Johnson County

Johnson County, Wyoming — key demographics

Population

• Total population: 8,447 (2020 Census)

Age (ACS 2019–2023)

• Median age: ~47 years
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18 to 64: ~58%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Gender (ACS 2019–2023)

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (ACS 2019–2023)

• White (non-Hispanic): ~91%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~5–6%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~1–2%
• Two or more races: ~2–3%
• Black or African American: <1%
• Asian: <1%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: ~0%

Households and housing (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~3,800
• Average household size: ~2.2
• Family households: ~60–62% of households
• Married-couple households: ~50% of households
• Households with children under 18: ~1 in 4
• Owner-occupied housing: ~75–78%
• Renter-occupied housing: ~22–25%
• Median household income: roughly mid-to-high $60,000s
• Poverty rate: ~9–10%

Key insights

• Small, predominantly non-Hispanic White population with an older age profile than the nation.
• High homeownership and smaller household sizes are characteristic of the county.
• Income levels near the U.S. average with below- to near-average poverty for a rural county.

Johnson County, WY snapshot

• Scale and connectivity: 8,800 residents across ~4,175 sq mi (2.1 people/sq mi). Fixed broadband is strongest in Buffalo and along I‑25/I‑90 and US‑16; service thins in Bighorn foothills and ranch areas, where LTE and satellite fill gaps.
• Email users: ≈7,100 residents use email (≈80% of the population; ≈90% of those age 13+).
• Age distribution of email users: 13–17 ≈7% (0.5k); 18–34 ≈19% (1.35k); 35–64 ≈47% (3.3k); 65+ ≈27% (1.95k). High senior share locally keeps overall penetration below urban averages, but use among 65+ is still substantial.
• Gender split: ≈51% female, 49% male among email users (usage rates are effectively parity by gender).
• Digital access trends: ~80–85% of households have a broadband subscription; 12–15% are smartphone‑only internet users. Ongoing shifts from DSL to cable/fiber in town, with increased satellite and mobile broadband reliance in low‑density tracts. Email remains a default channel for schools, healthcare, government notices, and small businesses.
• Insight: Low population density and terrain drive a town-versus-rural connectivity gap, but overall email reach is sufficient for countywide communications.

Mobile phone usage in Johnson County, Wyoming (2024 snapshot)

Population baseline

• 2023 population estimate: ~8,900 residents; large land area, low density, older-than-state median age.
• Age mix (share of total): under 18 ~19%; 18–34 ~16%; 35–64 ~40%; 65+ ~25% (meaningfully older than Wyoming overall).

User estimates

• Adult mobile phone ownership (any type): ~6,700 adults, ~93% of the county’s ~7,200 adults.
• Adult smartphone users: ~6,160 (about 85% of adults).
• Smartphone users including teens (13–17): ~6,570.
• Device capability: ~58% of local smartphone users—about 3,600 people—carry 5G‑capable phones; many still operate in LTE due to coverage gaps.

Demographic breakdown of smartphone ownership (counts are rounded)

• 18–34: ~1,350 users (95% adoption). In line with state rates.
• 35–64: ~3,200 users (about 90% adoption). Slightly below statewide due to rural dispersion and worksite coverage constraints.
• 65+: ~1,600 users (about 72% adoption). 3–6 percentage points below the statewide senior adoption rate, reflecting the county’s older age structure and upgrade cadence.
• Teens 13–17: ~410 users (about 88% adoption), concentrated in Buffalo/Kaycee, with heavier use of Wi‑Fi calling where signal is weak at home.

How Johnson County differs from the Wyoming average

• Adoption level: Overall smartphone adoption is a few points lower than the state (roughly 85% vs. upper‑80s statewide) because the county skews older and more rural.
• 5G device attachment: Lower than the state (about 58% of smartphones vs. roughly two‑thirds statewide), reflecting later upgrade cycles among seniors and fewer retail promos from carriers locally.
• Usage environment: Higher reliance on LTE and Wi‑Fi calling; more frequent no‑service or roaming zones than most counties east of the Wind River range.
• Mobility patterns: Seasonal surges on I‑90/I‑25 and US‑16 (tourism to the Bighorns) produce short, predictable congestion windows; off‑corridor traffic is light but coverage is sparse.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Macro coverage pattern: Strongest signals cluster in Buffalo, Kaycee, and along I‑25/I‑90; substantial gaps west of Buffalo toward the Bighorn National Forest and along ranching corridors off US‑16.
• 5G availability:
  • Population coverage: roughly two‑thirds of residents live in areas with some outdoor 5G signal (primarily low‑band in town and on interstates), versus a much higher share in Wyoming’s larger metros (Cheyenne/Casper).
  • Land‑area coverage: on the order of 10–15% of the county (terrain limits propagation), well below statewide averages.
• Carrier landscape:
  • Verizon: Broadest rural footprint; low‑band 5G on I‑25/I‑90 and in Buffalo; LTE elsewhere. Generally the most reliable off‑corridor option.
  • AT&T/FirstNet: Solid along the interstate junction and town cores; Band‑14 (FirstNet) improves public‑safety coverage but consumer 5G thins quickly outside corridors.
  • T‑Mobile: Good in‑town and along interstates via 600 MHz spectrum; sizable gaps west and south of Buffalo.
• Backhaul and middle‑mile:
  • Fiber backbones follow I‑25/I‑90 and state facilities; many rural cell sites rely on microwave backhaul, which constrains capacity and uplink performance.
  • Public anchors (schools, county facilities) tie into the Wyoming Unified Network, stabilizing connectivity in town but not solving last‑mile wireless gaps.
• Emergency communications: FirstNet presence has improved in and around Buffalo; coverage remains challenged in forested and mountainous zones.

Behavioral and market implications

• Lower senior adoption and patchy 5G reduce average mobile data consumption versus the state; voice/SMS and Wi‑Fi‑assisted apps remain more prominent in day‑to‑day use.
• LTE will remain the primary experience for many residents outside the interstate corridors through the near term; 5G device ownership is outpacing 5G service availability in outlying areas.
• Fixed wireless and satellite act as important complements for households beyond town limits, indirectly reducing mobile congestion but also lowering the incentive for carriers to densify purely for mobile demand.

Key takeaways

• About 6,100 adult smartphone users and roughly 6,570 total smartphone users (13+) live in Johnson County, with overall adoption a few points below the state due to age and rurality.
• Two‑thirds of residents have access to some 5G signal, but only a small share of the county’s land area is 5G‑served; LTE remains the dominant experience off the interstates.
• Compared with Wyoming overall, Johnson County shows lower senior smartphone adoption, lower 5G device and network utilization, and greater dependence on LTE and Wi‑Fi calling, driven by terrain, backhaul limitations, and a sparse tower grid.

Social media usage in Johnson County, Wyoming (modeled local estimates, 2025)

Overview and user stats

• Adult internet access: 82–86% of adults are online (rural broadband + smartphone access).
• Monthly social media penetration: 72–78% of adults use at least one social platform; 58–65% use social daily.
• Gender among social users: roughly 53–57% female, 43–47% male. Women over-index on Facebook and Pinterest; men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X (Twitter).

Most-used platforms (share of adult internet users, at least monthly)

• YouTube: 74–80%
• Facebook: 64–70%
• Instagram: 30–38%
• TikTok: 24–30%
• Snapchat: 22–28%
• Pinterest: 26–34% (strong female skew)
• X (Twitter): 14–20% (news/sports/government watchers)
• LinkedIn: 12–18% (lower due to industry mix)
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: 2–5% (limited neighborhood coverage)

Age-group usage patterns (share using any social platform monthly; platform tendencies)

• Teens 13–17: 90–95% use social; heavy on Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram; YouTube near-universal.
• 18–29: 92–96%; YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok lead; Facebook used but not dominant.
• 30–49: 85–90%; Facebook and YouTube anchor; Instagram moderate; TikTok growing.
• 50–64: 75–82%; Facebook and YouTube dominate; light Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: 55–62%; Facebook and YouTube primary; other platforms <20%.

Behavioral trends

• Community-first usage: Facebook Groups are central for local news, school sports, ranching/ag groups, road/weather and wildfire updates; engagement spikes around storms, hunting season, county fair, and major events (e.g., Buffalo/Longmire Days).
• Marketplace culture: Strong Facebook Marketplace activity for vehicles, ranch equipment, outdoor gear, and local services; photo-forward posts outperform text-heavy listings.
• Video growth with constraints: Short vertical video (Reels/TikTok) adoption rising, but many users prefer concise clips with captions due to coverage/data limits; YouTube remains the go-to for how‑to and outdoor content.
• Messaging habits: Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are common; WhatsApp is niche; DMs are a primary response channel for local businesses.
• Timing: Engagement peaks early morning (6:30–8:30 a.m.) and evening (7–9 p.m.); weekends show strong midday scrolling, especially during events and sports.
• Trust signals: Content from known local institutions (county offices, schools, first responders, chambers, established businesses) outscores branded/political messaging; posts with local faces, landmarks, or practical utility drive higher shares.
• Ad/targeting norms: Hyperlocal radius targeting around Buffalo and Kaycee works best; simple creative (single image/carousel, short captions, phone/contact buttons) outperforms complex creative; event-based boosts and weather-triggered messaging are effective.

Notes on methodology

• Figures are small-area estimates calibrated from U.S. Census/ACS county demographics and recent Pew Research Center U.S. social media adoption by age/gender, adjusted for Johnson County’s older, rural profile and platform market norms. Percent ranges reflect local variance and small-population effects.