Most rural counties in Iowa
Most rural counties in Iowa
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land—702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Iowa 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. Winnebago County
- Rural area: 99.5% (398 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 400 square miles
--- #95 largest county in state, #2,523 nationwide
- Population density: 26.3 people / square mile (10,534 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #1,105 nationwide
#49. Cass County
- Rural area: 99.5% (561 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #1,823 nationwide
- Population density: 23.2 people / square mile (13,091 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,008 nationwide
#48. Monroe County
- Rural area: 99.5% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 434 square miles
--- #85 largest county in state, #2,340 nationwide
- Population density: 18.0 people / square mile (7,807 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #826 nationwide
#47. Wright County
- Rural area: 99.5% (578 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 580 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,697 nationwide
- Population density: 21.9 people / square mile (12,739 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #956 nationwide
#46. Washington County
- Rural area: 99.5% (566 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 569 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,792 nationwide
- Population density: 38.9 people / square mile (22,100 residents)
--- #72 lowest density county in state, #1,451 nationwide
#45. Plymouth County
- Rural area: 99.5% (859 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 863 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #956 nationwide
- Population density: 29.1 people / square mile (25,068 residents)
--- #56 lowest density county in state, #1,182 nationwide
#44. Delaware County
- Rural area: 99.5% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 578 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,708 nationwide
- Population density: 29.7 people / square mile (17,183 residents)
--- #59 lowest density county in state, #1,202 nationwide
#43. Fayette County
- Rural area: 99.6% (728 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 731 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #1,210 nationwide
- Population density: 27.1 people / square mile (19,803 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #1,123 nationwide
#42. Greene County
- Rural area: 99.6% (567 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 570 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #1,784 nationwide
- Population density: 15.7 people / square mile (8,950 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #762 nationwide
#41. Mitchell County
- Rural area: 99.6% (467 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 469 square miles
--- #76 largest county in state, #2,196 nationwide
- Population density: 22.6 people / square mile (10,608 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #983 nationwide
#40. Hancock County
- Rural area: 99.6% (569 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 571 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,765 nationwide
- Population density: 18.9 people / square mile (10,802 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #855 nationwide
#39. O'Brien County
- Rural area: 99.6% (571 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 573 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,747 nationwide
- Population density: 24.1 people / square mile (13,835 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #1,041 nationwide
#38. Shelby County
- Rural area: 99.6% (589 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 591 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #1,655 nationwide
- Population density: 19.6 people / square mile (11,606 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #879 nationwide
#37. Howard County
- Rural area: 99.7% (472 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 473 square miles
--- #75 largest county in state, #2,180 nationwide
- Population density: 19.5 people / square mile (9,226 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #871 nationwide
#36. Benton County
- Rural area: 99.7% (714 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 716 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #1,263 nationwide
- Population density: 35.8 people / square mile (25,636 residents)
--- #69 lowest density county in state, #1,363 nationwide
#35. Madison County
- Rural area: 99.7% (559 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 561 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #1,848 nationwide
- Population density: 28.5 people / square mile (16,012 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #1,171 nationwide
#34. Iowa County
- Rural area: 99.7% (584 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 586 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #1,674 nationwide
- Population density: 27.6 people / square mile (16,189 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #1,136 nationwide
#33. Franklin County
- Rural area: 99.7% (580 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 582 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,690 nationwide
- Population density: 17.5 people / square mile (10,162 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #811 nationwide
#32. Palo Alto County
- Rural area: 99.7% (562 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #1,827 nationwide
- Population density: 16.0 people / square mile (9,003 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #765 nationwide
#31. Cherokee County
- Rural area: 99.7% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 577 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #1,714 nationwide
- Population density: 19.7 people / square mile (11,343 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #880 nationwide
#30. Tama County
- Rural area: 99.7% (719 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 721 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #1,240 nationwide
- Population density: 23.6 people / square mile (17,032 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,024 nationwide
#29. Chickasaw County
- Rural area: 99.7% (503 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 504 square miles
--- #69 largest county in state, #2,059 nationwide
- Population density: 23.8 people / square mile (12,026 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #1,032 nationwide
#28. Allamakee County
- Rural area: 99.7% (637 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 639 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #1,488 nationwide
- Population density: 21.6 people / square mile (13,813 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #942 nationwide
#27. Kossuth County
- Rural area: 99.7% (970 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 973 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #715 nationwide
- Population density: 15.4 people / square mile (14,978 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #749 nationwide
#26. Osceola County
- Rural area: 99.7% (398 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 399 square miles
--- #97 largest county in state, #2,532 nationwide
- Population density: 15.2 people / square mile (6,052 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #742 nationwide
#25. Cedar County
- Rural area: 99.8% (578 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 579 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,703 nationwide
- Population density: 31.9 people / square mile (18,457 residents)
--- #64 lowest density county in state, #1,267 nationwide
#24. Monona County
- Rural area: 99.8% (693 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 694 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #1,347 nationwide
- Population density: 12.6 people / square mile (8,730 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #657 nationwide
#23. Harrison County
- Rural area: 99.8% (696 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 697 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #1,333 nationwide
- Population density: 20.2 people / square mile (14,089 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #903 nationwide
#22. Clayton County
- Rural area: 99.9% (778 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 779 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #1,109 nationwide
- Population density: 22.6 people / square mile (17,625 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #985 nationwide
#21. Fremont County
- Rural area: 100.0% (511 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 511 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #2,036 nationwide
- Population density: 13.6 people / square mile (6,946 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #691 nationwide
#20. Louisa County
- Rural area: 100.0% (402 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 402 square miles
--- #94 largest county in state, #2,513 nationwide
- Population density: 27.8 people / square mile (11,178 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #1,147 nationwide
#19. Butler County
- Rural area: 100.0% (580 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 580 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,699 nationwide
- Population density: 25.2 people / square mile (14,628 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #1,072 nationwide
#18. Grundy County
- Rural area: 100.0% (502 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 502 square miles
--- #71 largest county in state, #2,069 nationwide
- Population density: 24.5 people / square mile (12,299 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #1,051 nationwide
#17. Lyon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (588 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 588 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,667 nationwide
- Population density: 20.0 people / square mile (11,776 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #897 nationwide
#16. Worth County
- Rural area: 100.0% (400 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 400 square miles
--- #96 largest county in state, #2,528 nationwide
- Population density: 18.6 people / square mile (7,445 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #840 nationwide
#15. Guthrie County
- Rural area: 100.0% (591 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 591 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #1,656 nationwide
- Population density: 18.1 people / square mile (10,669 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #829 nationwide
#14. Davis County
- Rural area: 100.0% (502 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 502 square miles
--- #70 largest county in state, #2,068 nationwide
- Population density: 17.8 people / square mile (8,920 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #819 nationwide
#13. Keokuk County
- Rural area: 100.0% (579 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 579 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,705 nationwide
- Population density: 17.6 people / square mile (10,188 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #814 nationwide
#12. Calhoun County
- Rural area: 100.0% (570 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 570 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,780 nationwide
- Population density: 17.1 people / square mile (9,744 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #802 nationwide
#11. Sac County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,730 nationwide
- Population density: 17.0 people / square mile (9,802 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #801 nationwide
#10. Ida County
- Rural area: 100.0% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 432 square miles
--- #87 largest county in state, #2,352 nationwide
- Population density: 16.0 people / square mile (6,901 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #767 nationwide
#9. Decatur County
- Rural area: 100.0% (532 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 532 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #1,967 nationwide
- Population density: 15.0 people / square mile (7,979 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #734 nationwide
#8. Van Buren County
- Rural area: 100.0% (485 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 485 square miles
--- #74 largest county in state, #2,139 nationwide
- Population density: 14.7 people / square mile (7,150 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #728 nationwide
#7. Audubon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (443 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 443 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #2,294 nationwide
- Population density: 12.6 people / square mile (5,571 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #656 nationwide
#6. Adair County
- Rural area: 100.0% (569 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 569 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #1,789 nationwide
- Population density: 12.4 people / square mile (7,085 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #648 nationwide
#5. Wayne County
- Rural area: 100.0% (525 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 525 square miles
--- #66 largest county in state, #1,991 nationwide
- Population density: 12.2 people / square mile (6,429 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #642 nationwide
#4. Pocahontas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (577 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 577 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,713 nationwide
- Population density: 11.8 people / square mile (6,797 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #629 nationwide
#3. Taylor County
- Rural area: 100.0% (532 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 532 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #1,965 nationwide
- Population density: 11.6 people / square mile (6,167 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #619 nationwide
#2. Ringgold County
- Rural area: 100.0% (535 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 535 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #1,950 nationwide
- Population density: 9.3 people / square mile (4,964 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #543 nationwide
#1. Adams County
- Rural area: 100.0% (423 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 423 square miles
--- #92 largest county in state, #2,392 nationwide
- Population density: 8.7 people / square mile (3,670 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #519 nationwide
