Total population (1996 census): 27205
County seat: Benton
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 74 | 6604 | 647926 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 27 | 3963 | 167677 bu | |
| Popcorn | 18 | 3629 | 9139224 lbs, shelled | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 68 | 12409 | 429888 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 307 | 11483 | 22555 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 23 | 488 | 1363 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 12 | 166 | 261 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 285 | 10208 | 20194 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 18 | 523 | 531 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 5 | 98 | 620 tons, grn | |
| 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 | 9 | 104000 | 54 | 551 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 6 | 94000 | 2 | 318 |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 4 | D | D | D |
| Foliage Plants | 4 | D | D | 164 |
| Vegetable and Flower Seeds | 3 | D | D | D |
| Herb, Spice, Medicinal, Bioactive... | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Tobacco | 64 | 230 | 478165 lbs | |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.