Natrona County

Natrona County, Wyoming — Key demographics

Population size

• 79,955 (2020 Census)
• ~80,900 (2023 Census Bureau estimate, Vintage 2023)

Age

• Median age: ~37.4 years
• Under 18: ~23.5%
• 18–64: ~60.2%
• 65+: ~16.3%

Gender

• Male: ~50.9%
• Female: ~49.1%

Race and ethnicity (race alone; Hispanic is an ethnicity and overlaps with race)

• White: ~86.8%
• Black or African American: ~1.1%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~2.4%
• Asian: ~0.8%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: ~0.2%
• Some other race: ~2.0%
• Two or more races: ~6.7%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~9.7%

Households and families

• Households: ~32,900
• Average household size: ~2.44
• Family households: ~60% of households
  • Married-couple families: ~47% of all households
• Nonfamily households: ~40%
  • Living alone: ~32% (about 11% age 65+ living alone)
• Households with children under 18: ~29%
• Homeownership rate: ~69% (renters ~31%)

Insights

• Slightly younger and modestly more diverse than the Wyoming average, but less diverse than the U.S. overall.
• Household structure leans toward married-couple families with relatively high homeownership, typical of Wyoming counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Decennial Census; 2019–2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (tables DP05, S0101, S1101); 2023 Population Estimates (Vintage 2023).

Natrona County, WY (population ≈80,000) has an estimated ≈62,000 email users.

• By age (usage rate among each group): 13–17 ≈70%; 18–29 ≈98%; 30–49 ≈97%; 50–64 ≈93%; 65+ ≈87%. That translates to roughly ≈3.5k teen users and ≈58k adult users.
• Gender split: county population is roughly 51% male and 49% female; email adoption is near-parity, yielding ≈31.5k male and ≈30.5k female users.

Digital access and trends:

• ≈92% of households have a computer and ≈88% have a broadband subscription (cable/DSL/fiber), up several points since 2018.
• About 15% of households rely primarily on smartphone data plans for home internet.
• Email remains a core channel across all ages, with seniors showing the fastest recent gains as smartphone adoption rises.

Local density/connectivity context:

• Area ≈5,340 sq mi; population density ≈15 people/sq mi.
• Approximately 70–75% of residents live in/around Casper, where cable and some fiber are widely available; 5G/LTE coverage is strongest along the I‑25 and US‑20/26 corridors.
• Outlying rural areas have sparser wired options and rely more on fixed wireless or satellite, which can lower speeds and raise latency, modestly depressing email usage among the oldest and most rural households.

Mobile phone usage in Natrona County, Wyoming — 2024 snapshot

Population and user base

• Population: ~80,000 (2023 estimate); households: ~33,400.
• Adults (18+): ~62,000. Adult smartphone users: ~56,000 (≈90% adoption).
• Teens (13–17): ~4,800; smartphone users: ~4,600 (≈95% adoption).
• Total smartphone users (13+): ~61,000, about 76% of the population.
• Household device/subscription profile (ACS- and FCC-based 2019–2023/2024 estimates):
  • Households with a smartphone present: 89% (29,700 households).
  • Households with a cellular data plan: 79% (26,400).
  • Smartphone-only internet households (no fixed broadband): 13% (4,300).
  • Households with no internet subscription: 9–10% (3,100).

Demographic breakdown (adults 18+)

• By age cohort (users and adoption rates):
  • 18–34: ~17,400 adults; ~16,900 smartphone users (≈97%).
  • 35–64: ~34,100 adults; ~31,400 smartphone users (≈92%).
  • 65+: ~10,500 adults; ~8,100 smartphone users (≈77%).
• Urban vs. rural:
  • Roughly 85% of residents live in Casper–Mills–Evansville–Bar Nunn; smartphone adoption in these places is ~3–5 percentage points higher than in outlying areas.
  • Rural residents are more likely to be smartphone‑only for home internet (≈16–18% outside the urban area versus ≈11–12% in Casper).

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Networks and coverage:
  • All three national carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T‑Mobile) provide 4G LTE and 5G; Union Wireless operates in parts of the county and along corridors.
  • 5G population coverage: ≈92% in Natrona County (Casper and transport corridors) versus ≈84% statewide. Mid‑band 5G (2.5 GHz n41, C‑band) is active in Casper, delivering higher capacity than most rural Wyoming counties, where low‑band dominates.
  • Land‑area coverage remains spotty in low‑density tracts; dependable coverage follows I‑25, US‑20/26, WY‑220, and WY‑257.
• Capacity and density:
  • Higher macro‑site density and selective small‑cell use in central Casper improve indoor coverage and peak‑hour capacity; rural basins rely on fewer, high‑power macro sites.
• Backhaul and broadband context:
  • Fiber and cable backhaul from Lumen/CenturyLink and Charter Spectrum support dense 5G in Casper; fixed wireless (e.g., Visionary Broadband) fills gaps outside city limits.
  • The prevalence of robust fixed broadband in Casper correlates with a lower smartphone‑only household share than much of rural Wyoming.
• Public safety:
  • FirstNet Band 14 sites are present in Casper and along major routes, enhancing priority coverage for emergency services.

How Natrona County differs from Wyoming overall

• Higher 5G availability and capacity: ~92% of residents covered by 5G versus ~84% statewide, with more mid‑band deployments in Casper than in most counties.
• Fewer smartphone‑only households: ~13% in Natrona County versus ~16% statewide, reflecting stronger fixed broadband options in the urban core.
• Lower offline rate: ~9–10% of households without any internet subscription versus ~12–13% statewide.
• Older‑adult adoption runs higher: ~77% of 65+ in Natrona use smartphones versus ~72% statewide, tied to better device access and support services in Casper.
• Usage pattern is work‑driven rather than tourism‑driven: peak mobile traffic aligns with energy, logistics, and healthcare shift patterns in Casper, contrasting with the seasonal tourism spikes that shape traffic in northwest Wyoming.
• Carrier competition is stronger: three nationwide networks plus a regional carrier operate with denser site grids in Casper than in most Wyoming counties, improving reliability and indoor performance.

Methodological note: Figures are synthesized from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019–2023 ACS device/Internet indicators, 2023 population estimates, FCC mobile coverage maps, and carrier 5G disclosures current through 2024; counts are rounded for clarity.

Social media usage in Natrona County, WY (2025 snapshot)

Topline user stats

• Population: ~81,000
• Estimated social media users: ~49,000 (≈60% of total population; ≈78% of residents age 13+)
• Daily active social users: ~35,000 (≈71% of social users)

Age mix of social media users (share of users)

• 13–17: 9%
• 18–24: 13%
• 25–34: 21%
• 35–44: 20%
• 45–54: 16%
• 55–64: 13%
• 65+: 8%

Gender breakdown of social media users

• Women: 52%
• Men: 47%
• Nonbinary/other: 1%

Most‑used platforms in the county (share of social media users, monthly)

• YouTube: 85%
• Facebook: 74%
• Instagram: 42%
• Snapchat: 35%
• TikTok: 30%
• Pinterest: 29%
• LinkedIn: 18%
• X (Twitter): 17%
• Reddit: 14%
• WhatsApp: 8%

Behavioral trends and local patterns

• Facebook as the community hub: Heavy use of local news pages (e.g., Oil City News, K2 Radio), buy/sell/trade groups, event discovery, school updates, road and weather alerts. Messenger is a primary communication tool for adults.
• Youth skew: Snapchat is the default messenger for teens/college-age; Instagram and TikTok drive entertainment and trends among 18–34.
• Video-first consumption: Short-form videos (Reels/TikTok) see strong completion rates; YouTube is dominant for how‑to, DIY, auto, ranching, outdoor sports, and local sports highlights.
• Outdoor and local lifestyle content performs best: Hunting/fishing (Alcova/Pathfinder), Casper Mountain skiing and trail content, rodeo, motorsports, and gear deals receive above-average engagement.
• Employment and community use: Energy-sector and trades recruiting uses Facebook/Indeed; LinkedIn is niche but effective for professional roles; Facebook Groups coordinate shift swaps and safety updates.
• Seasonality and dayparts: Engagement lifts in winter and during severe weather; evening (6–9 pm MT) and lunch (12–1 pm) windows perform best; spikes around county fair/rodeo, school sports, and election cycles.
• Platform roles in campaigns:
  • Reach/response: Facebook and Instagram
  • Awareness/education: YouTube
  • Younger conversions and UGC: TikTok, Snapchat
  • Niche interests and shopping intent: Pinterest
• Geographic targeting that works: Casper, Mills, Evansville, Bar Nunn, plus retail corridors (Eastridge Mall, downtown Casper) and event venues; weather-triggered and fishing/opening‑weekend triggers boost results.

Method note

• Figures are 2025 modeled estimates for Natrona County derived from recent ACS/Census demographics and Pew Research platform adoption by age/gender, calibrated with typical rural–micropolitan usage patterns and major ad-platform location reach. Percentages refer to share of local social media users unless noted.