As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 57,159 people, 22,671 households, and 15,779 families in the county. The population density was 29.0/sqmi (11.2/km2). There were 33,862 housing units at an average density of 17.2/sqmi (6.63/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.11% White, 0.29% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population. 35.5% were of German and 31.2% Norwegian ancestry.