Fremont County

Key demographics for Fremont County, Wyoming

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

• Population size:

  • 39,234 (2020 Census)

• Age (ACS 2018–2022):

  • Median age: ~39
  • Under 18: ~24%
  • 65 and over: ~18%

• Gender (ACS 2018–2022):

  • Male: ~51%
  • Female: ~49%

• Race and ethnicity (2020 Census; race = single race “alone,” Hispanic is an ethnicity):

  • White alone: ~72%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: ~23%
  • Black or African American alone: ~0.4%
  • Asian alone: ~0.5%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander alone: ~0.1%
  • Two or more races: ~4%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~12%

• Households (ACS 2018–2022):

  • Total households: ~15.6k
  • Persons per household: ~2.5
  • Family households: ~66% (avg. family size ~3.1)

Here’s a pragmatic snapshot for Fremont County, WY (pop. ≈39–40k):

• Estimated email users: about 29k–32k (roughly 75–82% of residents), derived from rural internet adoption (~85–90%) and the fact that most internet users use email (>90%).
• Age pattern (use rates): 13–17 ≈85–90%; 18–29 ≈95–99%; 30–49 ≈95–98%; 50–64 ≈90–95%; 65+ ≈75–85%.
• Approximate share of all email users by age: 13–29 ≈22–26%; 30–49 ≈32–36%; 50–64 ≈24–28%; 65+ ≈14–18%.
• Gender split: county population is roughly 51% male/49% female; email use is near parity, so users are ≈50/50.
• Digital access trends:
  • Towns (Riverton, Lander) typically have multiple wired options; outskirts lean on fixed wireless or satellite.
  • Smartphone-only internet access is notable in rural pockets; mobile coverage is strongest along major highways.
  • Terrain and long distances raise last‑mile costs, slowing fiber buildouts; federal/state funds (e.g., BEAD-era projects) aim to expand coverage. The 2024 lapse of ACP subsidies may pressure affordability for some households.
• Local density/connectivity context: very low density (~4 people per square mile across ~9,200 sq mi) leads to uneven connectivity; reservation and ranchland areas often face fewer wired choices.

Below is a concise, decision‑oriented snapshot of mobile phone usage in Fremont County, Wyoming, with emphasis on how it differs from state‑level patterns.

Headline takeaways

• Mobile use is widespread but leans more heavily on phones as primary internet, prepaid plans, and multi‑carrier strategies than the Wyoming average.
• Coverage and capacity are highly location‑dependent: solid in Lander–Riverton and along main corridors; spotty on reservation backroads, canyons, and high country.
• Ongoing tribal and state/federal broadband projects are improving backhaul and last‑mile options, but 5G mid‑band remains limited outside towns.

Estimated users and adoption

• Population base: ~39–40k residents.
• Adult mobile phone ownership: ~85–90% of adults; translates to roughly 26k–29k adult users. Adding teens (high ownership, ~90–95%) puts total individual users near 28k–31k.
• Smartphone‑only internet (no home broadband): estimated 22–28% of adults in the county vs ~15–18% statewide—driven by affordability and limited wired options in outlying areas and on the Wind River Reservation.
• Prepaid and subsidy utilization: prepaid share estimated 30–35% (vs ~20–25% statewide). Lifeline participation is higher than the state average; the 2024 wind‑down of ACP likely pushed some households toward smaller data buckets or prepaid.

Demographic patterns that shape usage

• Native American residents comprise roughly one‑fifth to one‑quarter of the county (much higher than the state share). Distinctive impacts:
  • Higher reliance on mobile as primary connection where wired choices are scarce.
  • Greater use of prepaid/Lifeline; device replacement cycles run longer than state average.
• Age mix: outside the reservation the population skews older; on the reservation it skews younger. That yields:
  • Strong teen adoption and heavy mobile social/video use in reservation communities.
  • Older users in ranching/tourism areas maintaining voice/text first with selective data plans.
• Income and distance to retail: more households face travel to carrier stores and lean on local dealers, increasing stickiness to incumbent networks and discouraging frequent switching.

Digital infrastructure and coverage notes

• Carriers present: Verizon and Union Wireless tend to have the broadest rural reach; AT&T is solid in towns and key corridors (plus FirstNet for public safety); T‑Mobile is strongest in town centers and along major highways, weaker elsewhere.
• Radio access:
  • 5G: mainly low‑band/DSS in Lander–Riverton and along US‑26/US‑287/WY‑789. Mid‑band 5G capacity is in small pockets; much of the county remains LTE‑first.
  • LTE coverage is reliable in towns and corridors but breaks in canyons (e.g., Wind River Canyon), foothills, and reservation backroads. Many residents depend on Wi‑Fi calling at home.
• Backhaul and last‑mile:
  • Fiber follows highway spurs between towns; many rural towers still rely on microwave backhaul, which can constrain peak capacity.
  • Tribal and regional ISPs (e.g., Wind River Internet, Union/Range/RT, Visionary) are expanding fixed wireless and selective fiber builds; NTIA Tribal Broadband and state/BEAD‑aligned efforts are active, with incremental improvements each year.
• Public connectivity: libraries, schools, and clinics provide dependable Wi‑Fi and device charging; these venues are used more heavily than the state average for essential online tasks.

How Fremont County differs from Wyoming overall

• Higher mobile‑as‑primary internet reliance and higher prepaid share.
• Greater variance in signal quality over short distances; more dual‑SIM or multi‑carrier households to hedge coverage.
• Lower effective 5G capacity usage (less mid‑band outside towns); LTE remains the workhorse.
• More households affected by subsidy changes (post‑ACP), amplifying sensitivity to price and data caps.
• Local/regional carriers (Union Wireless; tribal ISP initiatives) play a larger role than in urbanized Wyoming counties.

Implications for planning

• Capacity upgrades in Lander–Riverton and along tourism corridors will yield outsized benefits; consider small cells or sector splits near venues and event sites.
• Support for Wi‑Fi calling, signal boosters, and C‑band/3.45 GHz fill‑ins would address many pain points.
• Partnerships with tribal and regional ISPs for backhaul/fiber laterals can accelerate 5G upgrades.
• Keep prepaid‑friendly offers and device financing options prominent; retail access via local dealers is key.

Notes on method

• Estimates triangulate recent ACS population, typical rural smartphone adoption (Pew and industry benchmarks), and Wyoming provider footprints. Ranges are provided where local, current administrative data aren’t public.

Here’s a concise, planning-ready snapshot. Figures are modeled from Pew Research national/rural patterns applied to Fremont County’s population (~39k; adult residents ~28–30k). Treat as directional; validate with platform ad tools and local page insights.

User stats (adults)

• Estimated adult social media users: ~80–85% ⇒ about 23k–26k people
• Overall gender split locally: roughly 50/50 (platforms vary; see below)

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; modeled range)

• YouTube: 80–85% (broad consumption, not always “local community” engagement)
• Facebook: 65–70% (primary local network for news, groups, events, buy/sell)
• Instagram: 38–45%
• TikTok: 25–32%
• Pinterest: 25–30% (strong female skew)
• Snapchat: 20–27% (especially teens/20s)
• LinkedIn: 15–22% (lower in rural areas; useful for pro hiring)
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• Reddit: 10–16%
• Nextdoor: <5%

Age breakouts (usage tendencies)

• Teens (13–17): Very high YouTube; TikTok and Snapchat are top daily apps; Instagram strong; Facebook minimal.
• 18–29: YouTube near‑universal; Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat heavy daily use; Facebook used but not “cool.”
• 30–49: Facebook dominant for local info and Marketplace; Instagram growing; TikTok moderate; YouTube strong.
• 50–64: Facebook + YouTube lead; Instagram/TikTok light but rising via Reels.
• 65+: Facebook primary; YouTube moderate; other platforms low.

Gender patterns (tendencies)

• Female‑leaning: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok (slight), Pinterest (strong).
• Male‑leaning: YouTube (slight), Reddit, X.
• Snapchat roughly even to slight female tilt.

Behavioral trends in Fremont County

• Facebook is the community hub: local news, school and high‑school sports, events (e.g., fairs/festivals), buy/sell, road and weather updates, and public‑safety posts see high engagement.
• Marketplace performs strongly due to limited local retail variety; event RSVPs and volunteer drives convert well on FB.
• Short‑form vertical video is surging: TikTok and FB/IG Reels outperform static posts; under 30–45 seconds works best given bandwidth and scroll behavior.
• YouTube is the “how‑to” and outdoors channel: DIY, ranch/ag equipment, hunting/fishing, local sports streams, and cultural events draw steady views.
• Messaging: Facebook Messenger ubiquitous; Snapchat popular for youth coordination; SMS is a fallback; WhatsApp usage relatively low.
• Peak activity: Evenings (7–10 p.m.) and lunch hours; engagement lifts during winter, severe weather, wildfires, and major local events.
• Creative that features recognizable local places, schools, teams, and community leaders outperforms generic content.
• Cultural note: The Wind River Reservation (Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho) is central to local conversation; partner with tribal pages and use culturally respectful, community‑first framing.

How to use this

• For broad local reach: prioritize Facebook (feed, Groups, Events, Marketplace) and cross‑post Reels to IG.
• To reach youth/young adults: TikTok + Snapchat; short native video and creator collabs.
• For evergreen education/how‑to: YouTube; clip highlights into Reels/TikToks.
• Hiring/professional: Facebook + LinkedIn (role‑dependent).

Source basis: Pew Research Center (2023–2024 social media use, with rural breakouts), U.S. Census population structure; localized behaviors reflect rural WY community norms.