As of the census of 2000, there were 16,428 people, 5,229 households, and 4,094 families living in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 5,773 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 64.96% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 30.69% from other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. 16.3% were of German, 6.2% identified as U.S. or American and 5.6% English ancestry. 57.0% spoke English, 41.7% Spanish and 1.2% German as their first language.