Total population (1990 census): 30729
County seat: Owatonna
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 515 | 96425 | 13164908 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 26 | 612 | 24874 bu | |
| Spring Wheat for Grain | 25 | D | D | |
| Barley | 8 | 199 | 11710 bu | |
| Oats | 126 | 2521 | 173449 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 495 | 82074 | 3339235 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 317 | 11592 | 32780 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 273 | 7421 | 24149 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 34 | 471 | 835 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 51 | 1844 | 4177 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 44 | 574 | 1080 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 40 | 1282 | 7615 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 105 | 2570 | 45861 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Snap Bean | 4 | D | ||
| Green Peas | 36 | 3543 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 29 | 2233 | ||
| 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 | 8 | D | 215 | 3984 |
| Sod Harvested | 3 | X | D | D |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.