Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the
2020 census, the county had a population of 23,709, a median age of 44.5 years, 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18, and 20.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.2 males. The population density was . There were 10,905 housing units at an average density of . There were 9,901 households in the county, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.4% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. 20.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 79.3% lived in rural areas.
2000 census As of the
census of 2000, there were 22,780 people, 8,764 households, and 6,213 families residing in the county. The
population density was . There were 9,579 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.70%
White, 0.17%
Black or
African American, 0.11%
Native American, 0.34%
Asian, 0.01%
Pacific Islander, 0.11% from
other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.33% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. 33.6% were of
German, 17.2%
Norwegian, 11.6%
English, 11.3%
Irish and 7.9%
American ancestry. There were 8,764 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were
married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males. ==Politics==