Most rural parishes in Louisiana
Most rural parishes in Louisiana
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land—702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most parishes counties in Louisiana using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Parishes 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. St. James Parish
- Rural area: 92.3% (223 square miles)
- Urban area: 7.7% (19 square miles)
- Total land area: 242 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,925 nationwide
- Population density: 88.2 people / square mile (21,308 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #2,164 nationwide
#49. Bossier Parish
- Rural area: 92.6% (778 square miles)
- Urban area: 7.4% (62 square miles)
- Total land area: 840 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #994 nationwide
- Population density: 150.6 people / square mile (126,499 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #2,482 nationwide
#48. St. Mary Parish
- Rural area: 93.9% (521 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.2% (34 square miles)
- Total land area: 555 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,870 nationwide
- Population density: 91.8 people / square mile (50,968 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #2,189 nationwide
#47. Iberia Parish
- Rural area: 94.1% (540 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.9% (34 square miles)
- Total land area: 574 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,736 nationwide
- Population density: 125.2 people / square mile (71,887 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #2,390 nationwide
#46. Lincoln Parish
- Rural area: 95.0% (448 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.0% (24 square miles)
- Total land area: 472 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #2,185 nationwide
- Population density: 100.2 people / square mile (47,246 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #2,252 nationwide
#45. St. Bernard Parish
- Rural area: 95.4% (360 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.6% (17 square miles)
- Total land area: 378 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #2,610 nationwide
- Population density: 122.6 people / square mile (46,266 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #2,373 nationwide
#44. Lafourche Parish
- Rural area: 95.5% (1,020 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.5% (48 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,068 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #603 nationwide
- Population density: 91.8 people / square mile (98,108 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #2,190 nationwide
#43. Terrebonne Parish
- Rural area: 95.5% (1,176 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.5% (56 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,232 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #494 nationwide
- Population density: 91.0 people / square mile (112,054 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #2,186 nationwide
#42. Rapides Parish
- Rural area: 95.5% (1,259 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.5% (59 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,318 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #451 nationwide
- Population density: 99.4 people / square mile (130,970 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #2,248 nationwide
#41. St. Martin Parish
- Rural area: 96.0% (708 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.0% (29 square miles)
- Total land area: 738 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,198 nationwide
- Population density: 72.8 people / square mile (53,732 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #2,013 nationwide
#40. Assumption Parish
- Rural area: 96.2% (326 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.8% (13 square miles)
- Total land area: 339 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #2,714 nationwide
- Population density: 66.4 people / square mile (22,478 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #1,931 nationwide
#39. St. Landry Parish
- Rural area: 96.7% (893 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.3% (31 square miles)
- Total land area: 924 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #787 nationwide
- Population density: 90.0 people / square mile (83,172 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #2,180 nationwide
#38. Plaquemines Parish
- Rural area: 97.0% (756 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.0% (24 square miles)
- Total land area: 780 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #1,106 nationwide
- Population density: 29.9 people / square mile (23,338 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,206 nationwide
#37. Webster Parish
- Rural area: 97.4% (578 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.6% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 593 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #1,647 nationwide
- Population density: 66.2 people / square mile (39,242 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #1,928 nationwide
#36. Acadia Parish
- Rural area: 97.5% (639 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.5% (16 square miles)
- Total land area: 655 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,438 nationwide
- Population density: 95.3 people / square mile (62,457 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #2,221 nationwide
#35. Pointe Coupee Parish
- Rural area: 98.2% (547 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 557 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #1,862 nationwide
- Population density: 39.5 people / square mile (22,016 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,461 nationwide
#34. Jefferson Davis Parish
- Rural area: 98.2% (640 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 651 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,447 nationwide
- Population density: 48.3 people / square mile (31,441 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #1,659 nationwide
#33. Vernon Parish
- Rural area: 98.3% (1,306 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (22 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,328 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #447 nationwide
- Population density: 37.4 people / square mile (49,646 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,405 nationwide
#32. Washington Parish
- Rural area: 98.3% (658 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 670 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,405 nationwide
- Population density: 69.4 people / square mile (46,435 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,974 nationwide
#31. Vermilion Parish
- Rural area: 98.5% (1,155 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.5% (18 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,173 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #523 nationwide
- Population density: 51.0 people / square mile (59,865 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,710 nationwide
#30. Iberville Parish
- Rural area: 98.6% (610 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 619 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,557 nationwide
- Population density: 53.1 people / square mile (32,822 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,739 nationwide
#29. Concordia Parish
- Rural area: 98.6% (687 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 697 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,332 nationwide
- Population density: 28.4 people / square mile (19,778 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #1,165 nationwide
#28. Evangeline Parish
- Rural area: 98.7% (654 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 662 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,418 nationwide
- Population density: 50.7 people / square mile (33,589 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #1,704 nationwide
#27. Morehouse Parish
- Rural area: 98.7% (785 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 795 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #1,077 nationwide
- Population density: 32.2 people / square mile (25,610 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,276 nationwide
#26. Avoyelles Parish
- Rural area: 98.8% (822 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 832 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #1,008 nationwide
- Population density: 48.9 people / square mile (40,669 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,669 nationwide
#25. Beauregard Parish
- Rural area: 98.8% (1,144 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (14 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,157 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #533 nationwide
- Population density: 32.0 people / square mile (37,043 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,273 nationwide
#24. Grant Parish
- Rural area: 99.0% (637 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 643 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,479 nationwide
- Population density: 34.7 people / square mile (22,340 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,333 nationwide
#23. Natchitoches Parish
- Rural area: 99.1% (1,240 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,252 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #485 nationwide
- Population density: 31.0 people / square mile (38,769 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,235 nationwide
#22. Jackson Parish
- Rural area: 99.2% (565 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 569 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,791 nationwide
- Population density: 27.9 people / square mile (15,879 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #1,152 nationwide
#21. Richland Parish
- Rural area: 99.3% (555 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 559 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #1,858 nationwide
- Population density: 36.4 people / square mile (20,350 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,376 nationwide
#20. Madison Parish
- Rural area: 99.3% (620 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 624 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,545 nationwide
- Population density: 18.1 people / square mile (11,306 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #830 nationwide
#19. LaSalle Parish
- Rural area: 99.3% (620 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 625 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,543 nationwide
- Population density: 23.9 people / square mile (14,936 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #1,034 nationwide
#18. Allen Parish
- Rural area: 99.3% (757 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 762 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #1,146 nationwide
- Population density: 33.6 people / square mile (25,618 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,308 nationwide
#17. East Carroll Parish
- Rural area: 99.4% (418 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 421 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #2,407 nationwide
- Population density: 16.9 people / square mile (7,096 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #795 nationwide
#16. Franklin Parish
- Rural area: 99.4% (621 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 625 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #1,544 nationwide
- Population density: 32.4 people / square mile (20,238 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,279 nationwide
#15. Union Parish
- Rural area: 99.4% (872 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 877 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #917 nationwide
- Population density: 25.5 people / square mile (22,353 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #1,086 nationwide
#14. De Soto Parish
- Rural area: 99.5% (872 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 876 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #924 nationwide
- Population density: 31.2 people / square mile (27,289 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,242 nationwide
#13. Winn Parish
- Rural area: 99.6% (946 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 950 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #741 nationwide
- Population density: 15.1 people / square mile (14,313 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #737 nationwide
#12. Claiborne Parish
- Rural area: 99.6% (752 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 755 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #1,165 nationwide
- Population density: 21.2 people / square mile (15,985 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #932 nationwide
#11. Bienville Parish
- Rural area: 99.7% (809 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 811 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #1,042 nationwide
- Population density: 16.7 people / square mile (13,564 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #789 nationwide
#10. Sabine Parish
- Rural area: 99.7% (864 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 867 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #948 nationwide
- Population density: 27.7 people / square mile (23,991 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #1,139 nationwide
#9. East Feliciana Parish
- Rural area: 100.0% (453 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 453 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #2,257 nationwide
- Population density: 42.7 people / square mile (19,371 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,529 nationwide
#8. West Feliciana Parish
- Rural area: 100.0% (403 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 403 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #2,507 nationwide
- Population density: 38.3 people / square mile (15,428 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,431 nationwide
#7. West Carroll Parish
- Rural area: 100.0% (360 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 360 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #2,655 nationwide
- Population density: 30.7 people / square mile (11,041 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,226 nationwide
#6. St. Helena Parish
- Rural area: 100.0% (408 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 408 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #2,473 nationwide
- Population density: 25.2 people / square mile (10,297 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #1,071 nationwide
#5. Red River Parish
- Rural area: 100.0% (389 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 389 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #2,573 nationwide
- Population density: 22.0 people / square mile (8,565 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #962 nationwide
#4. Caldwell Parish
- Rural area: 100.0% (529 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 529 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,977 nationwide
- Population density: 18.9 people / square mile (9,992 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #851 nationwide
#3. Catahoula Parish
- Rural area: 100.0% (708 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 708 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #1,302 nationwide
- Population density: 13.8 people / square mile (9,766 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #702 nationwide
#2. Tensas Parish
- Rural area: 100.0% (603 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 603 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,618 nationwide
- Population density: 7.6 people / square mile (4,561 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #471 nationwide
#1. Cameron Parish
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,285 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,285 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #467 nationwide
- Population density: 5.4 people / square mile (6,930 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #387 nationwide
