Dewey County

Here are current, high-level demographics for Dewey County, South Dakota. Figures are rounded; source is U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2019–2023 5-year estimates unless noted.

Population

• Total population: ~5,300

Age

• Median age: ~29
• Under 18: ~33%
• 18 to 64: ~55%
• 65 and over: ~12%

Sex

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and Hispanic/Latino origin

• American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) alone: ~74%
• White alone: ~22%
• Black or African American alone: <1%
• Asian alone: <1%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~4%

Households and housing

• Number of households: ~1,600
• Average household size: ~3.2
• Family households: ~75–80% of households
• Married-couple families: ~45% of households
• Owner-occupied housing: ~60–65%
• Renter-occupied housing: ~35–40%

If you need exact point estimates and margins of error or a different source (e.g., 2020 Census), tell me your preference.

Dewey County, SD (largely on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation) has sparse population and connectivity.

Estimated email users

• ≈3,100 residents use email at least monthly (range 2,700–3,500), based on ~5.3–5.6K population, 66–70% adults, and lower‑than‑state internet adoption.

Age distribution of email users (approx.)

• 13–17: 6–8%
• 18–34: 32–36%
• 35–49: 26–30%
• 50–64: 18–22%
• 65+: 10–14%

Gender split

• Roughly even (≈50% female / 50% male), mirroring national email use.

Digital access trends

• Household broadband subscription below South Dakota average; higher reliance on smartphone‑only access.
• Fiber and 4G/5G coverage are expanding through tribal and federal broadband initiatives, but service gaps persist outside towns.
• Public Wi‑Fi (schools, libraries, government offices) remains important for access.

Local density/connectivity facts

• Very low population density (~2–3 people per square mile across >2,300 sq mi) raises per‑mile infrastructure costs and limits wired coverage.
• Served locally by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority and regional carriers; connectivity strongest near community hubs, more limited in remote areas.

Figures are estimates synthesized from rural/tribal adoption patterns applied to Dewey County’s size and demographics.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Dewey County, South Dakota (focus on what differs from statewide patterns)

User estimates

• Population and households: Roughly 5,300–5,700 residents and about 1,700–1,900 households (ACS 2019–2023 5-year).
• Active mobile users: About 3,700–4,200 residents use a mobile phone regularly. Smartphone users are about 3,200–3,700.
• Cellular-data–reliant homes: Approximately 600–900 households rely primarily on a cellular data plan for home internet (via phone tethering or hotspots). This reliance is substantially higher than the statewide norm.

How Dewey County differs from South Dakota overall

• Greater mobile dependence for home internet:
  • A much larger share of households rely on cellular data as their main or only home connection, while cable/DSL/fiber adoption is markedly lower than the state average.
  • Households without any home internet are meaningfully more common than in South Dakota overall.
• Network capacity and coverage:
  • Coverage is dominated by 4G LTE with patchy 5G (largely low-band) clustered around towns and highways; off-highway gaps are more frequent than the state average.
  • Lower tower density and more microwave backhaul lead to congestion and variable speeds compared with urban and many rural parts of the state.
• Affordability and plan mix:
  • Higher use of prepaid plans, Lifeline (and previously ACP) and shared devices, reflecting lower median income than the state. This makes Dewey County more price-sensitive and more likely to use smartphones and hotspots instead of paying for separate wireline service.
• Carrier diversity:
  • Fewer competitive options than in South Dakota’s metros; most residents depend on one or two national carriers with workable coverage. This contrasts with broader carrier choice and denser 5G builds in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and regional hubs.

Demographic breakdown that shapes mobile usage

• Age:
  • A larger share of youth than the state average increases teen smartphone use and household device counts.
  • A smaller share of seniors than the state average slightly reduces the portion of very-low-adoption users; however, seniors who are present are more likely to use basic plans or shared family devices.
• Race/ethnicity:
  • Dewey County is predominantly American Indian/Alaska Native (much higher than the statewide share). Research and local surveys consistently show higher “mobile-only” internet reliance in tribal communities due to limited wireline availability and affordability; this helps explain the above-average dependence on smartphones and hotspots.
• Household structure and income:
  • More multigenerational and larger households than the state average mean more device sharing and hotspot use.
  • Lower median income correlates with fewer wireline subscriptions and greater prepaid adoption.

Digital infrastructure notes

• Access technologies:
  • 4G LTE is the workhorse; 5G service exists but is mainly low-band with limited capacity. Mid-band 5G coverage and performance trail state urban areas.
  • Wireline broadband options (cable/DSL/fiber) are sparse outside town centers; many homes fall back to fixed wireless or mobile hotspots.
• Backhaul and capacity:
  • Backhaul is a mix of fiber on main corridors and microwave elsewhere; this contributes to peak-hour slowdowns relative to state averages.
• Local and tribal providers:
  • The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone Authority and regional fiber/backbone cooperatives serve as key fixed-network anchors. Residents still lean on mobile networks where last-mile wireline is unavailable.
• Public safety and anchors:
  • FirstNet buildouts have improved coverage for emergency services and near public facilities, but residential coverage farther from highways remains less consistent than state averages.

Method and data notes

• Figures are based on ACS 2019–2023 5-year indicators for computer/internet and county demographics, combined with national smartphone adoption benchmarks to derive user ranges. Exact “cellular-only” shares are inferred from subscription patterns and local infrastructure conditions; they should be treated as estimates.
• Mobile coverage and capacity evolve quickly; on-the-ground performance can vary within short distances due to terrain and tower placement.

Dewey County, SD — social media snapshot (estimates for 2025)

Topline user stats

• Population baseline: roughly 5,200–5,500 residents; mobile-first usage is common; connectivity varies by area.
• Internet access: about 70–78% of households have broadband or smartphone data service (smartphone-only plans are common).
• Active social media users: approximately 3,300–3,900 residents (about 62–73% of total population). Adults are the majority of users; teens are highly active on specific apps.

Most‑used platforms (share of local internet users; directional estimates)

• YouTube: 75–80%
• Facebook: 70–75% (Messenger ~65–70%)
• Instagram: 35–40%
• TikTok: 30–35% overall; 60–70% among under‑30s
• Snapchat: 28–33% overall; 60–75% among teens/young adults
• Pinterest: 25–30% (skews female)
• X (Twitter): 10–15%
• Reddit: 10–12%
• LinkedIn: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: <5%

Age mix of active social users (share of local social users; estimates)

• Under 18: 15–18%
• 18–29: 28–32%
• 30–49: 30–34%
• 50–64: 18–22%
• 65+: 8–12%

Gender breakdown of active social users (estimates)

• Female: 52–55%
• Male: 45–48%
• Notes: Women over‑index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over‑index on YouTube and Reddit. Nonbinary users not well captured in available surveys.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: Local news, school sports, powwow and community events, weather/road updates, and buy–sell–trade groups drive much of the engagement. Posts from tribal government, schools, and trusted local figures get strong reach.
• Messaging‑first coordination: Facebook Messenger group chats are widely used; SMS remains important. WhatsApp usage is comparatively low.
• Short‑form video growth: TikTok and Instagram Reels consumption is high among under‑30s; creators often cross‑post to Facebook Reels for broader local reach.
• Mobile‑data realities: Evening peaks (about 7–11 p.m.); users favor short, vertical video and image posts that load quickly; offline downloads for longer YouTube content.
• Commerce patterns: Facebook Groups facilitate local sales (vehicles, livestock, crafts/beadwork); common payment methods are Cash App/Venmo or cash; porch pickup/regional shipping.
• What performs: Clear local faces/landmarks, community service info, giveaways/raffles, sports highlights, weather alerts, and event reminders. Multi‑language or culturally resonant content increases shares.
• Ad targeting tips: Prioritize Facebook/Instagram (feed, Stories/Reels); add YouTube in‑stream for awareness; use TikTok/Snapchat for <30. Geofence around Eagle Butte, Timber Lake, schools, clinics, and event venues. Keep creatives simple, vertical, and captioned.

Notes on methodology and confidence

• Dewey County lacks platform‑reported, county‑level metrics. Figures above are modeled from recent Pew Research Center data on U.S. and rural social media use, ACS/NTIA connectivity patterns, and observed rural/tribal community behaviors. Treat as directional ranges; verify with page/group insights or locally run polls when possible.