Most rural counties in Delaware
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Delaware using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the percent of land area that is rural, as of the 2010 Census, with ties broken by residents per square mile, according to 2020 5-year population estimates.
According to the Census Bureau, rural land encompasses any land that isn't an urban area. To be considered an urban area, a place has to have a densely settled core of census tracts or blocks and count at least 2,500 people, at least 1,500 of whom must be residents of non-institutional buildings. Areas with 50,000 people or more are considered urbanized areas, while areas with between 2,500 and 50,000 people are considered urban clusters.
#3. New Castle County
- Rural area: 50.8% (217 square miles)
- Urban area: 49.2% (210 square miles)
- Total land area: 426 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #2,382 nationwide
- Population density: 1,309.7 people / square mile (558,306 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #3,027 nationwide
#2. Kent County
- Rural area: 85.9% (504 square miles)
- Urban area: 14.1% (82 square miles)
- Total land area: 586 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #1,676 nationwide
- Population density: 305.6 people / square mile (179,124 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #2,737 nationwide
#1. Sussex County
- Rural area: 87.7% (821 square miles)
- Urban area: 12.3% (115 square miles)
- Total land area: 936 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #761 nationwide
- Population density: 246.0 people / square mile (230,249 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #2,669 nationwide
