According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 579 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 578 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.[3] It has a rough hilly surface.[4]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 17,488 in the county, with a population density of 30.1958/sq mi (11.6587/km2). 97.75% of the population reported being of one race. 94.60% were non-Hispanic White, 0.70% were Black, 1.40% were Hispanic, 0.29% were Native American, 0.27% were Asian, 0.01% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 2.74% were some other race or more than one race. There were 8,100 housing units of which 7,141 were occupied.[1]
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,764 in the county, with a population density of 30.7415/sq mi (11.8694/km2). There were 8,028 housing units, of which 7,062 were occupied.[11]
2000 census
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 18,404 people, 6,834 households, and 5,029 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 7,682 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.28% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.30% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,834 households, out of which 36.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.00% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,168, and the median income for a family was $43,607. Males had a median income of $30,712 versus $19,685 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,327. About 6.30% of families and 7.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.50% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.
