Duchesne County

Key demographics – Duchesne County, Utah

• Population size:

  • 19,596 (2020 Decennial Census)

• Age (ACS 2018–2022 5‑year):

  • Median age: ~31
  • Under 18: ~32%
  • 65 and over: ~12%

• Gender (ACS 2018–2022):

  • Male: ~52%
  • Female: ~48%

• Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2018–2022; Hispanic is any race):

  • White, non-Hispanic: ~77%
  • Hispanic/Latino: ~11%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~9%
  • Two or more races: ~4%
  • Black: ~0.3%
  • Asian: ~0.4%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.2%

• Household data (ACS 2018–2022):

  • Total households: ~6,300
  • Average household size: ~3.3
  • Family households: ~74%
  • Housing tenure: ~79% owner-occupied, ~21% renter-occupied

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

Summary for Duchesne County, UT (estimates based on Pew/ACS/FCC trends applied to local demographics)

• Estimated email users: 13,500–15,000 residents (≈65–75% of total population; ≈85–92% of adults).
• Age pattern (share using email):
  • 13–17: ~80–90%
  • 18–29: ~95–99%
  • 30–49: ~95%
  • 50–64: ~88–92%
  • 65+: ~70–80%
• Gender split: Roughly even. The county has a slight male tilt overall, but email usage rates by gender are similar.
• Digital access and trends:
  • Broadband subscription: ~70–80% of households; adoption lags urban Utah but is rising.
  • Access mix: Fiber present and expanding in larger towns (e.g., Roosevelt/Duchesne/Ballard); fixed wireless and legacy DSL common in outlying areas; some satellite use.
  • Mobile reliance: ~10–20% of adults are smartphone‑only. Public/library Wi‑Fi is a notable access point.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Sparse Uinta Basin county (~3,250 sq mi) with ~6–7 people per square mile; residents cluster along the US‑40 corridor.
  • Connectivity is strongest in town centers and along highways; speeds and reliability drop in remote tracts, where last‑mile costs and terrain create coverage gaps.

Mobile phone usage in Duchesne County, Utah — 2025 snapshot

Quick user estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 20–21k residents (2020 Census ~19.6k; modest growth since).
• Unique mobile phone users: estimated 17k–18.5k individuals (about 82–90% of total population), reflecting a younger-than-national but more rural-than-state profile.
• Total active cellular lines: ~23k–26k (about 110–125% of population), driven by work-issued lines in energy, agriculture, and public safety, plus secondary devices.
• Smartphone adoption:
  • Adults (18–64): ~88–92%
  • Teens (13–17): ~90–95%
  • Seniors (65+): ~65–75% (flip/feature phones remain common)
• Plan mix: postpaid dominant but with a comparatively high prepaid share (estimated 25–30% of users), reflecting price sensitivity and coverage-testing behavior.

How Duchesne differs from Utah overall

• Coverage and network mix
  • More LTE/low-band 5G reliance; mid-band 5G capacity is limited to towns and the US‑40 corridor. Utah’s urban counties see far broader mid-band 5G.
  • Notable dead zones in the Uinta Mountains, Tavaputs Plateau, and canyons; residents more likely to use signal boosters and satellite messengers than urban Utahns.
• Device and platform mix
  • Slight tilt toward Android vs iOS compared with the state average, driven by price, ruggedized devices for field work, and better band support in budget/midrange handsets.
  • Higher incidence of rugged phones and push-to-talk/MCPTT-capable devices used by oil & gas, utilities, and public safety.
• Access and affordability
  • Higher share of smartphone-only households in outlying areas (roughly 20–25% vs lower rates along the Wasatch Front), despite strong fiber in towns.
  • End of ACP subsidies in 2024 has a larger impact locally; more users have shifted to prepaid or throttled/FWA plans than in metro Utah.
• Usage patterns
  • Daytime network load spikes align with energy-sector worksites and US‑40 travel rather than office cores; evening congestion is modest outside town centers.
  • Greater reliance on Wi‑Fi calling at home/ranches and in fringe coverage areas.

Demographic breakdown (implications for mobile use)

• Age: Slightly older than Utah’s state median; seniors more likely to retain feature phones and larger-font Androids. Youth smartphone use is high but depends more on Wi‑Fi in remote homes.
• Income/occupation: Household income trails the state average and cycles with energy markets; this correlates with higher prepaid uptake, BYOD for work, and slower flagship upgrade cycles.
• Tribal communities: Portions of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation fall within the county; connectivity gaps and affordability constraints are more pronounced than the state average, increasing dependence on community Wi‑Fi, public facilities, and shared devices.
• Education/skills: Lower bachelor’s attainment than the state; digital skills support from schools, libraries, and the local co‑op influences safe and effective smartphone use.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Carriers and coverage
  • Verizon and AT&T generally provide the most consistent highway/town coverage; T‑Mobile coverage has improved along US‑40 but remains spottier off-corridor.
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) presence along key routes and public safety sites; useful for emergency and planned events.
  • 5G: Low-band widely present in towns; mid-band capacity sites are limited, so real-world speeds often resemble strong LTE.
• Local fiber and fixed access
  • Strata Networks (headquartered in Roosevelt) is the anchor provider; extensive fiber-to-the-home/business in Roosevelt, Duchesne, Myton, and nearby communities, plus fixed wireless for outlying areas.
  • T‑Mobile Home Internet and limited Verizon 5G FWA are available in/near towns; coverage drops quickly beyond the corridor.
  • Satellite (notably Starlink) adoption is visible on ranches and remote properties, complementing mobile service and enabling Wi‑Fi calling.
• Public connectivity and resilience
  • Libraries, schools, and municipal buildings act as Wi‑Fi anchors; residents in fringe zones commonly rely on these for large downloads/updates.
  • Energy, forestry, and search-and-rescue operations still use land mobile radio; smartphones are a complement, not a replacement, in remote operations.
  • Residents and fleets frequently use vehicle-mounted boosters (e.g., multi-band repeaters) for canyon and lease-road coverage.

What this means for planning and programs

• Improve mid-band 5G and infill LTE along secondary roads and work sites; capacity upgrades in Roosevelt/Duchesne yield outsized benefits vs statewide averages.
• Support smartphone-only households with public Wi‑Fi and digital skills training, especially where wired options are absent.
• Partner with Strata, tribal entities, schools, and emergency services to extend last-mile reach and backup power/links for critical sites.
• Encourage device choices with broad band support and Wi‑Fi calling; promote boosters and satellite messaging for backcountry safety.

Notes on methodology

• Figures above are estimates derived from population data, rural adoption patterns, carrier buildouts typical of the Uinta Basin, and observed differences between rural and urban Utah. Local provider reports (e.g., Strata), carrier coverage maps, and county planning documents can refine these estimates.

Duchesne County, UT — Social media snapshot (est. 2025)

How many users

• Estimated active social media users (age 13+): 13,000–16,000
  • Basis: county population ≈ 20–21k; 13+ share ≈ 85%; social-media adoption among U.S. rural residents ~70–80%.

Most‑used platforms (share of residents 13+ using monthly; estimates)

• YouTube: 70–80%
• Facebook: 60–70% (Marketplace and Groups are core)
• Facebook Messenger: 55–65%
• Instagram: 35–45%
• TikTok: 25–35% overall; 60–75% of ages 13–24
• Snapchat: 25–35% overall; 70–85% of teens
• Pinterest: 20–30% (strong among women 25–54)
• LinkedIn: 12–18%
• X (Twitter): 12–18%
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: under 10% (limited footprint in low‑density areas)

Age mix of local social media users (share of total users; estimates)

• 13–17: 12%
• 18–24: 13%
• 25–34: 20%
• 35–44: 19%
• 45–54: 15%
• 55–64: 12%
• 65+: 9%

Gender breakdown (users; estimates)

• Female: 51–53%
• Male: 47–49%
• Note: Nonbinary users exist but are not well captured in most large surveys; platform mixes (Facebook/Instagram skew slightly female; Reddit/LinkedIn skew male) drive the slight female majority overall.

Behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the town square: heavy use of local Groups, school/rec updates, events, emergencies/weather, and especially Marketplace for buy/sell/trade.
• Video first: Short‑form (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) outperforms static posts. Popular themes include local events, how‑to/DIY, outdoor/hunting/fishing, auto/ATV, farm/ranch, and small‑business promos.
• Messaging is contact-of-choice: Many residents DM via Messenger or Snapchat to ask prices, availability, and book services.
• Time-of-day patterns: Highest engagement typically early morning (6–8 a.m.) and evenings (7–10 p.m.); Marketplace spikes on weekends.
• Teens/young adults: Snapchat and TikTok for daily socializing; YouTube for entertainment/learning; Instagram for highlights and DMs.
• Adults 35+: Facebook + YouTube dominate; Instagram adoption moderate; TikTok consumption growing but posting remains limited.
• Trust leans local: Word‑of‑mouth in Groups, friend shares, and community recommendations influence decisions more than polished ads.

Notes on method

• Figures are estimates tailored from: Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 platform usage benchmarks (with rural adjustments), U.S. Census/ACS age structure for rural Utah counties, and typical rural engagement patterns. Precise county‑level platform usage is not directly published; ranges reflect best-available benchmarks applied to Duchesne County’s size and rural profile. If you can share page/group insights or ad account reach, we can calibrate these ranges more tightly.