Total population (1996 census): 961,437
County seat: Columbus
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 178 | 22733 | 2908765 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 97 | 5701 | 315800 bu | |
| Oats | 3 | D | 2788 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 167 | 27237 | 1172867 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 108 | 3214 | 7202 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 63 | 1519 | 4502 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 43 | 1349 | 2369 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 10 | 152 | 109 tons dry | |
| Corn for Silage | 7 | D | D | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Asparagus | 3 | D | ||
| Snap Bean | 3 | 16 | ||
| Cantaloupes | 6 | 12 | ||
| Cucumbers & Pickles | 3 | 1 | ||
| Green Peas | 3 | 4 | ||
| Pumpkins | 10 | 51 | ||
| Squash | 3 | D | ||
| Sweet Corn | 15 | 145 | ||
| Tomatoes | 9 | 9 | ||
| Mixed Vegetables | 3 | 7 | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 15 | 23 | 3251 trees | |
| Grapes | 3 | D | D | |
| Peaches | 3 | 1 | D | |
| Strawberries | 5 | 30 | 162820 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 | 62 | 3610048 | 2651 | 22520 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 18 | X | 80 | X |
| Florculture Crops | 33 | 3451445 | 51 | 17229 |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 29 | 1090562 | 22 | 11053 |
| Cut Flowers and Cut Florist Greens | 6 | D | D | D |
| Foliage Plants | 4 | D | D | |
| Potted Flowering Plants | 11 | 272980 | D | 5398 |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 8 | X | 27 | 235 |
| Nursery Crops | 19 | 5350 | 457 | 2005 |
| Sod Harvested | 8 | X | 2090 | D |
| Other Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 5 | D | 26 | D |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.