Jefferson County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 597.7 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 24.3 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 47.0%. On the 2000 census form, 98.9% of the population reported only one race, with 38.3% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 2.2% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.53 persons compared to an average family size of 3.03 persons. In 2008 Public administration was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $35,367. Per capita income grew by 13.9% between 1997 and 2007 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2008) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2008)	14,547	2125	Covered Employment	2,957	2414
Growth (%) since 1990	28.8%	689	Avg wage per job	$28,841	2224
Households (2000)	4,695	2271	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	3.1%	2483
Labor Force (persons) (2008)	6,868	2131	Avg wage per job	$29,313	2377
Unemployment Rate (2008)	4.9	1946	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	3.6%	846
Per Capita Personal Income (2007)	$26,781	2033	Avg wage per job	$40,730	1117
Median Household Income (2007)	$40,217	1662	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	D	N/A
Poverty Rate (2007)	17.8	843	Avg wage per job	D	N/A
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	73.2	2,181	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	4.3%	370
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	16.9	1,093	Avg wage per job	$46,220	598