Total population (1996 census): 47,473
County seat: Mt. Vernon
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 550 | 53553 | 6233980 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 194 | 6072 | 295270 bu | |
| Barley | 18 | 277 | 17524 bu | |
| Emmer and Spelt | 4 | 50 | 2520 bu | |
| Oats | 131 | 1649 | 98690 bu | |
| Popcorn | 4 | 1255 | D | |
| Rye | 5 | 70 | 1601 lbs, shelled | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 346 | 40996 | 1663723 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Field Seed and Grass Seed Crops | 5 | 210 | X | |
| Red Clover Seed | 4 | 152 | 11500 lbs | |
| Timothy Seed | 3 | 58 | 11700 lbs | |
| Total Hay* | 651 | 26954 | 68890 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 433 | 13879 | 42993 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 52 | 788 | 1323 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 285 | 8171 | 17347 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 31 | 497 | 679 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 64 | 3619 | 19638 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 105 | 2550 | 39982 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Snap Bean | 9 | 3 | ||
| Hot Peppers | 3 | Z | ||
| Sweet Peppers | 6 | 2 | ||
| Pumpkins | 10 | 27 | ||
| Squash | 5 | 1 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 23 | 66 | ||
| Tomatoes | 8 | 4 | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 18 | 258 | 42647 trees | |
| Cherries, Total | 3 | 3 | D | |
| Cherries, Not Specified | 3 | 3 | D | |
| Grapes | 4 | 2 | 571 vines | |
| Peaches | 10 | 34 | 5312 trees | |
| Pears | 3 | 1 | D | |
| Raspberries | 4 | 7 | 5228 lbs | |
| Strawberries | 9 | 3 | 7661 lbs | |
| 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 | 40 | 79200 | 454 | 1104 |
| Florculture Crops | 3 | D | D | D |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 3 | D | D | D |
| Potted Flowering Plants | 3 | 21000 | D | D |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 23 | X | 115 | 372 |
| Nursery Crops | 9 | D | D | 132 |
| Other Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 19 | D | 197 | 65 |
| Herb, Spice, Medicinal, Bioactive... | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maple Trees Tapped | 6 | 204 | 9157 | |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.
Z=Less than half of the unit shown.