As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 12,389 people, 5,029 households, and 3,319 families in the county. The population density was 9.66/sqmi (3.73/km2). There were 5,757 housing units at an average density of 4.49/sqmi (1.73/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.86% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 1.02% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.51% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 5.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.7% were of Norwegian, 14.6% German, 8.7% Polish and 8.0% Czech ancestry.