Write an article that answers the following question: Which ancestral group is larger: Irish or Italian?
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,599 people, 18,210 households, and 11,617 families residing in the county. The population density was 97 people per square mile (38/km²). There were 20,116 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.95% Race (United States Census), 0.86% Race (United States Census) or Race (United States Census), 0.27% Race (United States Census), 0.41% Race (United States Census), 0.01% Race (United States Census), 0.32% from Race (United States Census), and 1.18% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Race (United States Census) or Race (United States Census) of any race. 17.3% were of English, 16.9% Irish, 14.2% German, 13.0% Italian and 9.9% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% spoke English and 1.4% Spanish as their first language.