Total population (1990 census): 26993
County seat: Merrill
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 68 | 2581 | 254981 bu | |
| Barley | 48 | 1007 | 62071 bu | |
| Oats | 98 | 2042 | 96454 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 12 | 430 | 15397 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 311 | 25593 | 49729 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 200 | 10416 | 24664 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 17 | 318 | 491 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 146 | 7716 | 14025 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 24 | 791 | 1002 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 85 | 6352 | 28642 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 118 | 3392 | 43233 tons, grn | |
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 6 | D | 1615 trees | |
| Raspberries | 4 | D | 970 lbs | |
| Strawberries | 3 | 35 | 201670 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 | 34 | D | 2506 | 3728 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 3 | X | 6 | X |
| Florculture Crops | 5 | D | D | 1341 |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 3 | D | D | D |
| Potted Flowering Plants | 3 | D | D | 200 |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 27 | X | 1391 | 1660 |
| Nursery Crops | 4 | D | D | 712 |
| Other Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 15 | D | 962 | 15 |
| Herb, Spice, Medicinal, Bioactive... | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Ginseng | 22 | 59 | 105712 lbs | |
| Maple Trees Tapped | 17 | 481 | 25153 Trees Tapped | |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.