housing/groups/Marketplace; heavy DMs
• 25–34 (~18%): Instagram + YouTube core; Facebook for events/Marketplace; TikTok for local recs; LinkedIn for jobs
• 35–54 (~25%): Facebook + YouTube dominant; Instagram growing; Pinterest for home/outdoors; some Nextdoor
• 55+ (~18%): Facebook primary, YouTube secondary; Pinterest; modest TikTok growth

Gender breakdown (overall usage roughly even; platform skews reflect national patterns)

• Facebook: near parity, slight female skew (~52–54% female)
• Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat: female-skew (~55–60% female)
• Pinterest: heavily female (~70–75% female)
• YouTube: slight male skew (~55% male)
• Reddit/X (Twitter): male-skew (Reddit ~65–70% male; X ~60–65% male) Local mix (MSU + outdoor workforce) means higher male share on YouTube/Reddit/X than national average, and strong female presence on Instagram/Pinterest.

Most-used platforms in Gallatin County (estimated % of 13+ who use each)

• YouTube: ~82–88%
• Facebook: ~62–70%
• Instagram: ~48–56%
• TikTok: ~36–44%
• Snapchat: ~34–42%
• Pinterest: ~26–34%
• LinkedIn: ~22–30%
• X (Twitter): ~18–24%
• Reddit: ~16–22%
• Nextdoor: ~8–12% of residents (or ~10–15% of households), concentrated in Bozeman/Belgrade neighborhoods

Behavioral trends to know

• Marketplace and groups rule on Facebook: student housing/sublets, gear swaps, buy/sell/trade, jobs; spikes at semester move-in/move-out
• Short-form video drives discovery: Reels/TikTok outperform static posts for 18–34; heavy use of Stories and DMs for customer contact
• Outdoor-first content performs: skiing/boarding (Bridger/Big Sky), mountain biking, fly fishing, trail and avalanche conditions; weather/road/wildfire updates see high shares
• Event discovery and RSVPs: Facebook Events and Instagram Stories for local happenings (MSU athletics, Music on Main, Sweet Pea, Big Sky events)
• Hashtags/geotags matter: #Bozeman, #BigSky, #GallatinValley, #BridgerBowl; strong UGC tagging for restaurants, taprooms, coffee, guides
• Seasonality: engagement lifts Aug–Oct (students return), Nov–Mar (ski season), Jun–Aug (tourism); recruitment ads peak before winter/summer seasons
• Professional networking: LinkedIn usage above typical Montana averages due to MSU grads, tech/engineering firms, startups
• Neighborhood chatter: Nextdoor in newer subdivisions; lost pets, HOA, safety; Reddit (r/Bozeman, r/montana) for Q&A and local takes

Method note

• Estimates combine Gallatin County age structure (ACS) with Pew’s 2023 U.S. platform-by-age adoption; adjusted upward for the county’s unusually large 18–34 population (MSU) and relatively strong connectivity.