As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 16,338 people, 6,190 households, and 4,438 families in the county. The population density was 9.77/sqmi (3.77/km2). There were 7,101 housing units at an average density of 4.25/sqmi (1.64/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.92% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 1.42% Native American, 1.73% Asian or Yellow, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.0% were of Norwegian, 18.8% German and 10.7% Swedish ancestry.