Cheyenne County

Key demographics: Cheyenne County, Nebraska

Population size

• 9,365 (2023 estimate)
• 9,468 (2020 Census)

Age

• Under 5: ~5–6%
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~19–20%
• Median age: ~41 years

Gender

• Female: ~50%

Race and ethnicity (ACS, shares may overlap with Hispanic)

• White alone: ~90–91%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1%
• Asian alone: ~0.5–1%
• Two or more races: ~5–6%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~10–12%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~83–85%

Households (ACS 5-year)

• Households: ~4,100–4,200
• Persons per household (avg): ~2.3
• Family households: ~60–62% of households
• Married-couple families: ~48–50% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~25–30%
• Single-person households: ~28–32%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey (5-year); Population Estimates Program (2023).

Cheyenne County, NE snapshot (estimates; based on 2023 pop ≈9.4k, rural internet and email adoption from Pew/ACS-like trends):

• Estimated email users: 5.5–6.0k adults (≈60–65% of total population). Method: adults (78% of residents) × rural internet use (85%) × email use among internet users (92%).
• Age pattern of email use:
  • 18–29: ~98–99% of internet users use email (near-universal).
  • 30–49: ~96–98%.
  • 50–64: ~90–95%.
  • 65+: ~75–85% (lower due to gaps in home broadband and device adoption).
• Gender split: Roughly even; men and women use email at similar rates, so users are near 50/50.
• Digital access trends:
  • Home broadband adoption is growing in town centers (e.g., Sidney); more reliance on fixed wireless and satellite in outlying ranching areas.
  • Smartphone-only internet use remains notable in rural populations (roughly low-teens percent), which supports email access but can limit heavy attachments/workflows.
  • Telehealth, school portals, and employer systems are key drivers of routine email use.
• Local connectivity context: Very low density (~8 people per sq. mile across ~1,200 sq. miles) and long last-mile distances shape infrastructure; connectivity tends to be strongest in and near Sidney and along major corridors, with sparser service in remote areas.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Cheyenne County, Nebraska (modeled 2024 estimates)

At-a-glance

• Population baseline: ~9,100–9,400 residents; ~7,000–7,300 adults (18+). Predominantly rural with population centered in Sidney and smaller towns (Potter, Lodgepole).
• Overall mobile adoption: 85–90% of residents use a mobile phone; 80–87% of adult residents use a smartphone.
• Network environment: LTE remains the primary coverage layer outside towns and the I‑80/US‑385 corridors; low‑band 5G present in and near Sidney and along I‑80; mid‑band 5G coverage is limited compared with Nebraska’s metros.

User estimates

• Unique mobile phone users: ~7,700–8,400 people (phones per capita ~0.82–0.90).
• Smartphone users: ~6,000–6,400 adults; total smartphones in use (including teens) ~6,500–7,200.
• Basic/feature phones: ~900–1,300 users, skewing older and in the most rural areas.
• Prepaid/MVNO share of phone lines: ~22–28% (higher than state average).
• Average monthly mobile data per smartphone: modestly lower than state average, reflecting LTE reliance and heavier Wi‑Fi offload at home/work.
• Upgrade cycle: slower than state average (more users on 3–4+ year device cycles).

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Age: County skews older (65+ share ~20–22% vs ~16% statewide). Senior smartphone adoption is lower than state average, raising the share of basic phones and text/voice‑centric plans.
• Income: Median household income modestly below state median. This correlates with:
  • Higher Android share (~62–68% vs ~55–60% statewide).
  • Greater prepaid/MVNO usage and value‑tier devices.
• Household tech setup:
  • In Sidney, many households have cable/fiber/DSL and offload mobile data to Wi‑Fi.
  • In outlying areas, some households rely on mobile or fixed wireless for primary internet, which raises data usage for those users but overall county averages remain below state levels.
• Language/ethnicity: Predominantly non‑Hispanic White, with a noticeable Hispanic minority; bilingual plans and family bundles are common in some households.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Radio access
  • Carriers with native coverage: Verizon and AT&T are the most consistent countywide; T‑Mobile coverage is solid in town and along I‑80 but thins north of the corridor. UScellular/other regional carriers may be available primarily via roaming.
  • 5G: Low‑band 5G on major corridors and in Sidney; mid‑band 5G (for higher capacity/speeds) is limited compared with Nebraska’s urban counties; mmWave is effectively absent.
  • LTE remains the workhorse in rural sections; handset fallback to LTE is common.
• Sites and density
  • Macro sites likely in the mid‑teens across ~1,200 square miles, concentrated near I‑80/US‑385 and population centers; sparse grid in northern/ranchland areas results in dead zones and edge‑of‑cell performance.
  • Small cells are rare; you’ll see carrier add‑ons on existing vertical assets (e.g., towers, grain elevators, water tanks) more than new dense builds.
• Backhaul and transport
  • Multiple long‑haul fiber routes run along I‑80/rail corridors (e.g., national backbones), with regional fiber providers (e.g., Great Plains Communications and local incumbents) supporting enterprise, public sector, and some tower backhaul.
  • Microwave backhaul still appears on a subset of rural sites.
• Public safety and roaming
  • AT&T FirstNet Band 14 present along major corridors; E9‑1‑1/WEA standard.
  • Interstate traffic and weather events can create transient capacity strain near Sidney/I‑80 interchanges.

How Cheyenne County differs from Nebraska overall

• Coverage mix: More LTE‑heavy usage and less mid‑band 5G access than urban Nebraska, so median mobile speeds are lower and less consistent outside towns.
• Carrier share: Verizon’s share is higher than statewide; T‑Mobile’s is lower. AT&T holds steady due to I‑80/FirstNet footprint.
• Devices and plans: Higher Android and prepaid/MVNO penetration; more budget devices; longer replacement cycles.
• Usage behavior: Greater reliance on voice/SMS in fringe areas; heavier Wi‑Fi offload where wireline exists; countywide average mobile data use per phone is below the state average despite pockets of heavy use where mobile/fixed wireless is primary internet.
• Demographics: Older age profile depresses smartphone penetration relative to the state, and lifts the share of basic phones.

Notes on methodology and confidence

• Estimates triangulate 2020–2023 Census/ACS population and age mix, rural smartphone adoption research, carrier public coverage footprints, and typical rural tower spacing/backhaul patterns in the High Plains.
• Figures are presented as ranges to reflect uncertainty and recent network changes.

Below is a concise, county-tailored snapshot. Because social media is rarely measured at the county level, figures are modeled from Cheyenne County’s rural/demographic profile using Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 platform adoption by age/community type and recent ACS/Census population structure. Treat percentages as reasonable estimates for planning, not audited counts.

Population and user stats (adult focus)

• Population base: roughly 9.3–9.6k residents; about 7.1–7.4k adults.
• Adults using at least one social platform: 78–82% (~5.6–6.0k adults).

Most-used platforms among adults (share of all adults)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 65–70%
• Instagram: 30–35%
• Pinterest: 30–35% (skews female)
• TikTok: 25–30%
• Snapchat: 20–25%
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• LinkedIn: 15–20%
• Reddit: 12–15% Note: Nextdoor presence is limited in low-density areas; usage is likely small.

Age-group patterns (directional, with local rural tilt)

• Teens (13–17): Near-universal YouTube; heavy Snapchat and TikTok; Instagram strong; Facebook relatively low. Mostly creators/peer DM; Stories/shorts > feeds.
• 18–29: YouTube ~90%+; Instagram and Snapchat strong; TikTok widely used; Facebook moderate for events and Marketplace. High daily use and short-form video.
• 30–49: YouTube high; Facebook strongest “utility” platform (groups, school/sports, buy/sell); Instagram moderate; TikTok rising; Pinterest notable, especially among parents.
• 50–64: Facebook is primary; YouTube strong for how‑to/news; Instagram modest; TikTok/Pinterest mixed. More information-seeking and local updates than posting.
• 65+: Facebook first; YouTube for tutorials, church/services, and local content; lighter on Instagram/TikTok. More lurking than posting.

Gender tendencies

• Women: Higher Facebook and Pinterest; strong engagement with local Groups (schools, churches, events) and Marketplace; Reels/shorts consumption growing.
• Men: Higher YouTube, Reddit, and X; heavy on sports, ag/DIY, hunting, equipment reviews; more browsing than posting; Marketplace for vehicles/equipment.

Local behavioral trends to know

• Facebook as community hub: Groups and Marketplace drive most “action” (school sports, county fair, church events, buy/sell, lost & found, weather/road updates).
• Video-first consumption: YouTube how‑to and local sports; short-form (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) is the growth area; many TikToks cross-posted to Facebook/Instagram.
• News and weather: Facebook Pages/Groups and select X accounts (state news, storm spotters) during severe weather and road closures.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are the default DMs for coordination.
• Timing: Evenings (7–10 pm) and weekend peaks; early AM bumps during planting/harvest.
• Device: Predominantly mobile; vertical video and simple, local creatives perform best.
• Content that works: Local faces, school/FFA/4-H highlights, utility info (closures, outages), giveaways from local businesses, and practical tips.

Sources and method

• Demographic base from recent ACS/Census for Cheyenne County.
• Platform adoption and age/community adjustments from Pew Research Center social media reports (2023–2024), with rural weighting applied to a county-level population.