Most rural counties in Hawaii
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Hawaii 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.
#5. Honolulu County
- Rural area: 63.6% (382 square miles)
- Urban area: 36.4% (219 square miles)
- Total land area: 601 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #1,625 nationwide
- Population density: 1,630.8 people / square mile (979,682 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #3,056 nationwide
#4. Kauai County
- Rural area: 94.2% (584 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.8% (36 square miles)
- Total land area: 620 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #1,555 nationwide
- Population density: 116.1 people / square mile (71,949 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #2,351 nationwide
#3. Maui County
- Rural area: 95.5% (1,110 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.5% (52 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,162 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #531 nationwide
- Population density: 143.5 people / square mile (166,657 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #2,458 nationwide
#2. Hawaii County
- Rural area: 97.9% (3,942 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.2% (87 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,028 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #118 nationwide
- Population density: 50.0 people / square mile (201,350 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #1,693 nationwide
#1. Kalawao County
- Rural area: 100.0% (12 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 12 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #3,124 nationwide
- Population density: 36.4 people / square mile (436 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #1,380 nationwide
