Total population (1996 census): 573,809
County seat: Dayton
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 349 | 34907 | 4086224 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 172 | 5714 | 308260 bu | |
| Oats | 6 | 30 | 2494 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 356 | 36816 | 1598233 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Total Hay* | 280 | 6938 | 15071 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 213 | 4005 | 9533 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 15 | 162 | 268 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 89 | 2280 | 4508 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 14 | 127 | 168 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 11 | 364 | 1786 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 18 | 754 | 9827 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Snap Bean | 10 | 12 | ||
| Sugar Beets for Sugar | 1 | D | D | |
| Head Cabbage | 4 | 2 | ||
| Cantaloupes | 7 | D | ||
| Cucumbers & Pickles | 3 | 1 | ||
| Dry Onions | 3 | D | ||
| Hot Peppers | 3 | 1 | ||
| Sweet Peppers | 9 | 3 | ||
| Potatoes | 6 | 2 | 610 bu | |
| Pumpkins | 11 | 30 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 29 | 93 | ||
| Tomatoes | 20 | 22 | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 16 | 52 | 5276 trees | |
| Peaches | 5 | 10 | D | |
| Raspberries | 6 | 5 | 7920 lbs | |
| Strawberries | 5 | 6 | 9490 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 | 52 | 669950 | 1616 | 9064 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 19 | X | 193 | X |
| Florculture Crops | 30 | 601750 | 32 | 4093 |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 24 | 408550 | 19 | 3142 |
| Cut Flowers and Cut Florist Greens | 8 | D | 4 | D |
| Foliage Plants | 3 | D | D | D |
| Potted Flowering Plants | 11 | 150600 | 9 | 692 |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 8 | X | 106 | 460 |
| Nursery Crops | 22 | D | 1198 | 4266 |
| Sod Harvested | 4 | X | D | D |
| Other Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 6 | D | D | 15 |
| Herb, Spice, Medicinal, Bioactive... | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Tobacco | 5 | 11 | 21780 lbs | |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.