Total population (1990 census): 16937
County seat: Blue Earth
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 735 | 198827 | 28537415 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 25 | 812 | 32994 bu | |
| Spring Wheat for Grain | 25 | 812 | 32994 bu | |
| Oats | 64 | 1198 | 88416 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 710 | 168806 | 7367588 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 135 | 3569 | 8692 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 97 | 1793 | 5176 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 12 | 225 | 477 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 28 | 468 | 1087 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 30 | 660 | 1138 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 10 | 423 | 2442 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 46 | 2019 | 45718 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Green Peas | 62 | 2731 | ||
| Potatoes | 3 | D | D | |
| Sweet Corn | 134 | 7911 | ||
| 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 | D | D |
| Nursery Crops | 3 | D | D | D |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.