As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 2,837 people, 1,140 households, and 803 families living in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 1,410 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.59% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.4% were of German, 16.9% Norwegian, 10.0% Irish and 8.2% English ancestry. 97.2% spoke English and 1.7% German as their first language.