Total population (1990 census): 8365
County seat: Ida Grove
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 493 | 104446 | 13720056 bu | |
| Barley | 13 | 345 | 20860 bu | |
| Oats | 64 | 1175 | 86328 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 466 | 91543 | 4130035 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 247 | 8205 | 24329 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 202 | 6087 | 20178 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 36 | 573 | 1168 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 48 | 812 | 1017 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 7 | 153 | 185 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 15 | 580 | 5344 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 73 | 2302 | 34014 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Sweet Corn | 3 | 13 | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 4 | D | D | |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops, Cut Christmas Trees Harvested, Mushrooms, and Sod Grown for Sale | Farms | Sq. ft. under glass or other protection | Acres in the open | Sales ($1,000) |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 3 | D | 9 | D |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.