Total population (1996 census): 323,579
County seat: Hamilton
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 313 | 34453 | 3596832 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 164 | 7421 | 330211 bu | |
| Oats | 17 | 215 | 11938 bu | |
| Rye | 3 | D | 11938 lbs, shelled | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 282 | 33080 | 1235723 bu | |
| Total Hay* | 456 | 14582 | 34146 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 284 | 6971 | 19165 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 32 | 534 | 927 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 180 | 4550 | 9886 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 69 | 1356 | 2495 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 23 | 1171 | 5020 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 78 | 2436 | 33210 tons, grn | |
| Sorghum for Silage | 4 | 67 | 490 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Snap Bean | 4 | D | ||
| Cantaloupes | 3 | D | ||
| Green Peas | 3 | 1 | ||
| Sweet Peppers | 5 | D | ||
| Pumpkins | 11 | 46 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 12 | 30 | ||
| Tomatoes | 14 | 11 | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 11 | 30 | 2555 trees | |
| Grapes | 5 | 2 | 410 vines | |
| Peaches | 4 | D | 202 trees | |
| Pears | 6 | 3 | 93 trees | |
| 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 | 43 | 312895 | 391 | 3251 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 10 | X | 49 | X |
| Florculture Crops | 16 | 219645 | 3 | 1914 |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 13 | 201795 | D | 1810 |
| Cut Flowers and Cut Florist Greens | 3 | D | D | D |
| Potted Flowering Plants | 3 | D | D | D |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 7 | X | 27 | 191 |
| Nursery Crops | 21 | D | 198 | 1052 |
| Other Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 7 | D | 113 | 11 |
| Herb, Spice, Medicinal, Bioactive... | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Tobacco | 4 | D | 14115 lbs | |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.