Most rural counties in Mississippi
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Mississippi 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 2019 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.
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#50. Monroe County
- Rural area: 98.9% (757 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 765 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #1,137 nationwide
- Population density: 46.6 people / square mile (35,673 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #1,621 nationwide
#49. Copiah County
- Rural area: 99.0% (769 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 777 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #1,113 nationwide
- Population density: 36.7 people / square mile (28,501 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #1,387 nationwide
#48. Sunflower County
- Rural area: 99.0% (691 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 698 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #1,328 nationwide
- Population density: 37.5 people / square mile (26,168 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,406 nationwide
#47. Scott County
- Rural area: 99.0% (603 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 609 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,590 nationwide
- Population density: 46.5 people / square mile (28,332 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #1,618 nationwide
#46. Tate County
- Rural area: 99.0% (401 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 405 square miles
--- #80 largest county in state, #2,502 nationwide
- Population density: 70.2 people / square mile (28,404 residents)
--- #64 lowest density county in state, #1,982 nationwide
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#45. Bolivar County
- Rural area: 99.1% (868 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 877 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #919 nationwide
- Population density: 36.3 people / square mile (31,848 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,374 nationwide
#44. Yazoo County
- Rural area: 99.1% (914 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 923 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #790 nationwide
- Population density: 30.9 people / square mile (28,565 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,234 nationwide
#43. Stone County
- Rural area: 99.2% (442 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 445 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #2,284 nationwide
- Population density: 41.0 people / square mile (18,276 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #1,496 nationwide
#42. Montgomery County
- Rural area: 99.2% (404 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 407 square miles
--- #77 largest county in state, #2,484 nationwide
- Population density: 24.7 people / square mile (10,068 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,055 nationwide
#41. Attala County
- Rural area: 99.3% (730 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 735 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #1,203 nationwide
- Population density: 25.1 people / square mile (18,437 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,066 nationwide
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#40. Tippah County
- Rural area: 99.3% (455 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 458 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,242 nationwide
- Population density: 48.1 people / square mile (22,018 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #1,654 nationwide
#39. Leake County
- Rural area: 99.3% (579 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 583 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,685 nationwide
- Population density: 39.1 people / square mile (22,792 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,455 nationwide
#38. Winston County
- Rural area: 99.4% (603 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 607 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,600 nationwide
- Population density: 30.0 people / square mile (18,229 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #1,210 nationwide
#37. Itawamba County
- Rural area: 99.4% (529 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 533 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,956 nationwide
- Population density: 44.0 people / square mile (23,462 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #1,556 nationwide
#36. Marshall County
- Rural area: 99.4% (702 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 706 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #1,307 nationwide
- Population density: 50.4 people / square mile (35,599 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #1,701 nationwide
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#35. Quitman County
- Rural area: 99.4% (403 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 405 square miles
--- #79 largest county in state, #2,500 nationwide
- Population density: 17.7 people / square mile (7,187 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #818 nationwide
#34. Humphreys County
- Rural area: 99.5% (416 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 418 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #2,417 nationwide
- Population density: 20.0 people / square mile (8,389 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #898 nationwide
#33. George County
- Rural area: 99.5% (476 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 479 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #2,161 nationwide
- Population density: 50.0 people / square mile (23,917 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #1,692 nationwide
#32. Chickasaw County
- Rural area: 99.5% (499 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 502 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #2,070 nationwide
- Population density: 34.3 people / square mile (17,193 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #1,321 nationwide
#31. Wayne County
- Rural area: 99.5% (807 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 811 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #1,044 nationwide
- Population density: 25.1 people / square mile (20,373 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,068 nationwide
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#30. Newton County
- Rural area: 99.5% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 578 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,707 nationwide
- Population density: 36.9 people / square mile (21,360 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #1,394 nationwide
#29. Simpson County
- Rural area: 99.5% (586 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 589 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,661 nationwide
- Population density: 45.6 people / square mile (26,888 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #1,595 nationwide
#28. Yalobusha County
- Rural area: 99.5% (465 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 467 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #2,203 nationwide
- Population density: 26.5 people / square mile (12,367 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,109 nationwide
#27. Tunica County
- Rural area: 99.6% (453 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 455 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,253 nationwide
- Population density: 22.0 people / square mile (9,988 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #958 nationwide
#26. Noxubee County
- Rural area: 99.7% (693 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 695 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #1,340 nationwide
- Population density: 15.4 people / square mile (10,700 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #748 nationwide
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#25. Tallahatchie County
- Rural area: 99.7% (643 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 645 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,470 nationwide
- Population density: 21.9 people / square mile (14,158 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #954 nationwide
#24. Holmes County
- Rural area: 99.8% (755 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 757 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #1,163 nationwide
- Population density: 23.4 people / square mile (17,737 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,020 nationwide
#23. Covington County
- Rural area: 100.0% (414 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 414 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #2,442 nationwide
- Population density: 45.9 people / square mile (18,978 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #1,600 nationwide
#22. Tishomingo County
- Rural area: 100.0% (424 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 424 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,386 nationwide
- Population density: 45.8 people / square mile (19,441 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #1,599 nationwide
#21. Walthall County
- Rural area: 100.0% (404 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 404 square miles
--- #81 largest county in state, #2,504 nationwide
- Population density: 35.8 people / square mile (14,477 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,364 nationwide
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#20. Lawrence County
- Rural area: 100.0% (431 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 431 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #2,359 nationwide
- Population density: 29.3 people / square mile (12,633 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,190 nationwide
#19. Jefferson Davis County
- Rural area: 100.0% (408 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 408 square miles
--- #76 largest county in state, #2,472 nationwide
- Population density: 27.8 people / square mile (11,339 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,143 nationwide
#18. Smith County
- Rural area: 100.0% (636 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 636 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,498 nationwide
- Population density: 25.2 people / square mile (16,009 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,070 nationwide
#17. Calhoun County
- Rural area: 100.0% (587 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 587 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,673 nationwide
- Population density: 24.7 people / square mile (14,499 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,054 nationwide
#16. Jasper County
- Rural area: 100.0% (676 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 676 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,387 nationwide
- Population density: 24.4 people / square mile (16,505 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,050 nationwide
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#15. Webster County
- Rural area: 100.0% (421 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 421 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #2,406 nationwide
- Population density: 23.2 people / square mile (9,768 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,009 nationwide
#14. Clarke County
- Rural area: 100.0% (692 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 692 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #1,354 nationwide
- Population density: 22.8 people / square mile (15,770 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #993 nationwide
#13. Benton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (407 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 407 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #2,489 nationwide
- Population density: 20.2 people / square mile (8,232 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #904 nationwide
#12. Choctaw County
- Rural area: 100.0% (418 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 418 square miles
--- #69 largest county in state, #2,418 nationwide
- Population density: 19.8 people / square mile (8,277 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #890 nationwide
#11. Greene County
- Rural area: 100.0% (713 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 713 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #1,283 nationwide
- Population density: 19.1 people / square mile (13,645 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #858 nationwide
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#10. Claiborne County
- Rural area: 100.0% (487 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 487 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #2,133 nationwide
- Population density: 18.6 people / square mile (9,089 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #845 nationwide
#9. Perry County
- Rural area: 100.0% (647 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 647 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #1,460 nationwide
- Population density: 18.5 people / square mile (12,006 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #837 nationwide
#8. Amite County
- Rural area: 100.0% (730 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 730 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #1,212 nationwide
- Population density: 17.0 people / square mile (12,412 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #800 nationwide
#7. Carroll County
- Rural area: 100.0% (628 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 628 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,531 nationwide
- Population density: 16.0 people / square mile (10,070 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #770 nationwide
#6. Jefferson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (520 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 520 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #2,005 nationwide
- Population density: 13.9 people / square mile (7,225 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #705 nationwide
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#5. Franklin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (564 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,828 nationwide
- Population density: 13.7 people / square mile (7,733 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #695 nationwide
#4. Wilkinson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (678 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 678 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #1,383 nationwide
- Population density: 13.1 people / square mile (8,875 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #676 nationwide
#3. Kemper County
- Rural area: 100.0% (766 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 766 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #1,133 nationwide
- Population density: 13.0 people / square mile (9,943 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #673 nationwide
#2. Sharkey County
- Rural area: 100.0% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 432 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #2,350 nationwide
- Population density: 10.2 people / square mile (4,404 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #586 nationwide
#1. Issaquena County
- Rural area: 100.0% (413 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 413 square miles
--- #73 largest county in state, #2,447 nationwide
- Population density: 3.3 people / square mile (1,361 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #256 nationwide
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