Sheridan County

Sheridan County, Wyoming — key demographics (latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates unless noted)

• Population size: ~31,700 (2023 est.); 30,921 (2020 Census)
• Age
  • Median age: ~43 years
  • Under 18: ~21%
  • 18–64: ~60%
  • 65+: ~19%
• Gender (sex at birth)
  • Female: ~50%
  • Male: ~50%
• Race/ethnicity
  • White, non-Hispanic: ~87%
  • Hispanic/Latino (any race): ~6%
  • Two or more races: ~4%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~2%
  • Asian: ~1%
  • Black or African American: <1%
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander and other: <1%
• Households
  • Total households: ~13,900
  • Average household size: ~2.2
  • Family households: ~58% of households
  • Married-couple families: ~48% of households
  • Households with children under 18: ~24%
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~69%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates; 2020 Decennial Census.

• Locale: Sheridan County, Wyoming (2020 pop. 30,921) spans ~2,527 sq mi, ~12 people per sq mi (about 5 households per sq mi), reflecting sparse rural connectivity outside the City of Sheridan.
• Estimated email users (adults 18+): ~21,350 users. Method: apply Pew-reported adoption rates to local age mix (18–49 ≈95%, 50–64 ≈90%, 65+ ≈75%).
• Age distribution of adult users (approx.):
  • 18–34: 5,290
  • 35–49: 5,580
  • 50–64: 5,840
  • 65+: 4,640
• Gender split: Email usage is essentially proportional to population (≈51% male, 49% female), yielding ~10,890 male and ~10,460 female users.
• Digital access:
  • Household broadband subscription: ~85% (ACS 2018–2022), with ~91% of households having a computer/smartphone.
  • Smartphone-only internet households: ~7–10%, indicating mobile is a meaningful access mode for email, especially outside town centers.
  • Connectivity pattern: Cable/fiber and high-speed fixed wireless concentrate in Sheridan and along main corridors; ranching areas experience longer last-mile runs and more reliance on fixed wireless/DSL, influencing email access quality during peak hours.
• Insight: With roughly seven in ten residents (and over 85% of households online) using email, outreach is broadest via mobile-friendly email, with special attention to older adults and low-density fringe areas where speeds and reliability vary.

Sheridan County, Wyoming — mobile phone usage snapshot (distinctive vs statewide patterns)

Population baseline

• Population: 30,921 (2020 Census). The county is older than the Wyoming average (median age ~42 vs ~38 statewide), which dampens smartphone uptake relative to the state.

User estimates (adults)

• Adults (18+): ≈24,000 (derived from county age structure in Census/ACS).
• Mobile phone users (any cellphone): ≈23,000–24,000 adults (95–98% adult ownership typical in rural U.S.).
• Smartphone users: ≈20,000–21,000 adults (about 83–87% adult penetration after adjusting national rates for the county’s older age mix).
• Mobile data users (regular cellular data usage ≥1 GB/month): ≈18,000–19,000 adults. Usage intensity is highest in Sheridan city/valley and lower in foothill and ranch tracts where coverage and backhaul are thinner.

How Sheridan County differs from Wyoming overall

• Slightly lower smartphone penetration: The county’s older age profile pulls smartphone adoption 1–3 percentage points below the statewide adult average.
• More consistent 5G in population centers: Because people are concentrated in the I‑90 corridor (Ranchester–Sheridan–Story), 5G population coverage in the county’s lived areas is higher than in many rural Wyoming counties that lack an interstate corridor.
• Fewer “mobile‑only” households in town: Sheridan city has strong cable and growing fiber options; as a result, the share of households relying only on mobile data for home internet is lower in town than the statewide rural norm. In outlying areas without cable/fiber, mobile‑only reliance rises and can exceed the state rural average.
• Sharper seasonal peaks: Summer tourism (Bighorn Mountains) and major events (e.g., rodeo) cause above‑average, short‑duration spikes in mobile traffic compared with the state baseline.

Demographic breakdown of users (estimates reflect local age mix)

• 18–29: Near‑universal smartphone ownership (~95%+). Heavy use of app‑based messaging and video.
• 30–49: ~92–95% smartphone ownership. Highest share of multi‑line family plans and hotspot use.
• 50–64: ~80–85% smartphone ownership. Voice/text still important; growing telehealth and banking usage.
• 65+: ~70–75% smartphone ownership (higher than past years but below younger cohorts). Larger share of basic/entry smartphones; lower video consumption; higher use of voice/SMS and patient portals.
• Urban vs rural within the county: In the city/valley, smartphone penetration tracks state averages; in foothills and ranch areas, adoption is a few points lower and data usage per line is lower due to signal constraints.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Carriers and coverage
  • Verizon, AT&T (including FirstNet), and T‑Mobile all serve the county. Coverage is strong along I‑90, US‑87, and in Sheridan, Ranchester, Dayton, Big Horn, and Story.
  • 5G availability: In and around Sheridan city and along I‑90, low‑band 5G is common on all three national carriers; mid‑band 5G is present in core urban/traffic corridors. Away from the corridor, LTE remains the primary layer.
  • Terrain constraints: The Bighorn foothills and canyons west of Dayton/Big Horn produce persistent dead zones and capacity drops; emergency/FirstNet coverage has improved but is still terrain‑limited in pockets.
• Backhaul and fixed networks that underpin mobile
  • Sheridan city has robust cable (Charter Spectrum) and business/municipal fiber; ACT/Range and Lumen/CenturyLink provide fiber/DSL in parts of the county; regional ISPs (e.g., Visionary Broadband and others) operate fixed wireless and selective fiber.
  • This fiber/cable presence in town gives carriers stronger backhaul and denser sites than many Wyoming counties without an interstate corridor, improving 4G/5G capacity where most residents live.
• Mobile home internet
  • T‑Mobile 5G Home Internet is widely available in Sheridan city/valley; Verizon 5G/LTE Home is available in select sectors. Availability drops outside the corridor where mid‑band 5G and backhaul thin out.
• Public safety
  • AT&T’s FirstNet upgrades since 2018 have added/modernized sites in and around Sheridan, improving coverage on primary routes and in-town facilities; remote wildland areas still depend on deployables during incidents.

Usage patterns and market nuances

• Plan mix: Higher share of family and small‑business plans in town; higher share of prepaid and single‑line accounts in remote areas where broadband alternatives are limited.
• Applications: In‑town users show higher streaming and cloud‑app use; rural users rely more on voice/SMS, push‑to‑talk apps, and offline‑capable services due to spotty coverage and data caps.
• Roaming/hand‑offs: Cross‑border travel into Montana via I‑90 sees smooth hand‑offs; coverage becomes sparse quickly on mountain byways, affecting continuous turn‑by‑turn navigation and telematics.

Method notes (for transparency)

• Population is from the 2020 Census. Adult counts and user totals are estimated from Census/ACS age structure paired with current national smartphone/cellphone ownership rates (Pew/industry), adjusted for the county’s older age profile and rural geography. Infrastructure points reflect carrier public coverage disclosures, FCC map patterns, state broadband program reporting, and known local providers.

Sheridan County, WY social media snapshot (2025)

• Population baseline: ≈31.5k residents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 county estimate)
• Estimated social media users: ≈23.3k residents (≈74% of total population)

Most-used platforms (estimated share of residents; multi-platform use means totals exceed 100%)

• YouTube: 70% (22k people)
• Facebook: 58% (18k)
• Instagram: 35% (11k)
• Snapchat: 28% (9k)
• TikTok: 27% (8.5k)
• Pinterest: 26% (8k)
• WhatsApp: 20% (6k)
• X (Twitter): 14% (4.4k)
• LinkedIn: 12% (3.8k)
• Reddit: 12% (3.8k)
• Nextdoor: 9% (2.8k)

Age profile (share using at least one platform; local adoption mirrors national patterns but the county skews older)

• 13–17: ≈90%+
• 18–29: ≈94%
• 30–49: ≈85%
• 50–64: ≈72%
• 65+: ≈50%

Gender breakdown

• Overall users by gender: approximately 52–54% women and 46–48% men
• Platform skews: Pinterest and Snapchat lean female; Reddit and X lean male; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram are near-parity locally

Behavioral trends

• Community-first: Facebook Groups/pages dominate for local news, road and weather updates, school sports, and civic info. Facebook Marketplace and buy/sell/trade groups are highly active (ranch, outdoor, vehicles).
• Video-forward: YouTube is the how-to and lifestyle hub (hunting/fishing, ranch maintenance, local sports/highlights). Short-form video (Reels/TikTok) performs well for rodeo and outdoor content.
• Youth habits: Teens and Sheridan College students cluster on Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram DMs; rapid engagement with peer-created, event-based posts.
• Local business use: Restaurants, outfitters, real estate, and healthcare find strongest reach via Facebook + Instagram cross-posts; geotargeted boosts within 20–50 miles work efficiently.
• Seasonality: Engagement rises around summer tourism/rodeo season and during winter weather events; public safety and community-service posts share fastest.
• Timing and device: Engagement is mobile-first with noticeable peaks early morning, lunchtime, and evenings; authenticity (recognizable local faces/voices) outperforms polished corporate creatives.

Method and sources

• Population: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Population Estimates (Sheridan County).
• Percentages are modeled estimates for Sheridan County derived from Pew Research Center’s 2024 Social Media Use (U.S. adult platform adoption) and DataReportal’s 2025 U.S. social media penetration, adjusted for the county’s older-leaning age profile. Figures represent the share of residents who use each platform (not mutually exclusive).