Fall River County

Here are key demographics for Fall River County, South Dakota.

Population

• Total: 6,973 (2020 Decennial Census)
• Latest estimate: ~6,900 (ACS 2019–2023 5-year)

Age

• Median age: ~52
• Under 18: ~18%
• 18 to 64: ~54%
• 65 and over: ~28%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race/ethnicity (Hispanic can be of any race)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~79%
• American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic): ~12%
• Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~5%
• Two or more races (non-Hispanic): ~3–5%
• Black: ~1%
• Asian/Other: ~1%

Households

• Number of households: ~3,200–3,300
• Average household size: ~2.1
• Family households: ~58%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~70–75%

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

Fall River County, SD (≈7–8k residents) has an estimated 5.5k–6.5k email users, assuming ~80–90% of internet users maintain an email account and rural internet adoption rates.

Estimated age mix of email users

• 13–24: ~10–15%
• 25–44: ~24–28%
• 45–64: ~32–36%
• 65+: ~24–30% (County skews older, so mid/older adults comprise a larger share.)

Gender split

• Roughly even (about 49–51% each). Small nonbinary/unspecified share.

Digital access and usage trends

• Hot Springs and town centers have the strongest connectivity (cable/fiber available in many neighborhoods); outlying ranchlands rely on fixed wireless, DSL, or satellite.
• Smartphone-only internet users are common in rural blocks (roughly 15–25%), supporting frequent mobile email use.
• Public Wi‑Fi (library, schools, VA/health facilities) augments access for lower-income and senior users.
• Mobile coverage is best along US‑18/US‑385; canyons and sparsely populated prairie pockets see dead zones.
• Gradual upgrades: more fixed‑wireless and fiber buildouts; Starlink adoption in remote areas.

Local density/connectivity context

• Very low density (~4 people per sq. mile) over a large land area drives higher last‑mile costs and uneven speeds, reinforcing reliance on mobile and satellite for email access outside town.

Below is a concise, data-informed snapshot of mobile phone usage in Fall River County, South Dakota. Figures are estimates triangulated from county population and age structure (Census/ACS), national/rural adoption patterns (Pew Research), and FCC/NTIA coverage and broadband availability trends. Use locally collected data to refine.

Topline user estimates

• Population context: ~7,000–7,500 residents; skew older than South Dakota overall.
• Adults with any mobile phone: ~5,100–5,800 (about 88–92% of adults; rural rates slightly below national).
• Adult smartphone users: ~4,200–4,900 (roughly 72–80% of adults; below South Dakota statewide due to older age mix).
• Teen users (13–17): ~300–400 with a mobile phone, most on smartphones.
• Mobile-only internet users: 15–25% of adults rely primarily on a smartphone/data plan for home internet, likely above the statewide share outside urban counties.

Demographic breakdown (directional)

• Age:
  • 18–34: very high smartphone adoption (~90–95%); heavy app/social use; primary data consumers.
  • 35–54: high adoption (~85–90%); strongest multi-line family plan uptake.
  • 55–64: moderate adoption (~70–80%); more mixed smartphone/basic phone use.
  • 65+: lower adoption (~55–65% in rural contexts); more voice/text-centric usage and larger basic-phone segment.
• Income: Lower-income and fixed-income (retirees) show higher prepaid plan use and higher likelihood of smartphone-only internet.
• Veterans: Above-average veteran share (Hot Springs VA) correlates with strong telehealth/secure messaging use where connectivity allows, but also higher basic-phone retention among older vets.
• Race/ethnicity: County is majority White with a smaller Native American population than neighboring counties; digital access issues are more tied to age, income, and terrain than race in this county.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers: Verizon and AT&T tend to provide the most consistent rural coverage; T-Mobile improves along highways but remains spottier off-corridor than state metro areas.
• Technology mix:
  • 4G LTE is the reliability baseline countywide, strongest in/near Hot Springs, Edgemont, and along US-18/US-385.
  • Low-band 5G (coverage 5G) is present near population centers and highways; mid-band 5G (capacity 5G) is limited or absent, so speeds often resemble good LTE.
• Performance: Typical LTE/low-band 5G downlink ~5–30 Mbps outside towns, faster in-town; notable slowdowns and drops in canyons, state recreation areas, and low-density ranchland.
• Backhaul: Fiber-fed sites in/near Hot Springs; more microwave backhaul in outlying areas limits peak capacity and consistency.
• Public safety/FirstNet: AT&T FirstNet coverage aligns with highway corridors and towns; off-grid gaps persist in rugged terrain.

How Fall River County differs from South Dakota overall

• Lower smartphone penetration: The county’s older median age pulls smartphone adoption below the statewide rate, with a larger basic/feature-phone segment among 65+.
• More coverage variability: Terrain and low density create more dead zones and weaker indoor signal than in SD’s Front Range/Interstate corridors and larger towns.
• Less mid-band 5G: The county lags state urban areas on capacity 5G, so real-world speeds lean LTE-like even where phones show “5G.”
• Greater reliance on mobile for home internet: Due to patchier fixed broadband outside Hot Springs/Edgemont, mobile-only households are a bigger share than the state average.
• Plan mix: Higher prepaid and single-line usage; slower device upgrade cycles compared with Sioux Falls/Rapid City metros.
• Usage patterns: Heavier emphasis on voice/text and telehealth access among older residents; younger cohorts still mirror statewide app/social patterns but are a smaller share of the population.

Implications

• Improving mid-band 5G and fiber backhaul to rural towers would materially raise speeds and reliability.
• Signal-enhancement (home boosters, Wi‑Fi calling) and targeted coverage infill near canyons/recreation areas would address outsized dead zones.
• Digital literacy and subsidy outreach (ACP successor programs, Lifeline) aimed at seniors and fixed-income households could reduce the county’s mobile-only dependence and support telehealth.

Here’s a concise, county-level view based on state/national benchmarks adjusted for Fall River County’s rural/older profile and small-population realities. Treat figures as directional estimates.

Headline numbers

• Population baseline: ~7,000 residents (roughly ~5,500–5,800 adults 18+).
• Social media users (any platform, monthly): ~4,200–5,000 people
  • ~60–70% of total population
  • ~70–78% of adults

Age mix among users (share of local users, not residents)

• 13–17: 10–12% (heavy Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube)
• 18–24: 12–14%
• 25–34: 18–20%
• 35–44: 17–19%
• 45–54: 16–18%
• 55–64: 14–16%
• 65+: 12–14% (mostly Facebook, YouTube)

Gender among users

• Female: ~51–55%
• Male: ~45–49% Notes: Slight female tilt due to older age structure and higher Facebook/Pinterest use; margins ±3–5 points.

Most‑used platforms (monthly reach among local social media users; estimates)

• YouTube: 80% ±5
• Facebook: 75% ±5
• Facebook Messenger: 68% ±6
• Instagram: 40% ±7
• Snapchat: 30% ±7 overall; 70–85% among under‑25
• TikTok: 35% ±7 overall; 55–65% among under‑35
• Pinterest: 25% ±6 (skews female 25–64)
• LinkedIn: 15% ±5 (healthcare/public sector most active)
• X/Twitter: 12% ±5
• Reddit: 10% ±4
• WhatsApp: 10% ±4
• Nextdoor: <5%

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community hub: Groups and Marketplace dominate (buy/sell, yard sales, ranch/rural equipment, school athletics, local events, wildfire/road updates).
• Video habits: YouTube for DIY, equipment repair, hunting/fishing, local history; TikTok/FB Reels for short how‑tos and entertainment.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger and SMS are primary; WhatsApp minimal.
• Engagement style: More lurking than posting; spikes on local news, weather, lost/found pets, and photo‑heavy posts. Event posts and practical tips outperform generic brand content.
• Timing: Peaks around 6–8am, noon, and 7–10pm; weekend mornings; sharp surges during storms, fire season, and major road closures.
• Devices/connectivity: Mostly mobile; some bandwidth constraints—short videos and compressed uploads perform better than long livestreams.
• Trust signals: County/city pages, schools, first responders, and SDDOT updates are trusted; national political accounts draw low local engagement.
• Advertising takeaways: Use Facebook/Instagram for reach and precise geo around Hot Springs/Edgemont; emphasize giveaways, event promos, seasonal content (tourism, hunting, lake season), jobs in healthcare/trades, and short local‑faces video.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are synthesized from Pew/platform benchmarks and US/SD rural adoption patterns, tuned to Fall River County’s older age mix; expect wider error bars due to small population. For sharper local accuracy, validate with quick Facebook Group polls and platform ad‑tool audience estimates.