2020 census As of the
2020 census, the county had a population of 22,210. The median age was 44.6 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 95.7%
White, 0.7%
Black or African American, 0.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
Asian, <0.1%
Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 2.9% from
two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.8% of the population. 12.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 88.0% lived in rural areas. There were 9,204 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.1% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 11,191 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.4% white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population. Of the 9,557 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.9% were non-families, and 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 41.2 years.
2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 23,072 people, 9,234 households, and 6,574 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 10,782 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.73%
White, 0.69%
Black or
African American, 0.27%
Native American, 0.10%
Asian, 0.25% from
other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. There were 9,234 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males. The median income for a household in the county was $27,287, and the median income for a family was $33,071. Males had a median income of $30,821 versus $19,621 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,848. About 14.30% of families and 19.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.30% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over. ==Politics==