Dent County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 753.5 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 20.8 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 30.3%. On the most recent census form, 98.4% of the population reported only one race, with 0.4% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 0.9% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.40 persons compared to an average family size of 2.90 persons. In 2010 manufacturing was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $41,885. Per capita income grew by 15.7% between 1999 and 2009 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2010) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2010 Census Count)	15,657	2088	Covered Employment	4,089	2108
Growth (%) since 1990	14.3%	1339	Avg wage per job	$28,508	2548
Households (2010)	6,338	2113	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	15.7%	815
Labor Force (persons) (2010)	6,843	2135	Avg wage per job	$41,885	1310
Unemployment Rate (2010)	9.5	1351	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	0.7%	2527
Per Capita Personal Income (2009)	$27,075	2554	Avg wage per job	$41,714	1218
Median Household Income (2009)	$31,240	2827	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	D	N/A
Poverty Rate (2009)	20.4	686	Avg wage per job	D	N/A
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2010 ACS 5yr)	76.0	2,574	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	3.5%	643
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2010 ACS 5yr)	11.2	2,789	Avg wage per job	$41,064	1134