In the Nebraska license plate system, Antelope County is represented by the prefix 26 (it had the twenty-sixth-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).
1880 - 3,953 1890 - 10,399 1900 - 11,344 1910 - 14,003 1920 - 15,243 1930 - 15,206 1940 - 13,289 1950 - 11,264 1960 - 10,176 1970 - 9,047 1980 - 8,675 1990 - 7,965 2000 - 7,452
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,452 people, 2,953 households, and 2,073 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,346 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.82% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 57.9% were of German, 6.6% English, 6.6% American and 5.9% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 2,953 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,114, and the median income for a family was $36,240. Males had a median income of $26,288 versus $16,926 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,601. About 10.30% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.