Sublette County

Key demographics for Sublette County, Wyoming

Population size

• 8,728 (2020 Census)
• ~8.8k (2023 Census estimate; slight change from 2020)

Age

• Median age: ~42 years (ACS 2019–2023)
• Under 18: ~23%
• 18 to 64: ~59%
• 65 and over: ~18%

Gender

• Male: ~52–53%
• Female: ~47–48%

Racial/ethnic composition (ACS 2019–2023)

• White alone: ~94%
• White alone, not Hispanic/Latino: ~85%
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~10%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: ~1–2%
• Asian: ~1%
• Black or African American: <1%
• Two or more races: ~3%

Household data (ACS 2019–2023)

• Households: ~3,600
• Persons per household (avg): ~2.4
• Family households: ~66%
• Households with children under 18: ~27%
• Owner-occupied housing rate: ~79%

Insights

• Population declined from 2010 to 2020 and has since stabilized near 8.8k.
• Age profile is older than the U.S. overall, with about one in six residents 65+.
• Slight male majority, consistent with regional energy-sector employment.
• High homeownership and small household size typical of rural Wyoming.

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

Sublette County, WY email usage snapshot (2025 est.)

• Population and density: 8,728 residents (2020 Census) across ≈4,935 sq mi; ≈1.8 people/sq mi.
• Estimated email users: ≈6,000 individuals (≈69% of total population; ≈88% of adults).
• Gender split among users: ≈53% male (≈3,180) and ≈47% female (≈2,820), reflecting the county’s male-leaning demographics.
• Age distribution of email users (counts, share):
  • 13–17: ≈420 (7%)
  • 18–34: ≈1,320 (22%)
  • 35–54: ≈1,980 (33%)
  • 55–64: ≈1,080 (18%)
  • 65+: ≈1,200 (20%)
• Digital access and trends:
  • ≈3,500 households; ≈82% have a broadband subscription (≈2,870 households).
  • ≈14% of households are smartphone/cellular-primary for home internet.
  • Gigabit fiber available in town centers (e.g., Pinedale, Marbleton, Big Piney); outside towns, access often via fixed wireless or legacy DSL, with satellite filling remote gaps.
  • 4G LTE covers major corridors (US-191/189); 5G is town-centric with limited rural reach.

Insights: Email penetration is near-universal among working-age adults and steadily increasing among seniors as fiber and satellite expand. Extremely low population density drives reliance on wireless and satellite outside town centers, shaping access speeds and reliability.

Sublette County, WY mobile phone usage summary (focus on county-specific patterns vs statewide)

At-a-glance context

• Population and households: 8,728 residents (2020 Census), roughly 3,500 households across 4,936 square miles (about 1.8 people per square mile). The county is entirely non-metro and largely rural, with towns concentrated along US-191/US-189 and expansive federal land (Bridger-Teton NF, BLM) limiting universal coverage.
• Economic mix: Energy, ranching, government/land management, small tourism/outdoor recreation. Cyclical oil and gas activity creates uneven, corridor-focused demand for mobile capacity.

User estimates (2025)

• Adult smartphone users: approximately 5,300 adults, or about 82% of the adult population. This is a few points lower than Wyoming’s urban centers and statewide averages, reflecting the county’s older, more rural profile.
• Adults using basic/feature phones: roughly 700 (≈10%).
• Adults with no mobile phone: roughly 600 (≈8%).
• Household mobile substitution: the majority of households rely on wireless as their primary voice connection; mobile-only voice is common in town centers and work camps, while landline retention is higher on outlying ranches where indoor cellular signal can be weak.
• Mobile data behavior: higher-than-state-average use of mobile hotspots and smartphone tethering for home or on-ranch connectivity where wired broadband is limited or costly; data consumption spikes seasonally with recreation traffic and during energy project peaks.

Demographic breakdown and usage patterns

• Age: Sublette skews slightly older than the state overall. Smartphone adoption remains near-saturated among 18–49, dips for 50–64, and is notably lower (but rising) among 65+. As a result, countywide adoption trails Wyoming’s urban counties by several points.
• Income and occupation: Middle-to-high household incomes tied to energy jobs support modern smartphone ownership and multi-line family plans, but coverage constraints (not affordability) are the main limiter in remote areas.
• Geography: Residents living outside Pinedale, Big Piney, and Marbleton are more likely to rely on external antennas, boosters, Wi‑Fi calling, and hybrid setups (mobile + fixed wireless/satellite). Backcountry users (ranch, field crews, outfitters) often carry dual-SIM or company-issued lines on different carriers to hedge coverage gaps.

Digital infrastructure and coverage

• Carriers present: Verizon and Union Wireless have the broadest practical footprint; AT&T has solid corridor/town coverage and FirstNet presence; T‑Mobile coverage is limited outside towns and major highways. Many users maintain a primary line plus a backup hotspot or device on a different network.
• 4G LTE: Strong in Pinedale, Marbleton/Big Piney, along US‑191/US‑189, and at some energy field sites; large wilderness blocks and basins remain uncovered.
• 5G: Low-band 5G is available in and around towns and along primary corridors; mid-band 5G (capacity layers) is sparse compared with Wyoming’s larger cities, so real-world speeds often resemble good LTE outside a few nodes.
• Capacity and backhaul: Sites serving Pinedale and energy corridors can experience peak-time congestion during summer recreation and project surges. Backhaul mixes fiber where highway-adjacent and microwave on remote spurs; weather and power events can impact resilience.
• In-building service: Metal and log construction, plus distance from sites, commonly necessitate Wi‑Fi calling and cellular boosters for reliable indoor voice/SMS.

How Sublette County differs from Wyoming statewide trends

• Adoption: Overall adult smartphone adoption is slightly lower than the statewide average due to older age structure and extensive rural residency, despite comparable device affordability.
• Carrier mix: Union Wireless plays a larger role than in many other Wyoming counties; T‑Mobile’s footprint is smaller. Many residents optimize for Verizon or Union coverage rather than chasing the latest 5G performance tiers available in Cheyenne, Casper, or along I‑25/I‑80.
• Coverage pattern: A higher share of land area lacks any signal because of terrain and federal land siting constraints; Wyoming is rural statewide, but Sublette’s combination of mountains, basins, and very low density makes true universal coverage harder than the state average.
• Usage profile: Greater reliance on mobile hotspots/tethering as a practical supplement to fixed internet compared with the state overall, and more dual-carrier or company-provided lines to ensure field reliability.
• Seasonality: Sharper seasonal demand spikes from outdoor recreation and intermittent energy projects than seen in many other counties, producing localized capacity constraints even when nominal coverage exists.

Practical implications

• Network planning benefits most from adding capacity and hardening along US‑191/US‑189, in Pinedale and the Marbleton–Big Piney area, and at known energy-field clusters and trailheads rather than attempting broad-area buildouts across wilderness.
• Programs that bundle boosters, external antennas, and Wi‑Fi calling education can close most of the remaining indoor reliability gap in outlying homes.
• For residents and businesses that must stay connected in the field, dual-carrier strategies (e.g., Verizon + Union Wireless) and offline-capable apps are materially more valuable in Sublette than in most of Wyoming.

Sublette County, WY: Social media usage snapshot (2025)

Scope and basis

• Modeled county-level estimates for adults (18+) using Pew Research Center’s 2024 U.S. platform adoption rates, adjusted to Sublette County’s age/sex mix (ACS 2019–2023). Figures represent percent of adults.

Overall usage

• Any social media: 72% of adults
• By age:
  • 18–29: 84%
  • 30–49: 81%
  • 50–64: 73%
  • 65+: 45%
• Gender split among users: roughly 52% male, 48% female (mirrors the county’s slight male majority)

Most-used platforms (percent of adults)

• YouTube: 83%
• Facebook: 67%
• Instagram: 45%
• Pinterest: 35%
• TikTok: 33%
• Snapchat: 30%
• WhatsApp: 29%
• LinkedIn: 30%
• X (Twitter): 22%
• Reddit: 22% Note: YouTube and Facebook are the clear reach leaders; Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Snapchat form a strong second tier.

Behavioral trends and patterns

• Community-first Facebook usage: High engagement in local groups (county alerts, schools, buy/sell, events), with spikes around winter road closures, wildfire conditions, hunting seasons, and school sports.
• Marketplace and classifieds: Facebook Marketplace is the default for local commerce; posts featuring ranching, outdoor gear, vehicles, and housing rentals perform best.
• Short-form and messaging for under-35: Snapchat and Instagram Stories for day-to-day socializing; TikTok for entertainment, outdoor/recreation content, and creator discovery. Direct messaging (Messenger, Snapchat, WhatsApp) is central to coordination among younger residents and shift workers.
• Video for “how-to” and outdoors: YouTube is widely used for DIY, vehicle and equipment maintenance, hunting/fishing tactics, and backcountry preparedness.
• Gender skews:
  • Women over-index on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest (planning, community info, crafts/home/outdoor lifestyle).
  • Men over-index on YouTube, Reddit, and X (mechanical/tech, news/sports, policy debate).
• Time-of-day and seasonality: Engagement peaks before work (early morning) and after dinner; lower mid-day. Seasonal swings align with fieldwork/outdoor seasons and school calendars; storm events trigger rapid surges in local information sharing.
• Professional networking: LinkedIn usage exists but is secondary; energy, trades, healthcare, and education professionals use it for recruitment and mobility rather than daily engagement.
• News and local info pathways: Facebook groups/pages and YouTube clips are primary; X is niche for statewide and national news tracking.

Key takeaways

• Reach and reliability: Facebook + YouTube deliver the broadest local reach; pairing them covers both community updates and deep “how-to” consumption.
• Youth engagement: Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok drive attention under 35; creative, vertical, short-form content outperforms static posts.
• Commerce and conversion: Marketplace (Facebook) and Reels/Shorts (FB/IG/YouTube) are the best levers for local sales and event turnout.
• Content themes that resonate: Outdoor life, local safety/road status, school and sports, energy/trades, DIY/mechanical, and buy/sell.