Niobrara County

Key demographics for Niobrara County, Wyoming

Population

• 2,467 (2020 Census)
• 2,41x (2023 Census estimate; ~2.4k)

Age

• Median age: mid-40s (≈46)
• Under 18: ~20%
• 18–64: ~56%
• 65 and over: ~24%

Gender

• Male: ~51%
• Female: ~49%

Race and ethnicity (shares; may not sum to 100% due to rounding)

• White alone: ~90–91%
• Black or African American alone: ~1%
• American Indian/Alaska Native alone: ~1–2%
• Asian alone: <1%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0%
• Two or more races: ~6–7%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~6–7%
• White alone, not Hispanic: ~84–85%

Households

• Households: ~1,040
• Average household size: ~2.1–2.2
• Family households: ~60%
• Married-couple families: ~50%
• Nonfamily households: ~40%
• Individuals living alone: ~1/3
• Households with someone 65+ living alone: ~15–16%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census; Population Estimates Program (July 1, 2023); American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.

Niobrara County, WY has about 2,450 residents across ~2,626 sq mi (≈0.9 people/sq mi), making connectivity highly rural and distance‑sensitive.

Estimated email users: ≈1,950 residents use email regularly. This is based on adult adoption near 94% (Pew U.S. rates applied to the county’s older age mix) plus modest teen use.

Age distribution of email users (approximate counts, share of users):

• 18–29: 320 (17%)
• 30–49: 605 (31%)
• 50–64: 450 (23%)
• 65+: 460 (24%)
• Teens 13–17: 120 (6%)

Gender split: Population skews slightly male (~52% male, ~48% female), and email adoption is essentially equal by gender, yielding about 1,020 male and 930 female users.

Digital access and trends:

• Broadband subscription: roughly 80–85% of households subscribe to home broadband; 10–15% are smartphone‑only.
• Access is strongest in and near Lusk; outside town limits many households rely on fixed wireless or satellite, with fiber expansions progressing via state/federal rural broadband programs (2022–2024).
• Mobile coverage is best along US‑18/85; large ranch/BLM areas have gaps, which depresses high‑frequency email use outside town centers.

Overall: high email penetration among adults, slightly lower among seniors, with connectivity constraints driven by ultra‑low population density.

Niobrara County, Wyoming — mobile phone usage snapshot (2024–2025)

Topline user estimates

• Population baseline: 2,467 (2020 Census); 2023 Census estimate ≈2,400. Area ≈2,600+ sq mi; among the lowest population densities in the U.S.
• Residents with any mobile phone: 2,150–2,320 people (about 90–94% of residents), midpoint ≈2,220.
• Smartphone users: 1,800–2,030 people (about 75–82% of residents), midpoint ≈1,920.
• Basic/feature-phone users: roughly 250–450 residents (10–18%). How this differs from Wyoming overall: statewide mobile ownership is near-universal and smartphone adoption is several points higher (≈86–88% of residents), so Niobrara trails the state on smartphones while remaining strong on “any phone” ownership.

Demographic breakdown (drivers of the gap vs statewide)

• Age structure: Older than Wyoming overall.
  • 65+ share: ≈23–24% in Niobrara vs ≈17% statewide. Estimated smartphone adoption among 65+ locally is ≈60–70% (vs ≈75–80% statewide), contributing most of the county’s smartphone gap.
  • 35–64: ≈45% of population; smartphone adoption ≈80–85% (a few points below state).
  • 18–34: ≈18–20% of population; smartphone adoption ≈90–95% (near state levels).
  • Under 18: ≈24–26%; teens’ smartphone access is high (≈85–95%), but coverage constraints outside town centers temper consistent use.
• Income and occupation mix: Median household income is lower than the Wyoming average, and agriculture/ranching share is higher. This correlates with:
  • A higher share of basic/flip phones among field workers and seniors.
  • Slightly higher prepaid usage and device longevity than statewide postpaid-dominant patterns.
• Household profile: ≈1,000–1,100 households. Households with a smartphone: roughly 78–82% (vs ≈85–90% statewide). Wireless-only households are less prevalent than the state average due to landline retention among seniors and on ranches.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carrier presence: Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet Band 14 for public safety), and T-Mobile operate in and around Lusk and along major corridors (US‑18/20 and US‑85).
• 4G LTE: Broad corridor-focused LTE coverage from all three carriers along highways and in Lusk/Manville; off-corridor coverage becomes spotty to absent in low-population sections of the county.
• 5G:
  • Present primarily as low-band (e.g., T-Mobile 600 MHz NR; Verizon DSS “nationwide” 5G) in and near Lusk and along highway segments.
  • Limited or no mid-band 5G (e.g., 2.5 GHz or C-band) outside town centers; mmWave is effectively absent.
  • Net effect: 5G availability and performance lag state corridors and metro counties; speeds are often LTE-like.
• Sites and backhaul:
  • A small number of multi-carrier macro sites clustered around towns and highway junctions; very few small cells.
  • Backhaul relies significantly on microwave outside Lusk; fiber backhaul is concentrated in town and along key routes, lowering capacity off-corridor.
• Alternative access and complements:
  • Fixed wireless (regional ISPs) and Starlink/Viasat are common in outlying areas for home broadband; some households tether mobile data only when in coverage.
  • Public safety and emergency communications benefit from Band 14/FirstNet along primary routes, but response agencies plan around known dead zones off-corridor.

Usage patterns vs Wyoming statewide

• Lower smartphone penetration and higher basic-phone retention, driven by older age mix and ranching/outdoor work needs.
• More prepaid plans and longer device replacement cycles than the state average.
• Heavier reliance on LTE and low-band 5G; fewer mid-band 5G capacity sites. Practical mobile speeds and indoor coverage are below state averages outside Lusk.
• Greater share of coverage “islands” and dead zones away from highways; residents commonly report signal drop-offs on secondary and ranch roads.
• Slightly lower proportion of wireless-only households; more dual-service homes that maintain landlines or fixed wireless/satellite alongside mobile.

What this means operationally

• Addressing the gap with mid-band 5G and fiberized backhaul at highway-adjacent sites would materially improve both capacity and indoor coverage in Lusk and Manville.
• Targeted fill-in LTE/low-band 5G sites on secondary roads would reduce dead zones that disproportionately affect ranch operations, logistics, and emergency response.
• Programs focused on seniors (subsidized devices, Wi‑Fi calling education) would lift smartphone adoption faster than generic statewide efforts.

Notes on method

• User counts are derived by applying current rural U.S. and Wyoming adoption benchmarks to Niobrara’s population and age structure from recent Census estimates, then cross-checking against typical rural plan mixes and coverage constraints. Figures are presented as bounded estimates to reflect small-population variability while remaining decision-useful.

Niobrara County, WY social media snapshot (modeled local estimates)

Population baseline

• Total population: ≈2,320 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 est.)
• Adults (18+): ≈1,810 (≈78% of population)
• Households with broadband subscription: ≈80% (ACS 2019–2023; rural-leaning)

How many use social media

• Adult social media users: ≈1,300 (≈72% of adults; ≈56% of total population)
• Daily users: ≈900–950 (≈70–73% of social users engage daily)

Age breakdown of social media users

• 18–29: ≈254 users (≈84% of this age group; ≈19% of all social users)
• 30–49: ≈451 users (≈81%; ≈34%)
• 50–64: ≈373 users (≈73%; ≈29%)
• 65+: ≈230 users (≈45%; ≈18%)

Gender breakdown

• Male: ≈646 users (≈70% of adult men use social media)
• Female: ≈665 users (≈75% of adult women use social media)

Most‑used platforms (share of adults; reach is non‑exclusive)

• YouTube: ≈78% of adults (≈1,410 people)
• Facebook: ≈65% (≈1,180)
• Instagram: ≈35% (≈630)
• Pinterest: ≈30% (≈540)
• TikTok: ≈28% (≈510)
• Snapchat: ≈24% (≈430)
• X (Twitter): ≈18% (≈330)
• LinkedIn: ≈17% (≈310)
• Reddit: ≈14% (≈250)
• Nextdoor: ≈10% (≈180)

Behavioral trends observed in rural Great Plains counties and consistent with Niobrara’s profile

• Facebook as the community hub: Local groups (schools, sports, 4‑H/FFA, churches), county/sheriff notices, events, and Marketplace drive the highest engagement; posts with names/faces and local outcomes perform best.
• YouTube as utility viewing: High use for weather, ranching/repair, DIY, equipment, and hunting/outdoors; much of it via smart TVs in the evening.
• Younger cohorts split attention: 18–29s concentrate on Snapchat (messaging/stories), Instagram (visual social), and TikTok (entertainment/how‑to); creation skews to short video, consumption is passive scrolling.
• Older cohorts consolidate on Facebook: 50+ rely on Facebook and Messenger; Instagram/TikTok usage rises among 50–64 but remains modest 65+.
• Commerce and information: Facebook Marketplace is the default for local buy/sell/trade; county/government and school athletics posts generate reliable reach; significant spikes during storms, road closures, and wildfire season.
• Posting rhythms: Engagement peaks early morning (5:30–8:00), lunch, and evenings (7:00–9:30); weekends see stronger Marketplace and event interactions.
• Trust dynamics: Local sources and known administrators outrank national media links; native text/image posts outperform external link shares.

Notes on method and sources

• Counts and percentages are modeled for Niobrara County by applying 2023 Census population/age structure and ACS broadband context to Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. social media adoption rates with rural/older‑population adjustments. Platform figures reflect estimated adult reach (non‑exclusive). Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates; ACS 2019–2023 S2801) and Pew Research Center (Social Media Use in 2024).