2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,631, a median age of 53.6 years, and 17.4% of residents under the age of 18 while 29.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. [14]
For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.7 males age 18 and over. [14]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.0% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population. [15]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. [16]
There were 5,521 households in the county, of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.2% were married-couple households, 25.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [14]
There were 8,878 housing units, of which 37.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.3% were owner-occupied and 18.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%. [14]
2010 census
The 2010 United States census indicates Iron County had a population of 11,817, 5,577 households, and 3,284 families, for a population density of 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 9,197 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km2). This decrease of 1,321 people from the 2000 United States census represents a 10.1% population decrease. [17]
In 2010, 97.1% of the population were White, 2.9% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.2% of some other race, and 1.4% of two or more races; 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Culturally, 14.3% were of German, 11.5% Finnish, 11.3% Italian, 8.6% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 8.0% Swedish, 6.5% English, 5.8% American and 5.4% Irish ancestry. [18]
In 2010, there were 5,577 households, out of which 18.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.65. [17]
The county population contained 17.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 17.2% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.9 years. 49.3% of the population was male, 50.7% was female. [17]
In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $35,390, and the median income for a family was $46,337. The per capita income for the county was $20,099. About 6.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over. [17]
United States
Michigan 
