Total population (1990 census): 38687
County seat: Fort Madison
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 496 | 74928 | 10047204 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 90 | 2057 | 102235 bu | |
| Oats | 57 | 783 | 49481 bu | |
| Rye | 3 | 11 | 123 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 458 | 63556 | 3053380 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 415 | 16084 | 46121 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 320 | 10232 | 34076 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 35 | 443 | 867 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 139 | 3806 | 7955 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 13 | 216 | 368 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 36 | 1387 | 8567 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 71 | 2054 | 46521 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Snap Bean | 3 | 2 | ||
| Beets | 3 | 2 | ||
| Cantaloupes | 5 | 7 | ||
| Green Peas | 3 | 1 | ||
| Potatoes | 5 | 5 | 430 bu | |
| Pumpkins | 4 | 20 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 7 | 18 | ||
| Tomatoes | 6 | 3 | ||
| Watermelons | 3 | D | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 10 | 45 | 4210 trees | |
| Peaches | 3 | 1 | D | |
| 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 | 15 | 260784 | 93 | 2219 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 3 | X | 2 | X |
| Florculture Crops | 8 | 260784 | D | D |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 7 | 238472 | 8 | 2093 |
| Potted Flowering Plants | 3 | 22312 | D | 74 |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 6 | X | 77 | 20 |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.