2020 census As of the
2020 census, the county had a population of 23,568. Of the residents, 20.9% were under the age of 18 and 20.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.0 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.9 males. The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% White, 1.7%
Black or African American, 0.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
Asian, 0.2% from some other race, and 2.8% from
two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.7% of the population. The population density was . There were 12,699 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.1% white, 1.8% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.0% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population. Of the 11,125 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.7% were non-families, and 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 40.9 years.
2000 census As of the
census of 2000, there were 28,253 people, 11,303 households, and 8,217 families living in the county. The
population density was . There were 12,898 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.39%
White, 2.34%
Black or
African American, 0.24%
Native American, 0.21%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander, 0.06% from
other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 0.48% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race. There were 11,303 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were
married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.98. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $21,347, and the median income for a family was $26,581. Males had a median income of $31,660 versus $18,038 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $12,445. About 25.90% of families and 29.70% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 38.90% of those under age 18 and 18.60% of those age 65 or over. ==Politics==