Butte County

Here are key demographics for Butte County, South Dakota (latest Census/ACS figures; rounded):

Population

• Total: 10,338 (2020 Census)
• Estimate: about 10.8k (2023 Population Estimates Program)

Age

• Under 18: ~25%
• 65 and over: ~21%
• Median age: ~41 years

Gender

• Female: ~49% (male ~51%)

Race/ethnicity (alone or in combination; Hispanic is an ethnicity)

• White, non-Hispanic: ~87%
• Hispanic/Latino: ~6%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~3%
• Two or more races: ~3–4%
• Black: <1%
• Asian: <1%

Households (ACS 5-year)

• Number of households: ~4.3k
• Persons per household: ~2.4
• Family households: ~63% (nonfamily ~37%)

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

Summary for Butte County, South Dakota

• Estimated email users: roughly 7,800–8,800 residents (about 75–85% of the ~10.5k population), based on near‑universal adult email use and substantial teen adoption.
• Age distribution of email users (approx. share of users):
  • 13–17: 8–10%
  • 18–34: 25–30%
  • 35–64: 45–50%
  • 65+: 15–20% (use is lower where home internet is limited)
• Gender split: approximately even, mirroring the county’s population.
• Digital access trends:
  • About 80–85% of households likely have a home internet subscription; 5–10% have none. Smartphone‑only access is common (roughly 10–15% of households).
  • Fixed wireless and DSL/cable/fiber serve Belle Fourche and other towns; ranch and far‑rural areas frequently rely on satellite and cellular.
  • Public access via libraries/schools and community Wi‑Fi helps bridge gaps.
• Local density/connectivity facts:
  • Low population density (~4–5 people per square mile across ~2,200+ sq mi) raises last‑mile costs and slows fiber build‑out.
  • Best wireline options cluster in Belle Fourche, Newell, and along US‑85/US‑212 corridors; coverage thins in outlying areas.

Notes: Figures are estimates derived from census population, state/rural internet adoption patterns, and national email usage rates.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Butte County, South Dakota

Big picture

• Compared with South Dakota overall, Butte County is older, more rural, and more dispersed. That translates to slightly lower smartphone penetration, more reliance on voice/SMS and hotspotting, patchier 5G away from towns and highways, and higher uptake of fixed wireless or satellite as a complement to mobile service.

User estimates (order‑of‑magnitude, based on ACS-style population, rural adoption research, and carrier footprint patterns)

• Population base: roughly 11,000 residents; about 75–78% are adults.
• Adult mobile phone ownership (any cellphone): 96–98% of adults, or about 8.0–8.3k users.
• Adult smartphone users: 80–86% of adults, or about 6.7–7.3k users. That’s a few points lower than statewide averages.
• Mobile-only internet households (use mobile data/hotspot as primary home internet): estimated 15–20% in the county vs roughly low‑teens statewide.
• Prepaid share: likely higher than the state average (roughly mid‑20s percent of lines vs low‑20s statewide), reflecting cost control and variable coverage by carrier.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns (how Butte County differs from SD overall)

• Age: The county skews older. Among 65+ residents, smartphone adoption is likely in the 60–68% range (several points lower than statewide seniors). More basic/feature phone and flip‑smartphone usage persists for durability and battery life.
• Income and occupation: Lower median income and a sizable ranching/ag workforce are associated with:
  • Greater reliance on durable devices, cases, and vehicle boosters.
  • Higher use of voice/SMS and PTT-style workflows; lighter use of high‑bandwidth apps outside town centers.
• Household structure: More multi‑line family plans with at least one line used as a hotspot where fixed broadband is weak; above‑average use of external antennas/boosters.
• Youth: Teen smartphone use resembles statewide levels in town, but drops in very rural tracts where coverage and family plans restrict data; Wi‑Fi reliance at school/library is higher than average.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes (county specifics)

• Macro coverage
  • 4G LTE: Generally solid in and around Belle Fourche and along US‑85 and primary state routes; notable dead zones remain in low valleys and far‑ranch areas.
  • 5G: Low‑band 5G from national carriers typically covers Belle Fourche and highway corridors. Mid‑band 5G (for higher speeds) is concentrated near the county seat and select sites; it fades quickly off‑corridor compared with metro SD.
  • Border effects: Northern and western fringes near Montana/Wyoming see weaker signal and occasional roaming behavior; residents often keep Wi‑Fi calling enabled.
• Carriers
  • Verizon and AT&T tend to provide the most consistent rural footprint; T‑Mobile coverage has improved with low‑band spectrum but still shows more gaps off highways than in eastern SD metros.
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) presence along key routes supports public safety; consumer benefit varies with device support.
• Home and community connectivity
  • Fixed wireless ISPs serve many ranch areas; performance varies with terrain and line‑of‑sight. Where available, 5G Home Internet (T‑Mobile/Verizon) is mostly limited to Belle Fourche and nearby subdivisions.
  • Fiber and cable are present in town, but rural fiber is still spotty; county rural addresses lean more on WISPs and satellite (notably Starlink) than the state average.
  • Public Wi‑Fi and anchor institutions (libraries, schools, county buildings) play an outsized role for homework and telehealth compared with urban SD.
• Capacity and seasonality
  • Traffic spikes occur on US‑85 during regional events and summer travel toward the Black Hills/Devils Tower corridor; temporary congestion is more noticeable than in larger SD markets.

Key trends that differ from the state level

• Lower smartphone penetration and app‑centric usage, driven by older age structure and patchier mid‑band 5G.
• Higher reliance on mobile hotspotting, fixed wireless, and satellite to fill home‑internet gaps; more households that are mobile‑only for broadband.
• More prepaid and MVNO use in outlying areas, often tied to price and signal experimentation.
• Greater dependence on voice/SMS, Wi‑Fi calling, and signal boosters due to terrain and tower spacing.
• 5G availability skews to low‑band coverage; mid‑band performance zones are fewer and smaller than in Sioux Falls/Rapid City corridors.

Notes and uncertainty

• Figures above are synthesized estimates from recent national adoption studies, rural usage patterns, and typical carrier footprints for northwestern SD. Neighborhood‑level conditions vary widely with terrain and distance to towers. For planning or investment decisions, validate with current FCC mobile coverage maps, South Dakota Office of Broadband project lists, and on‑the‑ground drive testing.

Butte County, SD social media snapshot (est. 2025)

Quick take

• Small, older-leaning rural county; Facebook and YouTube dominate. Younger users lean into Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok; local information flows heavily through Facebook Groups and Messenger.

Estimated user base

• Population: roughly 10.5–11.0k residents (U.S. Census estimates).
• Adults (18+): ~5.8k–6.4k use at least one social platform (assumes ~70–75% of adults use social media).
• Teens (13–17): ~1.9k–2.3k users (teen social adoption is ~90%+ nationally).
• Total social users: about 7.5k–8.5k residents. Notes: These are modeled from Census population and national adoption rates (Pew Research Center), adjusted slightly for a rural, older age profile.

Age groups (usage profile)

• Teens (13–17): Near-universal use; heavy on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube; Instagram secondary; Facebook mainly for school/parent group info.
• 18–29: Very high use; Instagram, TikTok, YouTube lead; Snapchat for messaging; Facebook used for events/Marketplace.
• 30–49: Broad use; Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram growing; TikTok used for entertainment/how‑tos.
• 50–64: Facebook first, YouTube second; light Instagram/Pinterest; limited TikTok.
• 65+: Primarily Facebook (Groups, local news, Marketplace); YouTube for tutorials and faith content.

Gender breakdown (directional)

• Women: More active in Facebook Groups/Marketplace; higher Pinterest use; Instagram engagement strong under 45.
• Men: Heavier YouTube use (DIY, equipment, sports), more likely to use Reddit/X; Facebook still common across genders.

Most‑used platforms (local ranking; national adult usage in parentheses for reference)

1. Facebook (≈68–70% of U.S. adults): Likely the top platform locally; near‑universal among 30+; key for Groups, events, buy/sell.
2. YouTube (≈80–83%): Broad across ages; tutorials, ag/ranching, repairs, church services.
3. Instagram (≈45–50%): Strong with 18–39; local businesses and events.
4. Snapchat (≈25–30% of adults; very high among teens): Primary teen messaging.
5. TikTok (≈30–35% of adults; higher under 30): Fast growth; short ag, rodeo, DIY content.
6. Pinterest (≈30–35%): Home, crafts, recipes; more female.
7. X/Twitter (≈20–25%): Niche; news, sports, weather.
8. LinkedIn (≈25–30%): Small base; job search/professional networking.
9. Reddit (≈20–25%): Niche; hobby/problem‑solving.
10. WhatsApp (≈20–25%): Limited local use; more for family with out‑of‑area ties. Note: Percentages are national adoption levels; local rank reflects rural/older skew elevating Facebook and YouTube.

Behavioral trends in Butte County–type communities

• Facebook Groups as the “public square”: school updates, road/weather alerts, lost & found, community events, 4‑H/FFA, church and civic groups.
• Marketplace is a core utility: farm/ranch equipment, vehicles, furniture, hay/livestock listings.
• Local news via pages/groups over formal outlets; high trust in familiar local admins.
• YouTube for self‑reliance: repairs, machinery, fencing, home/auto, hunting/fishing.
• Messaging patterns: Facebook Messenger for families; Snapchat for teens/college‑age; SMS remains strong with older adults.
• Peak activity windows: early morning (before work/school), lunch, and evenings; spikes around storms, road closures, and event seasons.
• Content style: Practical, hyper‑local, visual; event photos, livestock/landscapes, rodeo/ranch life perform well; authenticity over polish.
• Ad response: Best for tangible local value (events, services, inventory). Geo‑targeting around Belle Fourche and highway corridors improves results.

Data notes

• County‑level social media metrics aren’t directly published; figures above are estimates using U.S. Census demographics and Pew Research Center’s national platform adoption. Rural/older profile adjustments raise Facebook/YouTube importance and temper newer‑platform penetration among 45+.