As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 21,908 people, 8,954 households, and 5,649 families in the county. The population density was 10 per square mile (4/km2). There were 9,817 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.53% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.3% were of German and 18.0% Norwegian ancestry.