Total population (1990 census): 10756
County seat: Dakota City
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 510 | 120221 | 17080777 bu | |
| Oats | 33 | 440 | 34905 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 498 | 117554 | 5297769 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 107 | 1983 | 4955 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 79 | 1297 | 3630 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 12 | 185 | 366 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 26 | 335 | 794 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 3 | 29 | 32 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 6 | 137 | 399 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 32 | 805 | 14250 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Sweet Corn | 3 | 2 | ||
| 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 | 3 | 27000 | D | 127 |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.