88.36% were non-Hispanic White, 0.75% were Black, 4.55% were Hispanic, 0.28% were Native American, 0.49% were Asian, 0.12% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 5.46% were some other race or more than one race.

[10] As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 13,035 people, 5,378 households, and 3,597 families residing in the county.

The racial makeup of the county was 98.33% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races.

There were 5,378 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families.

29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Cherokee County is divided into sixteen townships: The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Cherokee County.