Most rural counties in Florida

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July 25, 2022
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Most rural counties in Florida

A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Florida 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.

#50. Leon County

- Rural area: 80.8% (539 square miles)
- Urban area: 19.2% (128 square miles)
- Total land area: 667 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,411 nationwide

- Population density: 437.7 people / square mile (291,863 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #2,849 nationwide

#49. Clay County

- Rural area: 82.1% (496 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.9% (108 square miles)
- Total land area: 604 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #1,612 nationwide

- Population density: 356.2 people / square mile (215,294 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #2,783 nationwide

#48. Citrus County

- Rural area: 82.1% (478 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.9% (104 square miles)
- Total land area: 582 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,692 nationwide

- Population density: 254.3 people / square mile (147,938 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #2,679 nationwide

#47. Polk County

- Rural area: 82.2% (1,477 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.9% (321 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,798 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #328 nationwide

- Population density: 392.5 people / square mile (705,735 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #2,816 nationwide

#46. Charlotte County

- Rural area: 82.7% (563 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.3% (118 square miles)
- Total land area: 680 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,381 nationwide

- Population density: 273.3 people / square mile (185,926 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #2,702 nationwide

#45. Lake County

- Rural area: 82.9% (777 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.2% (161 square miles)
- Total land area: 938 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #757 nationwide

- Population density: 379.5 people / square mile (356,115 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #2,801 nationwide

#44. Indian River County

- Rural area: 83.3% (419 square miles)
- Urban area: 16.7% (84 square miles)
- Total land area: 503 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,067 nationwide

- Population density: 312.1 people / square mile (156,964 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #2,747 nationwide

#43. St. Johns County

- Rural area: 84.2% (505 square miles)
- Urban area: 15.9% (95 square miles)
- Total land area: 601 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #1,626 nationwide

- Population density: 425.2 people / square mile (255,410 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #2,842 nationwide

#42. Martin County

- Rural area: 86.1% (468 square miles)
- Urban area: 13.9% (75 square miles)
- Total land area: 543 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,918 nationwide

- Population density: 295.2 people / square mile (160,420 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #2,729 nationwide

#41. Bay County

- Rural area: 87.1% (661 square miles)
- Urban area: 12.9% (98 square miles)
- Total land area: 758 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,157 nationwide

- Population density: 237.4 people / square mile (180,076 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #2,651 nationwide

#40. Marion County

- Rural area: 89.2% (1,413 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.9% (172 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,585 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #384 nationwide

- Population density: 227.3 people / square mile (360,210 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #2,634 nationwide

#39. Flagler County

- Rural area: 89.2% (433 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.8% (53 square miles)
- Total land area: 485 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,138 nationwide

- Population density: 232.5 people / square mile (112,854 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #2,643 nationwide

#38. Alachua County

- Rural area: 89.4% (782 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.7% (93 square miles)
- Total land area: 875 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #926 nationwide

- Population density: 306.4 people / square mile (268,105 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #2,740 nationwide

#37. Osceola County

- Rural area: 89.5% (1,187 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.6% (140 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,327 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #449 nationwide

- Population density: 274.0 people / square mile (363,666 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #2,703 nationwide

#36. Okaloosa County

- Rural area: 90.2% (839 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.8% (91 square miles)
- Total land area: 930 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #772 nationwide

- Population density: 223.0 people / square mile (207,430 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #2,626 nationwide

#35. Santa Rosa County

- Rural area: 90.4% (915 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.6% (97 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,012 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #667 nationwide

- Population density: 177.5 people / square mile (179,587 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #2,555 nationwide

#34. Collier County

- Rural area: 91.1% (1,820 square miles)
- Urban area: 8.9% (178 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,998 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #288 nationwide

- Population density: 189.8 people / square mile (379,345 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #2,576 nationwide

#33. Sumter County

- Rural area: 93.6% (512 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.4% (35 square miles)
- Total land area: 547 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #1,908 nationwide

- Population density: 237.6 people / square mile (129,938 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #2,653 nationwide

#32. Highlands County

- Rural area: 93.6% (952 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.4% (65 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,017 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #655 nationwide

- Population density: 102.9 people / square mile (104,574 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #2,274 nationwide

#31. Nassau County

- Rural area: 93.7% (608 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.3% (41 square miles)
- Total land area: 649 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,454 nationwide

- Population density: 132.2 people / square mile (85,762 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #2,406 nationwide

#30. Putnam County

- Rural area: 94.7% (689 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.3% (38 square miles)
- Total land area: 728 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,218 nationwide

- Population density: 101.4 people / square mile (73,784 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #2,262 nationwide

#29. Monroe County

- Rural area: 96.2% (946 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.8% (38 square miles)
- Total land area: 983 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #699 nationwide

- Population density: 76.4 people / square mile (75,137 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #2,056 nationwide

#28. Okeechobee County

- Rural area: 96.8% (744 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.2% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 769 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,128 nationwide

- Population density: 54.1 people / square mile (41,611 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,758 nationwide

#27. Columbia County

- Rural area: 96.9% (773 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.1% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 798 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,073 nationwide

- Population density: 88.9 people / square mile (70,898 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #2,169 nationwide

#26. Gadsden County

- Rural area: 97.5% (503 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.5% (13 square miles)
- Total land area: 516 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #2,017 nationwide

- Population density: 88.7 people / square mile (45,787 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #2,166 nationwide

#25. Wakulla County

- Rural area: 97.5% (591 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.5% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 606 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,604 nationwide

- Population density: 54.2 people / square mile (32,855 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,760 nationwide

#24. Walton County

- Rural area: 97.6% (1,013 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.4% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,038 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #637 nationwide

- Population density: 68.5 people / square mile (71,049 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,955 nationwide

#23. Bradford County

- Rural area: 97.9% (288 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.1% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 294 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,818 nationwide

- Population density: 94.3 people / square mile (27,723 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #2,209 nationwide

#22. Union County

- Rural area: 98.0% (239 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.0% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 244 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #2,923 nationwide

- Population density: 62.7 people / square mile (15,282 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,881 nationwide

#21. DeSoto County

- Rural area: 98.2% (625 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 637 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,497 nationwide

- Population density: 58.7 people / square mile (37,371 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,829 nationwide

#20. Baker County

- Rural area: 98.4% (576 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 585 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,680 nationwide

- Population density: 49.0 people / square mile (28,679 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,674 nationwide

#19. Hardee County

- Rural area: 98.4% (628 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 638 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #1,494 nationwide

- Population density: 42.4 people / square mile (27,027 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #1,522 nationwide

#18. Hendry County

- Rural area: 98.7% (1,138 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,153 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #535 nationwide

- Population density: 36.0 people / square mile (41,472 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #1,368 nationwide

#17. Jackson County

- Rural area: 99.1% (909 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 918 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #800 nationwide

- Population density: 51.7 people / square mile (47,409 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,720 nationwide

#16. Suwannee County

- Rural area: 99.2% (683 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 689 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #1,360 nationwide

- Population density: 64.3 people / square mile (44,290 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,906 nationwide

#15. Holmes County

- Rural area: 99.3% (475 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 479 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,161 nationwide

- Population density: 40.8 people / square mile (19,530 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #1,491 nationwide

#14. Calhoun County

- Rural area: 99.3% (563 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 567 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #1,804 nationwide

- Population density: 25.2 people / square mile (14,324 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #1,078 nationwide

#13. Taylor County

- Rural area: 99.3% (1,036 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,043 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #628 nationwide

- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (21,709 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #921 nationwide

#12. Washington County

- Rural area: 99.4% (579 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 583 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #1,688 nationwide

- Population density: 43.1 people / square mile (25,094 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #1,539 nationwide

#11. Gilchrist County

- Rural area: 99.5% (348 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 350 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #2,681 nationwide

- Population density: 52.2 people / square mile (18,245 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,726 nationwide

#10. Franklin County

- Rural area: 99.5% (532 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 535 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #1,954 nationwide

- Population density: 22.3 people / square mile (11,914 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #972 nationwide

#9. Gulf County

- Rural area: 99.5% (561 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #1,826 nationwide

- Population density: 26.7 people / square mile (15,073 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #1,117 nationwide

#8. Dixie County

- Rural area: 99.5% (702 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 705 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,313 nationwide

- Population density: 23.7 people / square mile (16,740 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #1,032 nationwide

#7. Hamilton County

- Rural area: 99.6% (512 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 514 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #2,026 nationwide

- Population density: 28.0 people / square mile (14,397 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #1,155 nationwide

#6. Glades County

- Rural area: 99.7% (803 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 806 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #1,052 nationwide

- Population density: 17.1 people / square mile (13,777 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #802 nationwide

#5. Madison County

- Rural area: 99.7% (694 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 696 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,338 nationwide

- Population density: 26.7 people / square mile (18,557 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #1,113 nationwide

#4. Levy County

- Rural area: 99.7% (1,115 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,118 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #563 nationwide

- Population density: 36.6 people / square mile (40,979 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #1,387 nationwide

#3. Jefferson County

- Rural area: 100.0% (598 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 598 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,634 nationwide

- Population density: 23.9 people / square mile (14,278 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #1,036 nationwide

#2. Lafayette County

- Rural area: 100.0% (543 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 543 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,919 nationwide

- Population density: 15.8 people / square mile (8,576 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #762 nationwide

#1. Liberty County

- Rural area: 100.0% (836 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 836 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #1,004 nationwide

- Population density: 10.0 people / square mile (8,333 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #576 nationwide

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