 About 14.70% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.00% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.Historically, Nueces County leaned Democratic in presidential elections, though in recent years has narrowly voted Republican.Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 became the first Republican candidate to carry the county.