It's predicted that by 2050, two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities. A once-agrarian planet is rapidly urbanizing, and America is no exception.
There was a time when most Americans lived in communities that by almost any measure could be called countrified. But today, much of the rural U.S. is hollowing out as young people flee to cities, death rates outnumber birth rates, sparsely populated towns age, metro suburbs expand, immigrants settle in densely populated areas, and so-called "new economy" jobs and wealth become concentrated almost exclusively in urban centers.
Still, more than 700 U.S. counties have 100% rural land, defined as the population, housing, and territory not contained within urbanized areas or clusters. "Urban" in this sense is considered an area with 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.
Stacker pulled data from the 2010 Census Urban and Rural Classification to compile a list of the most rural county in each state. This information—the most recent available, as the census only conducts this study every ten years—includes the total square mileage of each county's rural and urban space, the rural population, the overall county population, and population density in rural areas. Keep reading to discover your state's most rural locale.
- Total rural area: 1,484 square miles (93.32% of the county)
- Total urban area: 106 square miles (6.68% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 77,060 (42.28% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 182,265
- Population density in rural areas: 51.9 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 145,505 square miles (100% of the county)
- Total urban area: 0 square miles (0.00% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 5,588 (100% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 5,588
- Population density in rural areas: 0 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 18,571 square miles (99.74% of the county)
- Total urban area: 47 square miles (0.26% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 42,297 (31.47% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 134,421
- Population density in rural areas: 2.3 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,024 square miles (98.54% of the county)
- Total urban area: 15 square miles (1.46% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 22,695 (54.5% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 41,639
- Population density in rural areas: 22.2 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 19,431 square miles (96.88% of the county)
- Total urban area: 626 square miles (3.12% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 96,357 (4.73% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 2.0 million
- Population density in rural areas: 5 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 4,767 square miles (99.88% of the county)
- Total urban area: 6 square miles (0.12% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 6,326 (40.79% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 15,507
- Population density in rural areas: 1.3 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 827 square miles (89.84% of the county)
- Total urban area: 94 square miles (10.16% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 78,722 (41.45% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 189,927
- Population density in rural areas: 95.2 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 821 square miles (87.74% of the county)
- Total urban area: 115 square miles (12.26% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 81,428 (41.3% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 197,145
- Population density in rural areas: 99.1 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,820 square miles (91.08% of the county)
- Total urban area: 178 square miles (8.92% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 27,284 (8.49% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 321,520
- Population density in rural areas: 15 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 870 square miles (97.48% of the county)
- Total urban area: 22 square miles (2.52% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 10,691 (29.44% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 36,312
- Population density in rural areas: 12.3 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 3,942 square miles (97.85% of the county)
- Total urban area: 87 square miles (2.15% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 70,313 (37.99% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 185,079
- Population density in rural areas: 17.8 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 8,476 square miles (99.98% of the county)
- Total urban area: 2 square miles (0.02% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 13,117 (80.64% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 16,267
- Population density in rural areas: 1.5 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,129 square miles (95.38% of the county)
- Total urban area: 55 square miles (4.62% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 27,974 (16.5% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 169,572
- Population density in rural areas: 24.8 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 557 square miles (93.11% of the county)
- Total urban area: 41 square miles (6.89% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 39,713 (35.63% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 111,467
- Population density in rural areas: 71.3 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 970 square miles (99.73% of the county)
- Total urban area: 3 square miles (0.27% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 10,203 (65.64% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 15,543
- Population density in rural areas: 10.5 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,408 square miles (98.49% of the county)
- Total urban area: 22 square miles (1.51% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 26,664 (40.47% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 65,880
- Population density in rural areas: 18.9 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 780 square miles (99.13% of the county)
- Total urban area: 7 square miles (0.87% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 57,090 (87.8% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 65,024
- Population density in rural areas: 73.2 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,306 square miles (98.32% of the county)
- Total urban area: 22 square miles (1.68% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 26,113 (49.9% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 52,334
- Population density in rural areas: 20 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 6,662 square miles (99.86% of the county)
- Total urban area: 10 square miles (0.14% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 57,687 (80.27% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 71,870
- Population density in rural areas: 8.7 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 643 square miles (99.33% of the county)
- Total urban area: 4 square miles (0.67% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 25,251 (83.9% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 30,097
- Population density in rural areas: 39.3 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,103 square miles (73.03% of the county)
- Total urban area: 408 square miles (26.97% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 146,856 (18.39% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 798,552
- Population density in rural areas: 133.1 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,786 square miles (98.78% of the county)
- Total urban area: 22 square miles (1.22% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 27,830 (41.49% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 67,077
- Population density in rural areas: 15.6 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 6,176 square miles (98.85% of the county)
- Total urban area: 72 square miles (1.15% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 74,313 (37.11% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 200,226
- Population density in rural areas: 12 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 914 square miles (99.07% of the county)
- Total urban area: 9 square miles (0.93% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 12,519 (44.61% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 28,065
- Population density in rural areas: 13.7 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,177 square miles (99.99% of the county)
- Total urban area: 0 square miles (0.01% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 25,803 (99.21% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 26,008
- Population density in rural areas: 21.9 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 5,539 square miles (99.96% of the county)
- Total urban area: 2 square miles (0.04% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 4,637 (50.15% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 9,246
- Population density in rural areas: 0.8 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 5,959 square miles (99.97% of the county)
- Total urban area: 2 square miles (0.03% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 3,000 (52.51% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 5,713
- Population density in rural areas: 0.5 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 18,138 square miles (99.76% of the county)
- Total urban area: 44 square miles (0.24% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 15,500 (35.27% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 43,946
- Population density in rural areas: 0.9 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,789 square miles (99.7% of the county)
- Total urban area: 5 square miles (0.30% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 21,896 (66.24% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 33,055
- Population density in rural areas: 12.2 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 579 square miles (72.47% of the county)
- Total urban area: 220 square miles (27.53% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 29,900 (6.66% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 448,734
- Population density in rural areas: 51.7 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 6,924 square miles (100% of the county)
- Total urban area: 0 square miles (0.00% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 3,725 (100% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 3,725
- Population density in rural areas: 0.5 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 2,661 square miles (99.27% of the county)
- Total urban area: 19 square miles (0.73% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 69,396 (61.99% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 111,944
- Population density in rural areas: 26.1 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 937 square miles (99.15% of the county)
- Total urban area: 8 square miles (0.85% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 53,893 (84.96% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 63,431
- Population density in rural areas: 57.5 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 2,760 square miles (100% of the county)
- Total urban area: 0 square miles (0.00% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 6,360 (100% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 6,360
- Population density in rural areas: 2.3 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 672 square miles (97.5% of the county)
- Total urban area: 17 square miles (2.50% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 45,801 (58.67% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 78,064
- Population density in rural areas: 68.2 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 2,234 square miles (99.43% of the county)
- Total urban area: 13 square miles (0.57% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 28,233 (59.47% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 47,472
- Population density in rural areas: 12.6 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 10,131 square miles (99.98% of the county)
- Total urban area: 3 square miles (0.02% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 3,291 (44.34% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 7,422
- Population density in rural areas: 0.3 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,190 square miles (96.85% of the county)
- Total urban area: 39 square miles (3.15% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 42,121 (36.28% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 116,111
- Population density in rural areas: 35.4 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 100 square miles (87.89% of the county)
- Total urban area: 14 square miles (12.11% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 15,556 (46.93% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 33,149
- Population density in rural areas: 155.9 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 244 square miles (74.01% of the county)
- Total urban area: 86 square miles (25.99% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 39,139 (30.82% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 126,979
- Population density in rural areas: 160.6 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,074 square miles (97.14% of the county)
- Total urban area: 32 square miles (2.86% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 58,995 (63.78% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 92,501
- Population density in rural areas: 54.9 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 3,460 square miles (99.7% of the county)
- Total urban area: 11 square miles (0.30% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 9,664 (38% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 25,434
- Population density in rural areas: 2.8 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 734 square miles (100% of the county)
- Total urban area: 0 square miles (0.00% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 17,021 (100% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 17,021
- Population density in rural areas: 23.2 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 6,180 square miles (99.93% of the county)
- Total urban area: 4 square miles (0.07% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 3,219 (34.87% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 9,232
- Population density in rural areas: 0.5 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 7,818 square miles (99.98% of the county)
- Total urban area: 2 square miles (0.02% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 11,482 (77.87% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 14,746
- Population density in rural areas: 1.5 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 958 square miles (98.82% of the county)
- Total urban area: 11 square miles (1.18% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 42,836 (75.59% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 56,670
- Population density in rural areas: 44.7 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 953 square miles (98.37% of the county)
- Total urban area: 16 square miles (1.63% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 54,380 (85.63% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 63,506
- Population density in rural areas: 57.1 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 5,263 square miles (99.91% of the county)
- Total urban area: 5 square miles (0.09% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 32,891 (79.99% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 41,120
- Population density in rural areas: 6.2 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,034 square miles (99.41% of the county)
- Total urban area: 6 square miles (0.59% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 18,344 (62.38% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 29,405
- Population density in rural areas: 17.7 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 1,497 square miles (96.87% of the county)
- Total urban area: 48 square miles (3.13% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 57,634 (42.99% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 134,063
- Population density in rural areas: 38.5 people per square mile
- Total rural area: 10,408 square miles (99.82% of the county)
- Total urban area: 19 square miles (0.18% of the county)
- Population in rural areas: 4,782 (10.92% of county population)
- Total population of the county: 43,806
- Population density in rural areas: 0.5 people per square mile
