Total population (1990 census): 19965
County seat: Storm Lake
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 714 | 158339 | 22268695 bu | |
| Oats | 89 | 1448 | 124509 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 712 | 150291 | 7087488 bu | |
| Dry Edible Beans | 3 | D | 522 cwt | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 209 | 3976 | 12090 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 139 | 2147 | 8291 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 45 | 680 | 1860 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 55 | 698 | 1291 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 18 | 269 | 381 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 10 | 182 | 797 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 66 | 2887 | 60043 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Sweet Corn | 4 | 3 | ||
| 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 | 5 | D | 25 | D |
| Florculture Crops | 3 | D | D | D |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.