Piute County

Piute County, Utah — key demographics

Population size

• 1,438 residents (2020 Census)

Age

• Median age: ~41 years
• Under 18: ~26%
• 18–64: ~55%
• 65 and over: ~19%
• Insight: Older age profile than Utah overall (state median ~31), indicating a relatively older, rural population.

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Racial/ethnic composition (2020 Census)

• White alone: ~92%
• White, not Hispanic or Latino: ~89%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5–6%
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~2%
• Two or more races: ~4%
• Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: each ~0–0.1%
• Insight: Population is overwhelmingly non-Hispanic White with small Hispanic and Native American communities.

Household data

• Total households: ~580
• Average household size: ~2.5 persons
• Family households: ~68% of households
• Average family size: ~3.0
• Insight: Smaller households than the Utah average, consistent with an older, rural county profile.

Piute County, UT (population ~1,550 across ~760 sq mi; ≈2.0 residents/mi²) shows high but uneven email adoption typical of rural Utah.

Estimated email users: 1,050–1,100 adults (≈85–90% of adults), reflecting near‑universal email use among internet users.

Age distribution of email users (share of users):

• 18–29: ~17% (very high use)
• 30–49: ~34% (very high use)
• 50–64: ~24% (high use)
• 65+: ~25% (lower but rising use)

Gender split among users: ≈50% women, 50% men; email adoption is effectively equal by gender.

Digital access and trends:

• ~90% of households have a computer; ~80–85% maintain an internet subscription.
• Smartphone‑only internet households: ~20–25%, reflecting patchy wired options outside Junction, Circleville, Kingston, and Marysvale.
• Fixed broadband is concentrated in town centers; outlying areas rely on fixed wireless and satellite. Adoption continues to rise as fiber extensions and 5G expand, though terrain and low density keep last‑mile costs high and speeds/latency below statewide urban norms.

Local connectivity fact: Extremely low density and mountainous terrain drive infrastructure gaps, making Piute one of Utah’s most challenging counties for universal high‑speed access.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Piute County, Utah (with county-specific estimates)

Baseline and method

• Population baseline: 1,438 (2020 Census). Estimates below apply nationally observed ownership rates (Pew Research Center, 2023) to Piute County’s older age profile from recent Census/ACS distributions. Figures are rounded.

User estimates (residents, not just adults)

• Total mobile phone users (any mobile phone): ≈1,135 residents, about 79 per 100 residents.
• Total smartphone users: ≈1,029 residents, about 72 per 100 residents.
• Feature/basic phone users: ≈106 residents, roughly 9–10% of mobile users (notably higher than in Utah’s urban counties).
• Adult (18+) adoption:
  • Any mobile phone: ≈1,025 of ≈1,079 adults (about 95%).
  • Smartphone: ≈931 of ≈1,079 adults (about 86%).
• Teen (13–17) smartphone users: ≈82 of ≈86 teens (about 95%). Interpretation: Adult smartphone ownership in Piute County (≈86%) is lower than Utah’s statewide adult level (typically around 90–92%), primarily due to the county’s older age structure and rural coverage constraints.

Demographic breakdown driving the pattern

• Age skew: Piute County’s population is much older than Utah overall. A reasonable county mix (consistent with ACS profiles) is about 42–45% age 50+ versus ≈25% statewide. Smartphone ownership among seniors (≈76%) pulls down the countywide average relative to Utah’s very young statewide profile (median age ≈32).
• Device mix: Feature/flip phones account for roughly 9–10% of mobile users in Piute County versus an estimated 4–6% in Utah’s urban corridor. This is concentrated among residents 65+ and some outdoor/workforce users prioritizing durability and long battery life.
• Mobile-only households: Wireless-only (no landline) households are estimated around 60–65% in Piute County, below Utah’s statewide rate (≈75–80%). Landline retention is higher among older and remote households.
• Mobile as primary home internet: An estimated 10–15% of Piute households rely on mobile hotspots or phone tethering as their main home internet, higher than along the Wasatch Front (≈4–6%), reflecting limited fixed-broadband choices in parts of the county.

Digital infrastructure points (what’s on the ground)

• Coverage geometry:
  • 4G LTE is dependable along primary corridors (notably US‑89 and state routes through town centers) but breaks down quickly in canyons, on benches/mesas, and across sparsely populated valleys.
  • 5G is present mainly as low‑band coverage along highways and in/near towns (e.g., Marysvale, Circleville, Junction). Mid‑band 5G capacity comparable to the Wasatch Front is scarce, so 5G speed gains are modest and highly localized.
• Tower density and terrain: The county’s low population density and rugged terrain yield low macro‑cell density relative to Utah’s urban counties. Large coverage footprints depend on high‑elevation sites and microwave backhaul, which leaves many interior areas 4G‑only or uncovered.
• Carriers and public safety:
  • All three national carriers serve the corridor; coverage emphasis favors AT&T and Verizon in remote stretches, with T‑Mobile strongest near highways/towns. Off‑corridor coverage remains uneven for all operators.
  • FirstNet (Band 14, AT&T) covers primary routes; Utah’s NG911 and Text‑to‑911 are available, improving reach in areas with marginal voice service.
• Seasonal load: The Paiute ATV Trail and summer tourism create pronounced seasonal spikes in traffic around Marysvale and nearby trailheads, leading to occasional sector congestion despite low annual average demand.

How Piute County differs from Utah statewide

• Lower adult smartphone penetration: ≈86% in Piute vs ≈90–92% statewide, driven by older age mix and patchier 5G.
• Higher basic‑phone share: ≈9–10% of mobile users vs ≈4–6% statewide, reflecting seniors and outdoor/ag users.
• More mobile-as-primary-internet households: ≈10–15% vs ≈4–6% statewide, due to fixed‑broadband gaps.
• Less 5G capacity: Predominantly low‑band 5G in Piute vs extensive mid‑band densification along the Wasatch Front, yielding smaller speed gains in Piute and more frequent reversion to LTE.
• Lower wireless‑only household share: ≈60–65% vs ≈75–80% statewide, consistent with higher landline retention among older residents.
• Greater spatial variability: Service quality drops rapidly off the highway grid in Piute, while Utah’s urban areas enjoy contiguous multi‑carrier coverage with indoor penetration and small‑cell infill.

Key takeaways

• About 1,135 residents in Piute County use a mobile phone, of whom roughly 1,029 use smartphones; adult smartphone adoption is solid but lags Utah’s statewide level by several points.
• The county’s older population and rugged terrain shape usage: more basic phones, more reliance on LTE and Wi‑Fi calling, and higher reliance on mobile hotspots where fixed broadband is limited.
• Network improvements that matter most locally are mid‑band 5G infill on existing corridors, selective new macro sites to reduce off‑corridor dead zones, and resilient backhaul for seasonal load around recreation areas.

Piute County, UT social media snapshot (2025)

Population base used

• Residents: ~1,850
• Residents age 13+: ~1,550

User stats (age 13+)

• Active monthly social media users: ~1,240 (80% of 13+)
• Daily users: ~930 (60% of 13+)
• Gender among active users: 52% female, 48% male

Age groups (monthly penetration within each group; share of total users)

• 13–17: 95% penetration; 10% of users
• 18–29: 93%; 14% of users
• 30–49: 88%; 37% of users
• 50–64: 76%; 23% of users
• 65+: 58%; 16% of users

Most-used platforms (monthly reach among residents 13+)

• YouTube: 76%
• Facebook: 69%
• Instagram: 33%
• TikTok: 30%
• Pinterest: 27%
• Snapchat: 26%
• X (Twitter): 13%
• WhatsApp: 12%
• LinkedIn: 10%
• Reddit: 8%

Frequency profile (share of each platform’s users who are daily users)

• Facebook ~80%; Instagram ~70%; TikTok ~75%; Snapchat ~85%; YouTube ~60%

Behavioral trends

• Facebook is the community hub: school and county announcements, buy/sell (Marketplace), lost-and-found, event promotion, church and civic groups. Messenger is a default contact channel.
• Information seeking is hyperlocal: road closures, weather and wildfire updates, school sports, hunting/fishing conditions, and county events outperform generic content.
• Posting style skews practical and visual: short videos, photo albums from games/rodeos, before–after projects; comments drive distribution more than reactions.
• Time-of-day: engagement peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; spikes during storms, fire activity, and major local events.
• Youth behavior: teens/young adults cluster on Snapchat (streaks, group chats) and TikTok (short-form video). Instagram is for highlights and DMs; cross-posting TikTok → Reels is common.
• Older adults: Facebook-first (and often Facebook-only); heavy group usage; lower propensity to try new platforms.
• YouTube use is utilitarian: how-to and repair content (ranching, ATVs/UTVs, trailers, home/land projects) plus outdoor recreation.
• Pinterest over-indexes among women for recipes, home projects, quilting/crafts, holiday and canning seasons.
• Trust dynamics: posts from recognizable local figures, schools, county offices, and volunteer groups outperform brand pages; comment threads act as “fact-checking.”
• Connectivity-aware habits: mixed broadband means shorter videos (≤60–90 seconds, modest file sizes) and image carousels load reliably; evening Wi‑Fi use increases long-form viewing.
• Small-business playbook: boosted Facebook/Instagram posts with local faces, giveaways, and sponsorships of school or rodeo content yield the best ROI. Expanding geotargeting to neighboring counties (Sevier, Garfield, Wayne) materially increases reach.

Note: Figures are 2025 modeled estimates for Piute County residents age 13+, calibrated from recent U.S. social media benchmarks and rural Utah usage patterns to reflect local demographics.