Most rural counties in Indiana
Most rural counties in Indiana
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land—702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Indiana 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. Blackford County
- Rural area: 97.3% (161 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 165 square miles
--- #89 largest county in state, #3,044 nationwide
- Population density: 72.8 people / square mile (12,013 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #2,012 nationwide
#49. Marshall County
- Rural area: 97.4% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.6% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 444 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #2,292 nationwide
- Population density: 104.7 people / square mile (46,461 residents)
--- #57 lowest density county in state, #2,295 nationwide
#48. Knox County
- Rural area: 97.6% (503 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.4% (13 square miles)
- Total land area: 516 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #2,019 nationwide
- Population density: 71.8 people / square mile (37,065 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #2,000 nationwide
#47. Montgomery County
- Rural area: 97.6% (493 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.4% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 505 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #2,057 nationwide
- Population density: 75.9 people / square mile (38,287 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #2,047 nationwide
#46. Wells County
- Rural area: 97.7% (359 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.4% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 368 square miles
--- #66 largest county in state, #2,638 nationwide
- Population density: 76.1 people / square mile (28,011 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #2,051 nationwide
#45. Jennings County
- Rural area: 97.8% (368 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.2% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 377 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,614 nationwide
- Population density: 73.6 people / square mile (27,710 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #2,025 nationwide
#44. Posey County
- Rural area: 97.8% (401 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.2% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 410 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #2,464 nationwide
- Population density: 62.4 people / square mile (25,560 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,875 nationwide
#43. Whitley County
- Rural area: 98.0% (329 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.0% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 336 square miles
--- #73 largest county in state, #2,723 nationwide
- Population density: 100.5 people / square mile (33,730 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #2,257 nationwide
#42. Clinton County
- Rural area: 98.1% (397 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.9% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 405 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #2,499 nationwide
- Population density: 79.7 people / square mile (32,273 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #2,091 nationwide
#41. Noble County
- Rural area: 98.2% (403 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 411 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #2,460 nationwide
- Population density: 115.6 people / square mile (47,506 residents)
--- #61 lowest density county in state, #2,350 nationwide
#40. Wabash County
- Rural area: 98.2% (405 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 412 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #2,449 nationwide
- Population density: 76.1 people / square mile (31,389 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #2,052 nationwide
#39. Decatur County
- Rural area: 98.2% (366 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 373 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #2,624 nationwide
- Population density: 71.3 people / square mile (26,562 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,995 nationwide
#38. Clay County
- Rural area: 98.4% (352 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 358 square miles
--- #70 largest county in state, #2,663 nationwide
- Population density: 73.4 people / square mile (26,234 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #2,023 nationwide
#37. Daviess County
- Rural area: 98.4% (423 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 429 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #2,366 nationwide
- Population density: 77.1 people / square mile (33,120 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #2,061 nationwide
#36. Vermillion County
- Rural area: 98.5% (253 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 257 square miles
--- #84 largest county in state, #2,892 nationwide
- Population density: 60.5 people / square mile (15,539 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,852 nationwide
#35. Putnam County
- Rural area: 98.5% (473 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.5% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 481 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #2,153 nationwide
- Population density: 77.8 people / square mile (37,384 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #2,077 nationwide
#34. Gibson County
- Rural area: 98.6% (481 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 487 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #2,132 nationwide
- Population density: 69.0 people / square mile (33,656 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #1,964 nationwide
#33. Jay County
- Rural area: 98.7% (379 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 384 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #2,589 nationwide
- Population density: 54.3 people / square mile (20,840 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,762 nationwide
#32. Perry County
- Rural area: 98.8% (377 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 382 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #2,593 nationwide
- Population density: 50.0 people / square mile (19,102 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,694 nationwide
#31. Tipton County
- Rural area: 98.8% (257 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 261 square miles
--- #83 largest county in state, #2,883 nationwide
- Population density: 58.2 people / square mile (15,162 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,823 nationwide
#30. Fulton County
- Rural area: 98.8% (364 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 368 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,635 nationwide
- Population density: 54.6 people / square mile (20,096 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,768 nationwide
#29. White County
- Rural area: 98.8% (499 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 505 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #2,054 nationwide
- Population density: 47.8 people / square mile (24,149 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #1,649 nationwide
#28. Jasper County
- Rural area: 98.9% (553 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 560 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #1,856 nationwide
- Population density: 59.8 people / square mile (33,447 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,843 nationwide
#27. Greene County
- Rural area: 98.9% (536 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 542 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #1,921 nationwide
- Population density: 59.3 people / square mile (32,159 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,835 nationwide
#26. Randolph County
- Rural area: 98.9% (447 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 452 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #2,260 nationwide
- Population density: 55.1 people / square mile (24,926 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,778 nationwide
#25. Parke County
- Rural area: 99.0% (440 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 445 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #2,288 nationwide
- Population density: 38.1 people / square mile (16,946 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #1,428 nationwide
#24. Rush County
- Rural area: 99.0% (404 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 408 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #2,477 nationwide
- Population density: 40.8 people / square mile (16,641 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #1,489 nationwide
#23. Starke County
- Rural area: 99.1% (306 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 309 square miles
--- #77 largest county in state, #2,785 nationwide
- Population density: 74.2 people / square mile (22,952 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #2,032 nationwide
#22. Harrison County
- Rural area: 99.2% (481 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 485 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #2,140 nationwide
- Population density: 82.4 people / square mile (39,940 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #2,119 nationwide
#21. Washington County
- Rural area: 99.3% (510 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 514 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #2,026 nationwide
- Population density: 54.2 people / square mile (27,848 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,760 nationwide
#20. Franklin County
- Rural area: 99.3% (382 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 384 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #2,587 nationwide
- Population density: 59.2 people / square mile (22,774 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,834 nationwide
#19. Fountain County
- Rural area: 99.3% (393 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 396 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #2,546 nationwide
- Population density: 41.5 people / square mile (16,430 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #1,508 nationwide
#18. Ripley County
- Rural area: 99.4% (444 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 446 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #2,282 nationwide
- Population density: 63.6 people / square mile (28,391 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #1,898 nationwide
#17. Warren County
- Rural area: 99.4% (362 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 365 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #2,642 nationwide
- Population density: 22.6 people / square mile (8,237 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #982 nationwide
#16. Carroll County
- Rural area: 99.4% (370 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 372 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #2,625 nationwide
- Population density: 53.9 people / square mile (20,074 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,756 nationwide
#15. Orange County
- Rural area: 99.4% (396 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 398 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #2,533 nationwide
- Population density: 49.1 people / square mile (19,545 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #1,673 nationwide
#14. LaGrange County
- Rural area: 99.4% (377 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 380 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,604 nationwide
- Population density: 103.2 people / square mile (39,193 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #2,278 nationwide
#13. Sullivan County
- Rural area: 99.5% (445 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 447 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #2,281 nationwide
- Population density: 46.4 people / square mile (20,730 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #1,610 nationwide
#12. Martin County
- Rural area: 99.5% (334 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 336 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #2,722 nationwide
- Population density: 30.4 people / square mile (10,212 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #1,220 nationwide
#11. Pulaski County
- Rural area: 99.7% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 434 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #2,341 nationwide
- Population density: 29.0 people / square mile (12,559 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #1,179 nationwide
#10. Ohio County
- Rural area: 100.0% (86 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 86 square miles
--- #92 largest county in state, #3,089 nationwide
- Population density: 68.2 people / square mile (5,874 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,953 nationwide
#9. Owen County
- Rural area: 100.0% (385 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 385 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #2,581 nationwide
- Population density: 54.1 people / square mile (20,835 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,758 nationwide
#8. Spencer County
- Rural area: 100.0% (397 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 397 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #2,540 nationwide
- Population density: 51.5 people / square mile (20,447 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,717 nationwide
#7. Switzerland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (221 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 221 square miles
--- #86 largest county in state, #2,968 nationwide
- Population density: 48.4 people / square mile (10,685 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #1,663 nationwide
#6. Brown County
- Rural area: 100.0% (312 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 312 square miles
--- #76 largest county in state, #2,781 nationwide
- Population density: 48.3 people / square mile (15,064 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #1,661 nationwide
#5. Union County
- Rural area: 100.0% (161 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 161 square miles
--- #90 largest county in state, #3,047 nationwide
- Population density: 44.1 people / square mile (7,113 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #1,557 nationwide
#4. Pike County
- Rural area: 100.0% (334 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 334 square miles
--- #74 largest county in state, #2,726 nationwide
- Population density: 37.0 people / square mile (12,378 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #1,397 nationwide
#3. Newton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (402 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 402 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #2,514 nationwide
- Population density: 34.8 people / square mile (13,992 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #1,334 nationwide
#2. Crawford County
- Rural area: 100.0% (306 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 306 square miles
--- #80 largest county in state, #2,795 nationwide
- Population density: 34.6 people / square mile (10,569 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #1,329 nationwide
#1. Benton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (406 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 406 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #2,492 nationwide
- Population density: 21.3 people / square mile (8,677 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #937 nationwide
