Mineral County

Key demographics — Mineral County, Montana

Population

• Total population: 4,697 (2023 estimate); 4,535 (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: 51.9 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18 years: 18.1%
• 65 years and over: 27.2%

Gender

• Female: 48.6%
• Male: 51.4%

Race and Hispanic origin (percent of population)

• White alone: 92.8%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 2.9%
• Black or African American alone: 0.3%
• Asian alone: 0.3%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.1%
• Two or more races: 3.5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 3.6%

Households

• Number of households: 2,091 (ACS 2019–2023)
• Average household size: 2.14
• Family households: 59% of households
• Married-couple households: 48% of households
• Average family size: 2.66

Insights

• Small, slowly growing county since 2020.
• Older age profile with over one-quarter 65+, median age above 50.
• Predominantly White, with small but present American Indian population and multiracial residents.
• Household size is small; family households are the majority but nonfamily households remain substantial.

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

• Scope: Mineral County, Montana (pop. ≈4,600; 1,220 sq mi), very low density (3.7 residents/sq mi), with connectivity concentrated along the I‑90 corridor (Superior, St. Regis, Alberton) and sparser service in outlying valleys.

• Estimated email users: ≈3,200 residents age 13+ use email regularly (roughly 70% of total population, reflecting rural internet adoption).

• Age distribution of email users (share of users): 13–17: ~8%; 18–29: ~16%; 30–49: ~33%; 50–64: ~24%; 65+: ~19%. Older cohorts participate heavily but at slightly lower rates than younger adults.

• Gender split among users: approximately mirrors the population (~51% male, ~49% female), with negligible usage gap.

• Digital access and trends:

  • About three‑quarters of households have a broadband subscription and roughly nine in ten have a computer (ACS 2018–2022 5‑year estimates for the county), supporting widespread email access.
  • Adoption is rising as fiber and cable expand along I‑90; fixed wireless and satellite remain important outside town centers.
  • Smartphone reliance is notable in households without wired service, sustaining email use despite patchy fixed broadband.

• Connectivity insight: Most addresses near highways and town centers achieve stable broadband; terrain and distance reduce speeds and reliability in remote areas, moderating email engagement among seniors and lower‑income households.

Mineral County, Montana — mobile phone usage snapshot (2025)

Key user estimates (countywide)

• Population baseline used: ~4,700 residents; ~3,900 adults (18+)
• Any mobile phone users (all ages): ~4,015 people, about 86% of residents; adult adoption ~92%
• Smartphone users (all ages): ~3,425 people, about 73% of residents; adult smartphone adoption ~78% (roughly 6–8 percentage points below the statewide pattern)
• Smartphone‑only home internet households (mobile data as primary/only subscription): ~24% of households (≈490 of ~2,050 households), higher than Montana overall

Demographic breakdown of mobile use (estimates derived from county age structure and national rural adoption by age)

• Children 0–12 (470): ~25% have a mobile phone (118); 20% have a smartphone (94)
• Teens 13–17 (329): ~95% have a mobile phone (313); 92% have a smartphone (303)
• Adults 18–29 (517): ~98% mobile (507); 95% smartphone (491)
• Adults 30–49 (987): ~97% mobile (957); 90% smartphone (888)
• Adults 50–64 (1,175): ~92% mobile (1,081); 80% smartphone (940)
• Adults 65+ (1,222): ~85% mobile (1,039); 58% smartphone (709) What stands out: the county’s older age profile pushes smartphone adoption down and basic/flip‑phone use up compared with Montana overall. The 65+ segment contains the bulk of non‑smartphone users (~500 residents).

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Coverage pattern: Reliable LTE/low‑band 5G along the I‑90 corridor (Alberton–Superior–St. Regis). Coverage thins quickly in forested side valleys, canyons, and remote recreation areas; dead zones remain common away from the highway and population centers.
• 5G specifics: Low‑band 5G is present on major corridors for all three national carriers; mid‑band 5G capacity is spotty and mainly near the corridor towns; no mmWave deployments. Practical speeds vary widely with backhaul and terrain.
• Carriers:
  • Verizon: generally the broadest rural footprint and most consistent highway coverage; often the only indoor signal in fringe areas.
  • AT&T/FirstNet: solid on I‑90 and in towns; more drop‑offs off‑corridor than Verizon but improving with ongoing rural buildouts.
  • T‑Mobile: meaningful 600 MHz and mid‑band upgrades along I‑90 since 2021, with strong performance where mid‑band is live; coverage recedes fastest in canyons and side valleys.
• Backhaul: A mix of fiber along the interstate and microwave elsewhere limits peak capacity off‑corridor; site congestion is noticeable during seasonal traffic surges.
• User adaptation: Above‑average reliance on Wi‑Fi calling, vehicle boosters, and multi‑SIM strategies (e.g., one Verizon line plus a secondary AT&T/T‑Mobile line) to maintain coverage across work and recreation areas.

How Mineral County differs from Montana overall

• Lower adult smartphone adoption: ~78% vs ~84–86% statewide; driven by a larger 65+ share and lower median income.
• More mobile‑only home internet: ~24% of households rely primarily on cellular data vs a lower statewide share; this substitutes for limited or costly wireline options on side roads and rural parcels.
• Greater carrier concentration: Higher dependence on a single carrier (Verizon) for deep‑rural reach; residents more often keep or add lines based on coverage rather than price/features.
• Slower 5G capacity rollout: Low‑band 5G is common, but mid‑band capacity is notably less prevalent than in Montana’s larger metros, keeping average mobile speeds and video quality below state norms outside the highway corridor.
• Device mix: Higher persistence of basic/flip phones among seniors; prepaid and MVNO plans see relatively stronger uptake for budget control in areas with limited competition.
• Usage profile: Heavier reliance on voice/SMS and navigation; streaming and hotspot use concentrate near towns and highway segments where capacity is adequate.

Method notes

• Estimates combine 2020–2024 county population levels and age structure with current rural U.S. mobile/smartphone ownership by age; figures are rounded to reflect practical planning values.

Social media usage in Mineral County, Montana (2025 snapshot)

Notes on sources/method: Direct, platform-published metrics at the county level are not publicly released. Figures below are the best-available estimates modeled from Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption (with rural adjustments) and observed patterns in rural Montana. Percentages refer to adults unless noted.

User stats

• Overall social media penetration: 70–78% of adults
• Primary device: Mobile-first; video watched largely on phones over LTE; desktop usage comparatively low
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and SMS dominate for one-to-one communications; Snapchat prevalent among teens

Age groups among local social media users (share of the local user base)

• 13–17: 8–12% (heavy Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram)
• 18–29: 12–17%
• 30–49: 28–34%
• 50–64: 25–30%
• 65+: 20–28% Mineral County skews older than the U.S. average, so 50+ users make up a comparatively large share of the local social audience.

Gender breakdown

• Overall user mix is near even; women are slightly more active on Facebook and Pinterest, men over-index on YouTube and Reddit
• Typical engagement skew: women generate a larger share of comments/shares in community groups and buy–sell posts; men generate more views on outdoor, tools, and automotive content

Most-used platforms (estimated % of adults who use each platform)

• YouTube: 78–83%
• Facebook: 65–72%
• Instagram: 30–40%
• TikTok: 25–33%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (notably strong with women 25–54)
• Snapchat: 20–25% (dominant among teens/younger 18–24)
• Reddit: 15–20%
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• WhatsApp: 12–18%
• LinkedIn: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: 5–10% (limited footprint in sparsely populated areas)

Behavioral trends and patterns

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups and Pages are the information backbone for road conditions, wildfire/air quality, school sports, lost-and-found, and local events
• Marketplace culture: High activity on Facebook Marketplace for vehicles, equipment, tools, outdoor gear, and housing; listings with multiple local photos and clear pickup details perform best
• Outdoors and DIY content: Strong interest in hunting, fishing, hiking, homesteading, small-engine repair, and home improvement tutorials (YouTube and Facebook lead)
• Short-form video growth: Under-45-second clips see the best completion and sharing on Facebook, Instagram Reels, and TikTok; practical tips and local faces outperform polished brand spots
• Local trust signals: Posts from known local businesses, county departments, first responders, and schools receive higher engagement and faster propagation
• Timing: Engagement peaks 6:30–8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., and 7:00–10:00 p.m.; weekend mid-days dip in summer due to outdoor activity; spikes during storms, wildfire season, and major road incidents
• Communication preference: “Message us” CTAs outperform “Visit website”; many users prefer Messenger for quotes, appointments, and inventory checks
• Seasonality:
  • Summer: tourism info, fire updates, river levels, trail conditions
  • Fall: hunting regulations, gear, local sports
  • Winter: road closures, plowing, heating, generators, indoor DIY

Practical implications

• Prioritize Facebook (Posts + Groups + Marketplace) and YouTube; add Instagram Reels/TikTok for reach under 40
• Use short local video, clear utility, and direct messaging CTAs
• Cross-post critical updates simultaneously to Facebook, YouTube (shorts), and Instagram; schedule around morning and evening peaks
• Lean into community partnerships (schools, EMS, county offices) to boost credibility and sharing