2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 24,435. The median age was 49.1 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.7 males age 18 and over.[23]
The racial makeup of the county was 74.8% White, 6.0% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.9% from some other race, and 10.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 21.3% of the population.[24]
20.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 79.5% lived in rural areas.[25]
There were 10,162 households in the county, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.6% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]
There were 13,122 housing units, of which 22.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.1% were owner-occupied and 21.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.6%.[23]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census[26], 21,804 people, 8,722 households, and 6,044 families resided in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). The 11,113 housing units averaged 12 units per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.58% White, 7.01% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 6.72% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. About 12.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; 34.9% were of German, 16.4% Czech, 7.6% American, and 5.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
Of the 8,722 households, 28.5% had children under 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were not families. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was distributed as 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,526, and for a family was $43,156. Males had a median income of $29,008 versus $20,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,888. About 8.10% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.
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