Meagher County

Meagher County, Montana — key demographics

Population size

• 1,927 residents (2020 Decennial Census)

Age (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median age: ~52 years
• Under 18: ~17%
• 18–64: ~54%
• 65 and over: ~29%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Male: ~52%
• Female: ~48%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• White alone: ~95%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~2%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: each <1%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~3–4%

Households (ACS 2019–2023)

• Total households: ~930
• Average household size: ~2.06
• Family households: ~58% of households
• Married-couple households: ~48%
• Households with children under 18: ~20%
• Single-person households: ~36% (with ~16% age 65+ living alone)
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~77%

Insights

• Small, sparsely populated county with an older age profile (median age ~52; nearly 3 in 10 residents are 65+).
• Population is predominantly non-Hispanic White, with small American Indian and multiracial populations.
• Household sizes are small and nonfamily/single-person households are common.

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

Email usage snapshot — Meagher County, Montana

• Population and density: 1,927 residents (2020 Census) spread over ~2,392 sq mi; ~0.8 people per sq mi (very low-density, high-cost last mile).
• Estimated adult email users: ≈1,330 residents use email regularly (ages 18+).
• Age distribution of users: 18–34 ≈24% (320); 35–64 ≈52% (690); 65+ ≈24% (~320). Usage remains high among working-age adults and solid among seniors.
• Gender split among users: Male ~52%, Female ~48%, mirroring the county’s slightly male-skewed population.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Household internet subscription is estimated at ~72–75%; fixed broadband is most available in and around White Sulphur Springs, with many outlying homes relying on cellular-only or satellite. Unconnected households are likely ~7–10%.
  • Smartphone-based email is common; mobile-only home internet is ~12–15%.
  • Availability of ≥100/20 Mbps service has expanded since 2020 but remains discontinuous in remote rangeland and mountain valleys.
• Connectivity context: The US‑12/US‑89 corridor and town centers have the strongest coverage; terrain and vast distances depress network density, making public Wi‑Fi (library, schools, businesses) an important supplement for residents and travelers.

Meagher County, Montana: Mobile phone usage snapshot (2025)

Population baseline

• Residents: ~1,960 (2023 estimate), ~900–950 households; low density, mountainous terrain centered on White Sulphur Springs

User estimates (modeled from Census age mix, rural adoption patterns, and recent national/rural tech adoption studies)

• Residents with a mobile phone (any type): 1,650–1,800 (84–92% of residents)
• Adult smartphone users: 1,550–1,650 (roughly 78–84% of adults, below Montana’s statewide pattern near the low-to-mid 80s)
• Active mobile lines (phones + hotspots/IoT): 2,050–2,250 (105–115 lines per 100 residents), lower than Montana’s statewide ratio (~120–130 per 100)
• Wireless‑only (no landline) households: 500–620 (55–65% of households), under the statewide share (~70%+)
• Typical monthly mobile data use per smartphone: 12–15 GB (statewide closer to 17–22 GB), reflecting heavier Wi‑Fi offload and coverage‑driven restraint

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age:
  • 18–34: ~18% of residents; smartphone ownership ~92–96% (≈330–340 users)
  • 35–64: ~54% of residents; smartphone ownership ~85–90% (≈900–960 users)
  • 65+: ~28% of residents; smartphone ownership ~60–70% (≈330–385 users)
  • Net effect: the county’s older age profile pulls overall smartphone penetration a few points below the state average
• Income and plan mix:
  • Higher share of prepaid and budget MVNO lines than statewide (≈30–35% of consumer lines vs ~22–25% statewide), driven by cost sensitivity and lighter device upgrade cycles
  • The 2024 sunset of the federal ACP benefit likely reduced data plan tiers among a small but meaningful number of low‑income households, reinforcing Wi‑Fi reliance
• Work patterns:
  • Agriculture, forestry, and outdoor tourism create strong reliance on voice/SMS, push‑to‑talk, and Wi‑Fi calling; a noticeable minority of ranch/farm and field users keep dual‑carrier setups for redundancy
• Seasonality:
  • Traffic spikes during hunting season and Smith River recreation periods produce localized congestion on corridor sites; off‑season demand is comparatively light

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Coverage distribution:
  • 4G LTE is dependable in and near White Sulphur Springs and along US‑12/US‑89 corridors
  • Significant dead zones persist in canyons and mountainous areas (e.g., Smith River corridor and Belt mountain terrain)
• 5G availability and performance:
  • Low‑band 5G is intermittent and largely overlaps LTE performance; mid‑band 5G is limited or absent
  • This lags Montana’s statewide 5G build, which concentrates mid‑band along larger towns and interstate corridors
• Carriers:
  • Verizon and AT&T provide the most continuous rural coverage; T‑Mobile service is present but more fragmented outside town centers
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) supports public safety along main corridors, improving priority access but not fully resolving terrain‑related gaps
• Backhaul and site density:
  • Macro sites are widely spaced, with microwave backhaul still common off the main fiber routes; small‑cell and DAS deployments are minimal
  • Wireline broadband is strongest in town; many households and businesses rely on Wi‑Fi (fiber/DSL/fixed wireless) to offset limited mobile capacity
• Speeds (typical, not peak):
  • Town centers/corridors: ~5–25 Mbps down on LTE/low‑band 5G
  • Outlying valleys/canyons: sub‑5 Mbps to no service
  • Statewide urban/suburban benchmarks are markedly higher (often 50–150+ Mbps where mid‑band 5G is deployed)

How Meagher County differs from statewide trends

• Lower overall smartphone penetration due to an older age profile and more conservative upgrade cycles
• Fewer lines per capita and a higher reliance on prepaid/MVNO plans
• Greater dependence on voice/SMS and Wi‑Fi calling; lower average mobile data consumption
• 5G is less available and provides fewer speed gains versus LTE; mid‑band deployments trail the state’s larger-population corridors
• More pronounced seasonal load swings and a higher rate of dual‑carrier behavior among field workers to manage coverage gaps

Method notes

• Population and household baselines are drawn from recent Census estimates; adoption rates reflect rural United States and Montana patterns from major national surveys through 2023–2024, adjusted for Meagher County’s older age mix and terrain constraints. Ranges are used where carrier- and county‑specific microdata are not publicly enumerated.

Social media usage in Meagher County, Montana (modeled 2024 snapshot)

At-a-glance

• Population: 1,927 (2020 Census).
• Estimated social media users (13+): 1,100–1,250.
• Adult social media users (18+): ~1,000–1,150 (about 65–72% of adults).
• Method basis: 2020 Census demographics for Meagher County combined with Pew Research Center 2023–2024 platform adoption rates and rural/age adjustments. Small-county figures are modeled and rounded.

Most-used platforms (share of residents 13+ who use each; users overlap across platforms)

• YouTube: 50–60%
• Facebook: 45–55%
• Instagram: 15–22%
• TikTok: 12–18%
• Snapchat: 10–15% (notably higher among teens)
• Pinterest: 15–20% (skews female, 30+)
• X (Twitter): 7–12%
• LinkedIn: 8–12%
• WhatsApp: 8–12%
• Reddit: 6–10%

User composition

• By age (share of local social media users)
  • 13–17: 7–9%
  • 18–29: 15–18%
  • 30–49: 26–30%
  • 50–64: 26–30%
  • 65+: 18–22%
• By gender (share of local social media users)
  • Female: 50–54%
  • Male: 46–50%
  • Notes: Women over-index on Facebook Groups and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube and Reddit. Overall usage is near parity.

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community backbone: high engagement with local groups (county updates, school sports, obituaries, buy/sell, events). Events discovery and word-of-mouth amplification are strongest here.
• YouTube usage is utility-driven: how-to/DIY, ranch and ag equipment repair, hunting/fishing, weather, and road reports. Longer watch times and strong search-driven discovery.
• Visual platforms for place-branding: Instagram is used by local businesses and tourism operators for scenery, outdoors, and seasonality; Reels outperform static posts.
• Youth channels: Snapchat is the default messaging/social for high schoolers; TikTok is popular under 30 for humor, rodeo/outdoors, and regional tags; cross-posted short-form video performs well.
• Messaging dominance: Facebook Messenger is the primary private channel for adults; WhatsApp adoption exists but remains niche.
• News and civic info: Limited X/Twitter footprint; official updates and breaking news reach more people via Facebook Groups and shares.
• Timing and devices: Mobile-first consumption; evening and weekend peaks; weather events and local sports drive sharp but brief spikes.
• Advertising implications: Hyperlocal geo-targeting works (zip 59645 and immediately adjacent tracts). Facebook/Instagram deliver best reach; YouTube pre-roll is efficient for awareness. LinkedIn and X have limited inventory; expect higher CPMs and narrow reach.
• Content best practices: People-centric posts, local faces, and community tie-ins outperform brand-first content; short-form video with captions and clear hooks drives the highest completion rates.

Notes on confidence

• Figures are localized estimates derived from decennial Census counts and Pew’s latest social platform adoption and rural/age splits; Meagher County’s older age profile modestly depresses Instagram/TikTok and lifts Facebook usage versus national averages. In a small county, small absolute changes can shift percentages perceptibly.