Total population (1990 census): 28076
County seat: Saint Peter
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 587 | 104077 | 14672953 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 79 | 2289 | 89121 bu | |
| Spring Wheat for Grain | 74 | 2194 | 84840 bu | |
| Winter Wheat for Grain | 5 | 95 | 4281 bu | |
| Barley | 3 | 60 | 4300 bu | |
| Oats | 85 | 1611 | 111844 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 590 | 104669 | 4283283 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 239 | 8028 | 25437 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 199 | 4834 | 18097 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 35 | 483 | 1052 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 20 | 159 | 361 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 46 | 571 | 1144 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 37 | 1981 | 14348 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 97 | 3673 | 65443 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Green Peas | 43 | 2008 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 58 | 3343 | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 4 | 13 | 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 | 4 | D | D | 103 |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.