Census
The county remained sparsely settled ranching territory for two decades after 1880. It had no towns; the population was nine in 1880, twenty-four in 1890, and seventeen in 1900. Then the county prospered and grew; the population increased from 17 in 1900 to 1,713 in 1910, 4,751 in 1920, and 12,372 in 1930.
The bleak days of the Great Depression dropped the population to 11,931 in 1940, 11,030 in 1950, 10,914 in 1960, and 9,107 in 1970. The population continued its steady decline when the 1980 census reported 8,605 residents, and by 1990 the population had fallen to 6,758, and in 2000 to 6,550.
We shall soon see what the 2010 census tells us.