Most rural counties in Arkansas
Most rural counties in Arkansas
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land—702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Arkansas 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.
#50. Sharp County
- Rural area: 98.9% (598 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 604 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,610 nationwide
- Population density: 28.4 people / square mile (17,139 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #1,163 nationwide
#49. Conway County
- Rural area: 99.0% (547 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 552 square miles
--- #71 largest county in state, #1,889 nationwide
- Population density: 37.8 people / square mile (20,858 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #1,415 nationwide
#48. Johnson County
- Rural area: 99.0% (653 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 660 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,422 nationwide
- Population density: 40.0 people / square mile (26,372 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #1,467 nationwide
#47. Hempstead County
- Rural area: 99.0% (720 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 728 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,218 nationwide
- Population density: 30.0 people / square mile (21,842 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #1,211 nationwide
#46. Columbia County
- Rural area: 99.0% (759 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 766 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #1,134 nationwide
- Population density: 31.0 people / square mile (23,776 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #1,238 nationwide
#45. Bradley County
- Rural area: 99.1% (643 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 649 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,449 nationwide
- Population density: 16.7 people / square mile (10,874 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #790 nationwide
#44. Carroll County
- Rural area: 99.1% (624 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 630 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #1,523 nationwide
- Population density: 44.4 people / square mile (27,965 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #1,561 nationwide
#43. St. Francis County
- Rural area: 99.1% (629 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 635 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,505 nationwide
- Population density: 40.8 people / square mile (25,900 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #1,490 nationwide
#42. Phillips County
- Rural area: 99.1% (690 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 696 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,338 nationwide
- Population density: 26.7 people / square mile (18,606 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,116 nationwide
#41. Cleburne County
- Rural area: 99.1% (549 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 554 square miles
--- #70 largest county in state, #1,878 nationwide
- Population density: 45.3 people / square mile (25,100 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #1,588 nationwide
#40. Cross County
- Rural area: 99.2% (612 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 616 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #1,571 nationwide
- Population density: 27.3 people / square mile (16,824 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #1,129 nationwide
#39. Desha County
- Rural area: 99.3% (762 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 768 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #1,129 nationwide
- Population density: 15.2 people / square mile (11,709 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #744 nationwide
#38. Sevier County
- Rural area: 99.3% (561 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 565 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #1,817 nationwide
- Population density: 30.2 people / square mile (17,081 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #1,216 nationwide
#37. Arkansas County
- Rural area: 99.3% (981 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 989 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #694 nationwide
- Population density: 18.1 people / square mile (17,914 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #831 nationwide
#36. Jackson County
- Rural area: 99.3% (629 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 634 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,507 nationwide
- Population density: 26.9 people / square mile (17,027 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,120 nationwide
#35. Clark County
- Rural area: 99.3% (860 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 866 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #950 nationwide
- Population density: 25.8 people / square mile (22,386 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #1,090 nationwide
#34. Little River County
- Rural area: 99.3% (529 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 532 square miles
--- #73 largest county in state, #1,960 nationwide
- Population density: 23.2 people / square mile (12,347 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,007 nationwide
#33. Logan County
- Rural area: 99.4% (704 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 708 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,301 nationwide
- Population density: 30.6 people / square mile (21,668 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #1,225 nationwide
#32. Clay County
- Rural area: 99.4% (635 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 639 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #1,486 nationwide
- Population density: 23.3 people / square mile (14,889 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,013 nationwide
#31. Lawrence County
- Rural area: 99.4% (584 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 588 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #1,668 nationwide
- Population density: 28.2 people / square mile (16,549 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,157 nationwide
#30. Dallas County
- Rural area: 99.4% (663 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 667 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,409 nationwide
- Population density: 10.9 people / square mile (7,279 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #603 nationwide
#29. Chicot County
- Rural area: 99.4% (640 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 644 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,474 nationwide
- Population density: 16.5 people / square mile (10,615 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #782 nationwide
#28. Howard County
- Rural area: 99.4% (585 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 589 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #1,664 nationwide
- Population density: 22.6 people / square mile (13,311 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #984 nationwide
#27. Grant County
- Rural area: 99.5% (628 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 632 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #1,517 nationwide
- Population density: 28.7 people / square mile (18,126 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #1,176 nationwide
#26. Polk County
- Rural area: 99.5% (853 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 858 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #968 nationwide
- Population density: 23.4 people / square mile (20,094 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,019 nationwide
#25. Poinsett County
- Rural area: 99.5% (754 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 758 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #1,157 nationwide
- Population density: 31.5 people / square mile (23,896 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #1,257 nationwide
#24. Randolph County
- Rural area: 99.5% (649 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 652 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #1,445 nationwide
- Population density: 27.1 people / square mile (17,695 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #1,125 nationwide
#23. Franklin County
- Rural area: 99.6% (606 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 609 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #1,592 nationwide
- Population density: 29.1 people / square mile (17,738 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #1,185 nationwide
#22. Lee County
- Rural area: 99.7% (600 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 603 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #1,620 nationwide
- Population density: 15.3 people / square mile (9,194 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #745 nationwide
#21. Monroe County
- Rural area: 99.7% (605 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 607 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #1,601 nationwide
- Population density: 11.6 people / square mile (7,050 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #621 nationwide
#20. Nevada County
- Rural area: 99.7% (616 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 618 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,565 nationwide
- Population density: 13.5 people / square mile (8,351 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #689 nationwide
#19. Scott County
- Rural area: 99.7% (890 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 892 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #883 nationwide
- Population density: 11.6 people / square mile (10,376 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #622 nationwide
#18. Yell County
- Rural area: 99.7% (927 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 930 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #772 nationwide
- Population density: 23.1 people / square mile (21,464 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,005 nationwide
#17. Fulton County
- Rural area: 99.9% (617 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 618 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #1,562 nationwide
- Population density: 19.8 people / square mile (12,231 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #889 nationwide
#16. Marion County
- Rural area: 100.0% (597 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 597 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #1,640 nationwide
- Population density: 27.6 people / square mile (16,476 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,135 nationwide
#15. Lincoln County
- Rural area: 100.0% (562 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 562 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #1,844 nationwide
- Population density: 24.0 people / square mile (13,455 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,036 nationwide
#14. Van Buren County
- Rural area: 100.0% (708 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 708 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,300 nationwide
- Population density: 23.5 people / square mile (16,642 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #1,021 nationwide
#13. Izard County
- Rural area: 100.0% (581 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 581 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #1,695 nationwide
- Population density: 23.4 people / square mile (13,570 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,016 nationwide
#12. Stone County
- Rural area: 100.0% (606 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 606 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,604 nationwide
- Population density: 20.6 people / square mile (12,475 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #912 nationwide
#11. Madison County
- Rural area: 100.0% (834 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 834 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #1,007 nationwide
- Population density: 19.4 people / square mile (16,211 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #866 nationwide
#10. Perry County
- Rural area: 100.0% (551 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 551 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #1,895 nationwide
- Population density: 18.8 people / square mile (10,355 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #848 nationwide
#9. Pike County
- Rural area: 100.0% (601 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 601 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #1,626 nationwide
- Population density: 17.9 people / square mile (10,756 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #824 nationwide
#8. Cleveland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (598 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 598 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #1,634 nationwide
- Population density: 13.6 people / square mile (8,128 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #692 nationwide
#7. Lafayette County
- Rural area: 100.0% (528 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 528 square miles
--- #75 largest county in state, #1,980 nationwide
- Population density: 12.9 people / square mile (6,800 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #667 nationwide
#6. Prairie County
- Rural area: 100.0% (648 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 648 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,456 nationwide
- Population density: 12.6 people / square mile (8,189 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #659 nationwide
#5. Searcy County
- Rural area: 100.0% (666 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 666 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,411 nationwide
- Population density: 11.9 people / square mile (7,908 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #630 nationwide
#4. Montgomery County
- Rural area: 100.0% (780 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 780 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #1,107 nationwide
- Population density: 11.5 people / square mile (8,950 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #617 nationwide
#3. Woodruff County
- Rural area: 100.0% (587 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 587 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #1,672 nationwide
- Population density: 11.1 people / square mile (6,533 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #608 nationwide
#2. Newton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (821 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 821 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #1,031 nationwide
- Population density: 9.5 people / square mile (7,812 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #556 nationwide
#1. Calhoun County
- Rural area: 100.0% (629 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 629 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,529 nationwide
- Population density: 8.3 people / square mile (5,192 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #505 nationwide
