Total population (1996 census): 147,472
County seat: Springfield
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 351 | 63493 | 9064289 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 131 | 7005 | 420007 bu | |
| Oats | 13 | 115 | 7199 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 329 | 62382 | 3056566 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 242 | 7228 | 19589 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 190 | 4910 | 15092 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 18 | 338 | 556 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 72 | 1694 | 3550 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 6 | 46 | 83 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 9 | 240 | 920 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 42 | 1081 | 20946 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Snap Bean | 5 | 2 | ||
| Cantaloupes | 3 | D | ||
| Cucumbers & Pickles | 4 | D | ||
| Sweet Peppers | 4 | 2 | ||
| Pumpkins | 10 | 36 | ||
| Squash | 5 | 1 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 17 | 222 | ||
| Tomatoes | 13 | 15 | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 15 | 74 | 5983 trees | |
| Cherries, Total | 3 | 1 | 7 trees | |
| Cherries, Not Specified | 3 | 1 | 7 trees | |
| Grapes | 3 | D | 26 vines | |
| Peaches | 4 | 3 | 110 trees | |
| Pears | 4 | 1 | 18 trees | |
| Strawberries | 3 | 4 | 5900 lbs | |
| 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 | 38 | 1455100 | 2358 | 21523 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 6 | X | 2080 | |
| Florculture Crops | 15 | D | D | 15509 |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 11 | 538600 | D | 5186 |
| Foliage Plants | 4 | D | D | D |
| Potted Flowering Plants | 5 | D | D | D |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 13 | X | 43 | 64 |
| Nursery Crops | 9 | D | D | D |
| Other Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 12 | D | 221 | D |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.