Total population (1990 census): 40342
County seat: Fort Dodge
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 762 | 183897 | 25972338 bu | |
| Oats | 47 | 1182 | 87895 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 773 | 186828 | 8373468 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 176 | 3113 | 9181 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 144 | 2496 | 7848 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 16 | 130 | 173 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 24 | 219 | 444 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 5 | 41 | 54 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 10 | 227 | 1988 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 35 | 916 | 16210 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Snap Bean | 6 | D | ||
| Beets | 4 | 1 | ||
| Head Cabbage | 4 | 1 | ||
| Cantaloupes | 3 | 1 | ||
| Carrots | 3 | 1 | ||
| Cucumbers & Pickles | 6 | 9 | ||
| Eggplant | 3 | Z | ||
| Dry Onions | 3 | 1 | ||
| Green Peas | 3 | 1 | ||
| Pumpkins | 7 | 14 | ||
| Squash | 6 | 8 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 10 | 35 | ||
| Tomatoes | 6 | 3 | ||
| Turnips | 3 | Z | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 3 | 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 | 5 | D | D | D |
| Florculture Crops | 3 | D | D | D |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 3 | D | D | D |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
Z=Less than half of the unit shown.