Park County

Park County, Wyoming — key demographics

Population size

• 2020 Census: 29,624
• 2023 estimate (PEP): ~30,300

Age

• Median age: ~44 years
• Under 18: ~21%
• 65 and over: ~22%

Gender

• Male: ~50%
• Female: ~50%

Racial/ethnic composition

• White alone: ~93%
• White, non-Hispanic: ~86%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race): ~8–9%
• Two or more races: ~3%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~1–2%
• Asian: ~0.5–1%
• Black or African American: ~0.3%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: ~0.1%

Household data

• Households: ~12,400–12,700
• Average household size: ~2.3
• Family households: ~64%
• Married-couple families: ~52%
• Households with children under 18: ~25–26%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~71%

Insights

• Small, slowly growing county with an older age profile.
• Predominantly White non-Hispanic, with a modest and growing Hispanic/Latino population.
• Household structure skews toward married-couple family households with high owner-occupancy.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Decennial Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey 5-year; 2023 Population Estimates).

Park County, WY email usage snapshot

• Population/density: 29,624 residents (2020 Census) across ~6,967 sq mi ≈ 4.3 people/sq mi.
• Estimated email users: ~25,331 residents (applying 85.5% U.S. email penetration to Park County; Insider Intelligence, 2023).
• Age distribution of users (estimated):
  • 18–29: ~4,200 (≈17%)
  • 30–49: ~8,400 (≈33%)
  • 50–64: ~7,100 (≈28%)
  • 65+: ~5,500 (≈22%) (Derived by applying national age-specific adoption patterns to Park County’s age mix.)
• Gender split: ~50/50 male–female; email adoption shows negligible gender gap at the national level (Pew Research).
• Digital access trends and local connectivity:
  • Approximately mid-80s% of households have a broadband subscription; roughly 9 in 10 have a computer (ACS S2801, 2022), indicating strong baseline digital access.
  • Highest fixed broadband capacity is concentrated in Cody and Powell (cable/fiber); rural tracts rely more on DSL, fixed wireless, or satellite.
  • Sparse population and mountainous terrain (Shoshone National Forest/Yellowstone areas) create pockets of weaker terrestrial and mobile coverage outside main corridors, though populated areas have robust service.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (2020), American Community Survey S2801 (2022), Pew Research Center (technology adoption by age/gender), Insider Intelligence (U.S. email penetration, 2023).

Mobile phone usage in Park County, Wyoming — summary with county-level estimates, demographic context, infrastructure, and how it differs from statewide patterns

Top-line user estimates

• Population baseline: about 30,200 residents (2023 estimate).
• Adults (18+): about 23,600.
• Estimated smartphone users: about 20,000 residents overall.
  • Among adults: ≈19,600 users, about 83% of adults.
  • Across the whole population: ≈66% (reflects children under 12–15 with lower ownership).
• Adults using a basic/feature phone or no mobile phone: ≈3,900 (≈16% of adults).
• Wireless-only households (no landline): ≈63% of households, or roughly 8,000 of ~12,700 households. This is lower than the Wyoming statewide share (≈69%).
• Households primarily relying on cellular data for home internet: ≈10% in the county, versus ≈8% statewide.

Demographic breakdown influencing usage

• Older age structure: about 21% of Park County residents are 65+ (vs ≈17% statewide), which depresses overall smartphone penetration.
  • Estimated senior smartphone users: ≈3,900 (about 62% of seniors).
  • Seniors without smartphones (feature phone or none): ≈2,400.
• Working-age adults 18–49 have near-saturated adoption:
  • 18–29: ≈96% smartphone ownership.
  • 30–49: ≈95%.
  • 50–64: ≈83%.
• Income/plan mix: Median household income is slightly below the state median, with a noticeable share of budget-conscious plans (prepaid and cable-MVNO lines, e.g., Spectrum Mobile where cable service exists).
• Seasonal population swings: A large summer tourism influx raises temporary/prepaid line activations and increases network load, especially around Cody, Wapiti, the East Entrance corridor to Yellowstone, and along US-14/16/20 and WY-120.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carrier footprint
  • Verizon: Broadest rural coverage and the most reliable signal outside towns; 4G LTE across population centers and main corridors; low-band 5G in Cody and Powell.
  • AT&T: Solid in town centers and along primary highways; 5G present in Cody/Powell; FirstNet coverage benefits public safety and also improves general capacity where Band 14 is present.
  • T-Mobile: Good in Cody and Powell and along select corridors using low-band 5G; coverage thins quickly in mountain valleys and remote areas.
• 5G status
  • Low-band 5G covers the urban grid in Cody and Powell for all three national carriers.
  • Mid-band 5G (capacity-focused) remains limited; most 5G outside towns rides on low-band spectrum, so speeds are often 4G-like.
• Terrain-driven gaps
  • Expect dead zones in mountain canyons, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296), Sunlight Basin, South Fork Road, and on the approaches to Yellowstone. Coverage inside the park remains sparse outside developed villages and is capacity-constrained during peak season.
• Backhaul and last-mile
  • Fiber and cable backhaul concentrate in Cody and Powell (supporting better urban performance).
  • Fixed wireless and LTE/5G home internet are offered in and around Cody/Powell; availability drops outside these areas due to spectrum/capacity limits.
  • Many rural households depend on Wi‑Fi calling indoors because of weak in-home signal penetration.

How Park County differs from Wyoming overall

• Lower smartphone penetration: About 83% of adults vs a higher statewide rate, driven by Park County’s older age profile and more dispersed rural settlement.
• More pronounced coverage gaps: Mountainous public lands and long distances create larger contiguous no-signal areas than typical Wyoming counties outside the northwest.
• Slower 5G capacity rollout: Park County relies more on low-band 5G; mid-band deployments are more advanced in Cheyenne, Casper, and along the I‑25/I‑80 corridors.
• Higher reliance on cellular as primary internet in remote areas: A bigger slice of households use cellular data (or combine it with satellite) due to limited wireline options outside Cody/Powell.
• Stronger seasonality: Summer tourism produces sharper swings in mobile traffic, congestion, and roaming than the state average.

Key takeaways for planning and operations

• User base: ≈20,000 smartphone users today, with growth driven mostly by gradual senior adoption and in-migration rather than youth saturation.
• Network focus: Reliability matters more than peak speeds; Verizon leads for countywide reach, AT&T is strong on corridors and with FirstNet, T-Mobile is most competitive in Cody/Powell.
• Performance management: Seasonal congestion and terrain limitations mean capacity upgrades in Cody/Powell and along US‑14/16/20 and WY‑120 yield outsized benefits; Wi‑Fi offload and indoor coverage solutions remain important for residents and businesses.

Notes on method

• Estimates combine US Census/ACS population and age structure for Park County (most recent 5‑year releases) with Pew Research smartphone adoption by age (2023–2024). Wireless-only household and cellular-as-primary-internet figures are inferred from CDC/NHIS and ACS internet subscription patterns, adjusted for rural profile and local infrastructure. Figures are rounded to reflect estimation uncertainty while remaining decision-useful.

Park County, WY — social media usage snapshot

Population base

• Residents: 29,624 (2020 Census). Adults (18+): about 78% (~23,100).
• Gender: ~51% male, ~49% female.
• Age mix: Under 18: ~22%; 18–24: ~7%; 25–44: ~24%; 45–64: ~26%; 65+: ~21%.

Overall social media reach

• Estimated adults using at least one social platform: ~16,000–16,700 (about 70–72% of adults), reflecting rural U.S. adoption levels.

Most-used platforms (adults) Note: Percentages reflect Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. adult adoption; local counts are estimates applying those rates to Park County’s adult population (~23,100).

• YouTube: 83% (19,200 adults)
• Facebook: 68% (15,700)
• Instagram: 47% (10,900)
• Pinterest: 35% (8,100)
• TikTok: 33% (7,600)
• Snapchat: 30% (6,900)
• LinkedIn: 30% (6,900)
• WhatsApp: 26% (6,000)
• X (Twitter): 22% (5,100)
• Reddit: 22% (5,100)

Age-group usage patterns (behavioral highlights, aligned with national patterns and local context)

• Teens/18–24: Heavy on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube. Snapchat and TikTok dominate daily messaging and short-form video; Instagram Reels sees strong use. Local college population in Powell boosts this segment.
• 25–44: YouTube and Facebook are core; Instagram is strong for lifestyle, family, and outdoor content. Marketplace and local buy/sell groups are routine.
• 45–64: Facebook is the day-to-day hub for news, community updates, events, and Marketplace; YouTube for how‑to, equipment/DIY, and outdoor content.
• 65+: Facebook and YouTube lead; Facebook Groups are key for civic info, health/community services, and church or volunteer networks.

Gender skews by platform

• Women: Higher propensity for Facebook Groups/Marketplace and Pinterest; Instagram strong for family, travel, and local businesses.
• Men: Higher propensity for YouTube (mechanical/DIY/outdoors), Reddit (niche interests), and Facebook Groups around hunting, ranching, vehicles, and sports.

Local behavioral trends to know

• Facebook is the community backbone: Events (Cody Nite Rodeo, Park County Fair), school and road/wildfire updates, lost-and-found, rentals, and buy/sell/trade groups drive daily engagement.
• Tourism amplifies visuals: Instagram and Facebook see spikes May–September with Yellowstone gateway travel; scenic photo/video performs best. Reels/shorts materially improve reach.
• Video-first discovery: YouTube and TikTok fuel trip planning (itineraries, dining, lodging, outfitters) and how‑to/outdoor content (fishing, hunting, snow sports).
• Messaging ecosystems: Facebook Messenger is ubiquitous; WhatsApp usage appears among seasonal/hospitality workers and international visitors, though overall share is smaller than Messenger.
• Nextdoor-type use is largely inside Facebook Groups given the rural footprint; neighborhood coordination happens there rather than on standalone neighborhood apps.
• Timing: Engagement reliably clusters early mornings (before work/school) and evenings; event-driven spikes occur around holidays, rodeo/fair weeks, and hunting season.
• Paid performance pattern: Facebook/Instagram offer the most efficient local reach; short-form video boosts awareness among 18–34. LinkedIn is niche (healthcare, education, public sector), and Snapchat/TikTok buys are best for youth-targeted campaigns.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau (Decennial 2020; ACS age/gender shares for Park County).
• Pew Research Center, Social Media Use in 2024 (platform adoption rates for U.S. adults).