Most rural counties in Nebraska
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Nebraska 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. Burt County
- Rural area: 100.0% (492 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 492 square miles
--- #76 largest county in state, #2,115 nationwide
- Population density: 13.2 people / square mile (6,503 residents)
--- #59 lowest density county in state, #681 nationwide
#49. Pierce County
- Rural area: 100.0% (573 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 573 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #1,746 nationwide
- Population density: 12.4 people / square mile (7,132 residents)
--- #56 lowest density county in state, #652 nationwide
#48. Dixon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (476 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 476 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #2,166 nationwide
- Population density: 11.9 people / square mile (5,682 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #635 nationwide
#47. Polk County
- Rural area: 100.0% (438 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 438 square miles
--- #83 largest county in state, #2,310 nationwide
- Population density: 11.9 people / square mile (5,208 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #632 nationwide
#46. Cedar County
- Rural area: 100.0% (740 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 740 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,193 nationwide
- Population density: 11.5 people / square mile (8,483 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #619 nationwide
#45. Howard County
- Rural area: 100.0% (569 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 569 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #1,787 nationwide
- Population density: 11.3 people / square mile (6,428 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #612 nationwide
#44. Clay County
- Rural area: 100.0% (572 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 572 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,756 nationwide
- Population density: 10.8 people / square mile (6,193 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #603 nationwide
#43. Fillmore County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,725 nationwide
- Population density: 9.6 people / square mile (5,542 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #563 nationwide
#42. Thayer County
- Rural area: 100.0% (574 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 574 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #1,742 nationwide
- Population density: 8.7 people / square mile (5,000 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #527 nationwide
#41. Nance County
- Rural area: 100.0% (442 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 442 square miles
--- #81 largest county in state, #2,301 nationwide
- Population density: 8.0 people / square mile (3,525 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #490 nationwide
#40. Boone County
- Rural area: 100.0% (687 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 687 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,366 nationwide
- Population density: 7.6 people / square mile (5,228 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #477 nationwide
#39. Knox County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,108 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,108 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #570 nationwide
- Population density: 7.6 people / square mile (8,400 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #475 nationwide
#38. Antelope County
- Rural area: 100.0% (857 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 857 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #970 nationwide
- Population density: 7.4 people / square mile (6,315 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #466 nationwide
#37. Nuckolls County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,729 nationwide
- Population density: 7.3 people / square mile (4,204 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #463 nationwide
#36. Valley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (568 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 568 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #1,799 nationwide
- Population density: 7.2 people / square mile (4,100 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #460 nationwide
#35. Furnas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (719 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 719 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,249 nationwide
- Population density: 6.6 people / square mile (4,712 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #435 nationwide
#34. Pawnee County
- Rural area: 100.0% (431 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 431 square miles
--- #84 largest county in state, #2,357 nationwide
- Population density: 6.1 people / square mile (2,640 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #417 nationwide
#33. Harlan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (553 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 553 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #1,883 nationwide
- Population density: 6.1 people / square mile (3,380 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #414 nationwide
#32. Webster County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #1,733 nationwide
- Population density: 6.1 people / square mile (3,497 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #412 nationwide
#31. Sherman County
- Rural area: 100.0% (566 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 566 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #1,812 nationwide
- Population density: 5.3 people / square mile (3,015 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #387 nationwide
#30. Franklin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (576 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 576 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,721 nationwide
- Population density: 5.2 people / square mile (2,970 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #375 nationwide
#29. Gosper County
- Rural area: 100.0% (458 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 458 square miles
--- #79 largest county in state, #2,240 nationwide
- Population density: 4.4 people / square mile (2,001 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #343 nationwide
#28. Chase County
- Rural area: 100.0% (894 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 894 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #877 nationwide
- Population density: 4.1 people / square mile (3,707 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #321 nationwide
#27. Greeley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (570 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 570 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #1,783 nationwide
- Population density: 4.1 people / square mile (2,361 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #320 nationwide
#26. Deuel County
- Rural area: 100.0% (440 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 440 square miles
--- #82 largest county in state, #2,306 nationwide
- Population density: 4.0 people / square mile (1,770 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #314 nationwide
#25. Hitchcock County
- Rural area: 100.0% (710 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 710 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #1,292 nationwide
- Population density: 3.9 people / square mile (2,788 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #305 nationwide
#24. Kimball County
- Rural area: 100.0% (952 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 952 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #737 nationwide
- Population density: 3.8 people / square mile (3,576 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #292 nationwide
#23. Garfield County
- Rural area: 100.0% (570 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 570 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #1,784 nationwide
- Population density: 3.7 people / square mile (2,081 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #284 nationwide
#22. Boyd County
- Rural area: 100.0% (540 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 540 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #1,936 nationwide
- Population density: 3.5 people / square mile (1,882 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #271 nationwide
#21. Morrill County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,424 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,424 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #423 nationwide
- Population density: 3.3 people / square mile (4,711 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #262 nationwide
#20. Perkins County
- Rural area: 100.0% (883 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 883 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #905 nationwide
- Population density: 3.3 people / square mile (2,889 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #259 nationwide
#19. Frontier County
- Rural area: 100.0% (975 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 975 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #715 nationwide
- Population density: 2.7 people / square mile (2,636 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #217 nationwide
#18. Brown County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,221 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,221 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #502 nationwide
- Population density: 2.4 people / square mile (2,887 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #188 nationwide
#17. Sheridan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,441 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,441 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #224 nationwide
- Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (5,215 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #167 nationwide
#16. Dundy County
- Rural area: 100.0% (920 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 920 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #798 nationwide
- Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (1,928 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #162 nationwide
#15. Logan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (571 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 571 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #1,772 nationwide
- Population density: 1.6 people / square mile (896 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #116 nationwide
#14. Rock County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,008 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,008 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #671 nationwide
- Population density: 1.4 people / square mile (1,430 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #103 nationwide
#13. Hayes County
- Rural area: 100.0% (713 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 713 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,282 nationwide
- Population density: 1.2 people / square mile (889 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #93 nationwide
#12. Loup County
- Rural area: 100.0% (568 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 568 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #1,798 nationwide
- Population density: 1.2 people / square mile (690 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #91 nationwide
#13. Wheeler County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #1,727 nationwide
- Population density: 1.2 people / square mile (689 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #89 nationwide
#10. Keya Paha County
- Rural area: 100.0% (773 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 773 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,122 nationwide
- Population density: 1.1 people / square mile (875 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #83 nationwide
#9. Garden County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,704 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,704 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #353 nationwide
- Population density: 1.1 people / square mile (1,916 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #82 nationwide
#8. Hooker County
- Rural area: 100.0% (721 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 721 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,240 nationwide
- Population density: 1.0 people / square mile (741 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #72 nationwide
#7. Grant County
- Rural area: 100.0% (776 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 776 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,118 nationwide
- Population density: 0.9 people / square mile (691 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #58 nationwide
#6. Banner County
- Rural area: 100.0% (746 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 746 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,183 nationwide
- Population density: 0.9 people / square mile (645 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #57 nationwide
#5. Thomas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (713 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 713 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,281 nationwide
- Population density: 0.8 people / square mile (586 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #50 nationwide
#4. Blaine County
- Rural area: 100.0% (711 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 711 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,290 nationwide
- Population density: 0.7 people / square mile (467 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #37 nationwide
#3. Sioux County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,067 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,067 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #276 nationwide
- Population density: 0.6 people / square mile (1,298 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #33 nationwide
#2. Arthur County
- Rural area: 100.0% (715 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 715 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,272 nationwide
- Population density: 0.6 people / square mile (439 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #32 nationwide
#1. McPherson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (859 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 859 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #967 nationwide
- Population density: 0.5 people / square mile (420 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #27 nationwide
