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.
BJ Ray // Shutterstock
1 / 51- 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
Hjames2 // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 51- 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
Photos BrianScantlebury // Shutterstock
3 / 51- 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
Chris Litherland // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 51- 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
Andy Konieczny // Shutterstock
5 / 51- 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
Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 51- 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
Dan Hanscom // Shutterstock
7 / 51- 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
Sharon Gar-El // Shutterstock
8 / 51- 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
Celso Diniz // Shutterstock
9 / 51- 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
Daffydoc // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 51- 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
AlaskaDave // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 51- 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
Danita Delimont // Shutterstock
12 / 51- 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
Leigh Trail // Shutterstock
13 / 51- 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
Drew Jacksich // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 51- 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
Felix Mizioznikov // Shutterstock
15 / 51- 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
MadameGraffigny // Wikimedia Commons
16 / 51- 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
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 51- 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
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 51- 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
Danita Delimont // Shutterstock
19 / 51- 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
Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 51- 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
Jay Yuan // Shutterstock
21 / 51- 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
Charles W. Chapman // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 51- 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
Sharon Mollerus // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 51- 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
C5 Media // Shutterstock
24 / 51- 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
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 51- 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
Zack Frank // Shutterstock
26 / 51- 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
Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons
27 / 51- 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
BLM Nevada // Wikimedia Commons
28 / 51- 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
Jon Platek // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 51- 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
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
30 / 51- 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
Peter Potrowl // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 51- 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
P199 // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 51- 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
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 51- 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
Jessie Veeder // Wikimedia Commons
34 / 51- 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
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
35 / 51- 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
The Bohemian Lens // Shutterstock
36 / 51- 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
Jess Kraft // Shutterstock
37 / 51- 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
Djorion // Wikimedia Commons
38 / 51- 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
Euri Rivera // Shutterstock
39 / 51- 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
Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 51- 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
LesPalenik // Shutterstock
41 / 51- 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
Jerry Huddleston // Wikimedia Commons
42 / 51- 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
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
43 / 51- 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
Leaflet // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 51- 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
mariakray // Shutterstock
45 / 51- 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
Jsbillin // Wikimedia Commons
46 / 51- 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
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
47 / 51- 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
Adam Jones, Ph.D. // Wikimedia Commons
48 / 51- 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
InflightAIS // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 51- 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
Aaron of L.A. Photography // Shutterstock
50 / 51- 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
Milonica // Wikimedia Commons
51 / 51- 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
