\nAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,683 km² (2,580 mi²). 6,647 km² (2,566 mi²) of it is land and 36 km² (14 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.54% water.
Demographics
\nAs of the census2
of 2000, there are 21,416 people,
7,060 households, and 5,485 families residing in the county. The population
density is 3/km² (8/mi²). There are 7,862 housing units at an average
density of 1/km² (3/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 84.69%
White,
0.17% Black
or African
American, 0.80% Native
American, 0.37% Asian,
0.05% Pacific
Islander, 12.06% from other
races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 18.74% of the population are Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. There are 7,060 households out of which 42.40% have children under
the age of 18 living with them, 65.20% are married couples living together, 8.80%
have a female householder with no husband present, and 22.30% are non-families.
19.50% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.50% have someone living
alone who is 65 years of age or older. The
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average household size is 2.99 and the average family size is 3.46. In the county
the population is spread out with 34.10% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to
24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who are 65 years of
age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 101.20
males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.70 males. The median
income for a household in the county is $33,322, and the median income for a family
is $38,162. Males have a median income of $29,132 versus $19,851 for females.
The per capita income for the county is $14,087. 13.60% of the population and
11.10% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living
in poverty, 17.60% are under the age of 18 and 8.00% are 65 or older.
