Most rural counties in Georgia
Most rural counties in Georgia
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land—702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Georgia 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. Jenkins County
- Rural area: 99.3% (345 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 347 square miles
--- #77 largest county in state, #2,685 nationwide
- Population density: 25.3 people / square mile (8,793 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,078 nationwide
#49. Berrien County
- Rural area: 99.3% (449 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 452 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #2,265 nationwide
- Population density: 42.4 people / square mile (19,152 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #1,520 nationwide
#48. McIntosh County
- Rural area: 99.3% (421 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 424 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #2,385 nationwide
- Population density: 33.4 people / square mile (14,174 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,302 nationwide
#47. Long County
- Rural area: 99.3% (397 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 400 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #2,524 nationwide
- Population density: 46.7 people / square mile (18,692 residents)
--- #67 lowest density county in state, #1,623 nationwide
#46. Banks County
- Rural area: 99.3% (230 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 232 square miles
--- #127 largest county in state, #2,946 nationwide
- Population density: 80.6 people / square mile (18,708 residents)
--- #91 lowest density county in state, #2,100 nationwide
#45. Wilkes County
- Rural area: 99.3% (466 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 469 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #2,193 nationwide
- Population density: 21.0 people / square mile (9,844 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #927 nationwide
#44. Terrell County
- Rural area: 99.4% (333 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 335 square miles
--- #84 largest county in state, #2,724 nationwide
- Population density: 26.0 people / square mile (8,737 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,098 nationwide
#43. Meriwether County
- Rural area: 99.4% (498 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 501 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #2,075 nationwide
- Population density: 42.1 people / square mile (21,106 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #1,515 nationwide
#42. Charlton County
- Rural area: 99.4% (769 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 774 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #1,120 nationwide
- Population density: 16.9 people / square mile (13,040 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #792 nationwide
#41. Irwin County
- Rural area: 99.4% (352 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 354 square miles
--- #74 largest county in state, #2,673 nationwide
- Population density: 26.3 people / square mile (9,320 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,104 nationwide
#40. Early County
- Rural area: 99.4% (510 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 513 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #2,030 nationwide
- Population density: 20.1 people / square mile (10,312 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #899 nationwide
#39. Greene County
- Rural area: 99.4% (385 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 387 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #2,576 nationwide
- Population density: 44.8 people / square mile (17,349 residents)
--- #62 lowest density county in state, #1,574 nationwide
#38. Lanier County
- Rural area: 99.4% (184 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 185 square miles
--- #143 largest county in state, #3,019 nationwide
- Population density: 56.0 people / square mile (10,380 residents)
--- #72 lowest density county in state, #1,790 nationwide
#37. Burke County
- Rural area: 99.4% (822 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 827 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #1,020 nationwide
- Population density: 27.2 people / square mile (22,520 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,128 nationwide
#36. Screven County
- Rural area: 99.4% (642 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 645 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #1,472 nationwide
- Population density: 21.7 people / square mile (13,989 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #946 nationwide
#35. Randolph County
- Rural area: 99.5% (426 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 428 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #2,371 nationwide
- Population density: 16.3 people / square mile (6,973 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #778 nationwide
#34. Jasper County
- Rural area: 99.5% (366 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 368 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #2,637 nationwide
- Population density: 37.8 people / square mile (13,916 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #1,417 nationwide
#33. Quitman County
- Rural area: 99.5% (151 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 151 square miles
--- #154 largest county in state, #3,059 nationwide
- Population density: 15.1 people / square mile (2,289 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #739 nationwide
#32. Jefferson County
- Rural area: 99.6% (524 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 526 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #1,987 nationwide
- Population density: 29.7 people / square mile (15,618 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,200 nationwide
#31. Clinch County
- Rural area: 99.7% (798 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 800 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #1,062 nationwide
- Population density: 8.4 people / square mile (6,686 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #509 nationwide
#30. Harris County
- Rural area: 99.8% (463 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 464 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #2,216 nationwide
- Population density: 73.5 people / square mile (34,105 residents)
--- #86 lowest density county in state, #2,024 nationwide
#29. Talbot County
- Rural area: 99.8% (391 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 391 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,567 nationwide
- Population density: 16.2 people / square mile (6,321 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #774 nationwide
#28. Pike County
- Rural area: 99.9% (216 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 216 square miles
--- #132 largest county in state, #2,971 nationwide
- Population density: 84.8 people / square mile (18,327 residents)
--- #98 lowest density county in state, #2,133 nationwide
#27. Oglethorpe County
- Rural area: 99.9% (439 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 439 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #2,308 nationwide
- Population density: 34.0 people / square mile (14,931 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #1,316 nationwide
#26. Montgomery County
- Rural area: 100.0% (239 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 240 square miles
--- #124 largest county in state, #2,930 nationwide
- Population density: 37.8 people / square mile (9,058 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #1,419 nationwide
#25. Brantley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (442 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 442 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #2,296 nationwide
- Population density: 42.4 people / square mile (18,756 residents)
--- #56 lowest density county in state, #1,521 nationwide
#24. Union County
- Rural area: 100.0% (322 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 322 square miles
--- #92 largest county in state, #2,755 nationwide
- Population density: 72.3 people / square mile (23,288 residents)
--- #84 lowest density county in state, #2,004 nationwide
#23. Towns County
- Rural area: 100.0% (167 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 167 square miles
--- #151 largest county in state, #3,042 nationwide
- Population density: 69.7 people / square mile (11,617 residents)
--- #82 lowest density county in state, #1,978 nationwide
#22. Fannin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (387 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 387 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #2,579 nationwide
- Population density: 65.7 people / square mile (25,395 residents)
--- #79 lowest density county in state, #1,918 nationwide
#21. Heard County
- Rural area: 100.0% (296 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 296 square miles
--- #98 largest county in state, #2,813 nationwide
- Population density: 39.6 people / square mile (11,736 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #1,462 nationwide
#20. Crawford County
- Rural area: 100.0% (325 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 325 square miles
--- #88 largest county in state, #2,748 nationwide
- Population density: 37.9 people / square mile (12,325 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #1,422 nationwide
#19. Lincoln County
- Rural area: 100.0% (210 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 210 square miles
--- #135 largest county in state, #2,981 nationwide
- Population density: 37.3 people / square mile (7,856 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #1,403 nationwide
#18. Schley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (167 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 167 square miles
--- #150 largest county in state, #3,041 nationwide
- Population density: 31.3 people / square mile (5,221 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,248 nationwide
#17. Wheeler County
- Rural area: 100.0% (295 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 295 square miles
--- #99 largest county in state, #2,815 nationwide
- Population density: 26.8 people / square mile (7,928 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,119 nationwide
#16. Atkinson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (339 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 339 square miles
--- #83 largest county in state, #2,712 nationwide
- Population density: 24.3 people / square mile (8,239 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,045 nationwide
#15. Wilcox County
- Rural area: 100.0% (378 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 378 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #2,609 nationwide
- Population density: 23.4 people / square mile (8,824 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,015 nationwide
#14. Marion County
- Rural area: 100.0% (366 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 366 square miles
--- #69 largest county in state, #2,640 nationwide
- Population density: 23.0 people / square mile (8,432 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,004 nationwide
#13. Twiggs County
- Rural area: 100.0% (358 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 358 square miles
--- #71 largest county in state, #2,658 nationwide
- Population density: 23.0 people / square mile (8,229 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #998 nationwide
#12. Calhoun County
- Rural area: 100.0% (280 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 280 square miles
--- #108 largest county in state, #2,846 nationwide
- Population density: 22.7 people / square mile (6,365 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #987 nationwide
#11. Taylor County
- Rural area: 100.0% (377 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 377 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,612 nationwide
- Population density: 21.5 people / square mile (8,116 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #940 nationwide
#10. Glascock County
- Rural area: 100.0% (144 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 144 square miles
--- #156 largest county in state, #3,064 nationwide
- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (2,996 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #920 nationwide
#9. Miller County
- Rural area: 100.0% (282 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 282 square miles
--- #105 largest county in state, #2,837 nationwide
- Population density: 20.5 people / square mile (5,787 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #909 nationwide
#8. Wilkinson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (447 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 447 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #2,280 nationwide
- Population density: 20.1 people / square mile (9,010 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #901 nationwide
#7. Warren County
- Rural area: 100.0% (284 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 284 square miles
--- #103 largest county in state, #2,834 nationwide
- Population density: 18.6 people / square mile (5,297 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #843 nationwide
#6. Clay County
- Rural area: 100.0% (195 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 195 square miles
--- #140 largest county in state, #3,002 nationwide
- Population density: 15.1 people / square mile (2,951 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #738 nationwide
#5. Stewart County
- Rural area: 100.0% (459 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 459 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #2,232 nationwide
- Population density: 13.7 people / square mile (6,293 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #696 nationwide
#4. Webster County
- Rural area: 100.0% (209 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 209 square miles
--- #136 largest county in state, #2,984 nationwide
- Population density: 12.5 people / square mile (2,610 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #650 nationwide
#3. Echols County
- Rural area: 100.0% (415 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 415 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #2,437 nationwide
- Population density: 9.6 people / square mile (3,981 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #562 nationwide
#2. Baker County
- Rural area: 100.0% (342 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 342 square miles
--- #80 largest county in state, #2,701 nationwide
- Population density: 9.2 people / square mile (3,132 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #537 nationwide
#1. Taliaferro County
- Rural area: 100.0% (195 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 195 square miles
--- #141 largest county in state, #3,005 nationwide
- Population density: 8.3 people / square mile (1,611 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #506 nationwide
