Carbon County

Here are concise, recent demographics for Carbon County, Wyoming.

Population

• 2020 Census: 14,537
• 2023 estimate (ACS 5-year): ~14,300

Age

• Median age: ~40 years
• Under 18: ~23%
• 65 and over: ~17%

Sex

• Male: ~54%
• Female: ~46%

Race and ethnicity

• White alone: ~90%
• American Indian/Alaska Native: ~2%
• Black or African American: ~1%
• Asian: ~1%
• Two or more races: ~4–5%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~17%
• White, non-Hispanic: ~73–75%

Households

• Total households: ~6,000
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~60% of households
• Married-couple families: ~45–50%
• One-person households: ~32%
• Households with children under 18: ~27%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census (PL 94-171, DHC) and 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Figures rounded for clarity.

Carbon County, WY snapshot (estimates)

• Population and density: ~14,500 residents; ~1.8 people per sq. mile. Most connectivity in Rawlins, Saratoga, Hanna, Sinclair along I‑80; sparse, mountainous areas remain patchy.

• Email users: ~8,500–10,000 residents use email at least monthly (derived from adult internet adoption and typical email penetration).

• Age mix of email users:

  • 13–17: 6–8%
  • 18–34: 25–28%
  • 35–54: 32–35%
  • 55–64: 14–16%
  • 65+: 15–18% Adoption is highest 18–54; 65+ somewhat lower but rising.

• Gender split: ~52–54% male, 46–48% female (county skews male; email usage rates are similar by gender).

• Digital access and trends:

  • Home broadband or smartphone-only internet: ~75–85% of households.
  • Mobile-only users: ~10–20% rely primarily on smartphones for email.
  • In-town service (Rawlins/Saratoga): cable/fiber available, often 100–1000 Mbps.
  • Outside towns: many rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite (Starlink growth), with speeds often below 100/20 Mbps.
  • Public libraries and school networks provide important Wi‑Fi/computer access.
  • Terrain and long last‑mile runs keep costs higher and adoption below availability.

Notes: Figures are inferred from recent Census/FCC/Pew rural patterns applied to Carbon County’s population.

Summary: Mobile phone usage in Carbon County, Wyoming (focus on what differs from statewide patterns)

Context

• Population: about 14.5k residents centered on Rawlins, Sinclair, Saratoga/Encampment, Hanna/Elk Mountain, Baggs/Dixon; vast area with low density and mountainous terrain (Snowy Range, Sierra Madre). I‑80 crosses the county; many areas are far from the interstate.

User estimates (approximate)

• Adult mobile users: 10.5k–12k unique users.
  • Method: ~11–12k adults (18+) and 92–96% cellphone ownership typical in rural Mountain West; plus 800–900 teens (13–17) with very high smartphone use.
• Smartphone share: roughly 80–88% of adults; higher among under‑45, lower among 65+.
• Mobile‑only internet households: likely 18–25% of households, a few points higher than the Wyoming average.
  • Rationale: more areas lack competitive wired broadband; greater dependence on cellular hotspots and phone tethering.

Demographic patterns that shape usage (vs Wyoming overall)

• Older and rural: Carbon County skews slightly older and more rural than the state average.
  • Expect a modestly higher share of basic/feature phones among seniors (approx 8–12% of 65+ vs 6–8% statewide).
• Hispanic/Latino population is larger than the state average.
  • Typically higher use of prepaid plans, WhatsApp/VoIP, and international calling features; mobile‑only home internet more common.
• Workforce mix: energy, wind construction, transportation, corrections, and outdoor industries.
  • More use of ruggedized Android devices and push‑to‑talk in work settings than the statewide norm.
• Institutional population: the state penitentiary in Rawlins lowers per‑capita device metrics in official data (incarcerated persons aren’t smartphone users), so household adoption rates can look artificially lower than lived experience.

Digital infrastructure (what stands out locally)

• Carrier landscape
  • Verizon generally has the broadest rural reach; AT&T is strong along I‑80 and population centers; T‑Mobile coverage is good on the interstate but thins faster off‑corridor; Union Wireless (regional carrier) matters more here than in most Wyoming counties and fills key gaps, especially in smaller towns and along secondary highways.
• 5G footprint and performance
  • 5G low‑band is present on and near I‑80 (Rawlins/Sinclair) and some towns; mid‑band 5G is limited. Much day‑to‑day performance still rides on LTE, with 5G offering modest gains versus urban Wyoming markets that see bigger mid‑band improvements.
• Coverage gaps you notice more than statewide averages imply
  • Reliable service on I‑80 and in towns; rapid drop‑off into the Medicine Bow and Sierra Madre ranges, WY‑70 (Battle Pass), WY‑130 (Snowy Range), and ranchlands south of I‑80 toward the Colorado line. Dead zones persist on scenic/seasonal roads and in valleys.
• Backhaul and tower density
  • Macro sites hug the interstate and ridge lines; tower density is low elsewhere. Backhaul is a mix of long‑haul fiber along I‑80 and microwave spurs; this constrains capacity in outlying sectors more than in many Wyoming counties with denser town clusters.
• Public safety and resilience
  • FirstNet (AT&T Band 14) presence along I‑80 and in key towns has improved responder coverage, but off‑corridor reliability remains uneven. Winter I‑80 closures create surges in network use around detours and shelters.
• Wired broadband interplay
  • Rawlins/Sinclair have cable or fiber options; smaller towns rely on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite. Where wired options are slow or expensive, households lean on unlimited or “home internet” cellular plans. Starlink adoption is visible in remote areas.
• New builds and anchors
  • Large wind projects and substations near Rawlins/Saratoga have driven incremental fiber/backhaul spurs; benefits spill over to some nearby towers and enterprise sites more than to dispersed residences.

Behavioral and market trends that diverge from the state level

• Higher reliance on regional carrier Union Wireless for primary or roaming coverage.
• More mobile‑only households and greater use of phone tethering as a substitute for home broadband.
• Larger performance gap between interstate towns and outlying communities; users often carry multi‑SIM/eSIM or choose carriers by specific travel routes.
• Slower practical benefits from 5G (limited mid‑band) compared with Wyoming’s bigger metros; LTE remains the workhorse.
• Seasonal swings: tourism, hunting, and wildfire seasons cause localized congestion in recreation corridors; winter closures on I‑80 create short‑term spikes around Rawlins/Sinclair services.

What this means for planning

• For residents and businesses: choose carriers by home and commute corridors; consider dual‑carrier or Union Wireless plus a national carrier for redundancy. Expect LTE to dominate performance outside I‑80 towns.
• For public sector and anchor institutions: prioritize backhaul upgrades and infill sites on WY‑70, WY‑130, and south‑county ranch corridors; continue leveraging E‑Rate and middle‑mile tie‑ins from energy projects.
• For carriers/ISPs: small numbers but high impact from a few well‑placed macro or small cells; microwave-to-fiber backhaul conversions near Saratoga/Encampment and Hanna/Elk Mountain would unlock capacity where signal exists but speeds lag.

Sources and methods (high level)

• Population and households: U.S. Census/ACS.
• Device and mobile‑only trends: ACS S2801 (Computers and Internet), Pew Research Center rural tech adoption, and industry benchmarks.
• Coverage and 5G: FCC maps, carrier public coverage maps, and third‑party testing summaries for rural WY; local knowledge of highway corridors and terrain.
• Broadband context: Wyoming broadband grant program updates and provider footprints in Carbon County.

Note: Specific percentages are presented as ranges due to variability by location within the county and differences between advertised and observed coverage/speeds.

Below is a concise, county‑level snapshot built from Pew Research’s latest U.S./rural social media benchmarks and Carbon County’s size/demographics. Exact platform data aren’t published at the county level, so percentages are best‑fit estimates; ranges reflect rural adjustments.

County snapshot

• Population: ≈14.5k; adults (18+): ≈11k
• Estimated adult social media users: 7.7k–8.8k (about 70–80% of adults in rural areas use at least one platform)

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; platforms overlap)

• YouTube: 75–85% (≈8.3k–9.4k)
• Facebook: 60–70% (≈6.6k–7.7k)
• Instagram: 35–45% (≈3.9k–5.0k)
• TikTok: 25–35% (≈2.8k–3.9k)
• Snapchat: 25–35% (≈2.8k–3.9k; strongest under 30)
• Pinterest: 30–40% (≈3.3k–4.4k; skew female)
• Smaller but present: LinkedIn 15–25%, X/Twitter 12–20%, Reddit 10–18%, WhatsApp 10–15%, Nextdoor 0–5%

Age patterns (share within each age group)

• Teens 13–17: YouTube ~95%; Snapchat 80–90%; TikTok 70–85%; Instagram 60–75%; Facebook <30%
• 18–29: YouTube ~95%; Instagram 70–80%; TikTok 60–70%; Snapchat 60–70%; Facebook 45–55%
• 30–49: Facebook 70–80%; YouTube 85–90%; Instagram 45–55%; TikTok 25–35%; Snapchat 25–35%
• 50–64: Facebook 65–75%; YouTube 70–80%; Instagram 25–35%; TikTok 15–25%
• 65+: Facebook 55–65%; YouTube 55–65%; others typically <20%

Gender tendencies

• Women: Higher on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; strong use of Messenger and local groups/Marketplace
• Men: Higher on YouTube, Reddit, X/Twitter; follow outdoor, energy, sports, and how‑to content

Behavioral trends to expect in Carbon County

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, school and road updates, buy/sell/trade, events; Marketplace is widely used
• Video first: YouTube for how‑to, outdoor, ranching, auto/DIY; short‑form (Reels/TikTok) growing for events and local creators
• Messaging > commenting: Many interactions shift to Messenger, IG DMs, Snapchat
• Local wins: Posts with recognizable local places/people, high school sports, hunting seasons, rodeo/fair, weather and WYDOT updates perform best
• Timing: Peaks around 6–8 a.m., lunch hour, and 7–10 p.m. MST; weekend mid‑mornings are strong
• Seasonality: Winter road/weather spikes; summer recreation; fall hunting; back‑to‑school/sports
• Paid reach tips: Geo‑target Rawlins, Saratoga, Sinclair, Hanna, Baggs; use Facebook/IG Feed + Reels + Marketplace, YouTube in‑stream, and TikTok in‑feed; optimize for calls/messages rather than site visits for service/local offers

Notes on methodology

• Percentages are adapted from recent Pew Research Center social media use data (U.S. adults with rural adjustments) applied to Carbon County’s adult population; platform overlaps are normal, so totals exceed 100%.