Most rural counties in Virginia
Most rural counties in Virginia
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land—702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Virginia 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. Page County
- Rural area: 98.8% (307 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 311 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #2,782 nationwide
- Population density: 76.5 people / square mile (23,788 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #2,056 nationwide
#49. Clarke County
- Rural area: 98.9% (174 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 176 square miles
--- #91 largest county in state, #3,032 nationwide
- Population density: 81.9 people / square mile (14,423 residents)
--- #58 lowest density county in state, #2,114 nationwide
#48. Franklin County
- Rural area: 98.9% (683 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 690 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #1,356 nationwide
- Population density: 81.4 people / square mile (56,187 residents)
--- #57 lowest density county in state, #2,109 nationwide
#47. Essex County
- Rural area: 98.9% (254 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 257 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #2,891 nationwide
- Population density: 42.8 people / square mile (10,998 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,532 nationwide
#46. Mecklenburg County
- Rural area: 99.0% (619 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 625 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #1,540 nationwide
- Population density: 49.1 people / square mile (30,728 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,676 nationwide
#45. Caroline County
- Rural area: 99.1% (523 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 528 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #1,983 nationwide
- Population density: 57.6 people / square mile (30,381 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,816 nationwide
#44. Scott County
- Rural area: 99.1% (531 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 536 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #1,949 nationwide
- Population density: 40.9 people / square mile (21,902 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,491 nationwide
#43. Halifax County
- Rural area: 99.2% (811 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 818 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #1,032 nationwide
- Population density: 42.2 people / square mile (34,552 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,517 nationwide
#42. Westmoreland County
- Rural area: 99.2% (228 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 229 square miles
--- #82 largest county in state, #2,953 nationwide
- Population density: 77.4 people / square mile (17,751 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #2,067 nationwide
#41. King William County
- Rural area: 99.3% (272 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 274 square miles
--- #73 largest county in state, #2,856 nationwide
- Population density: 60.9 people / square mile (16,688 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #1,858 nationwide
#40. Russell County
- Rural area: 99.4% (471 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 474 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #2,175 nationwide
- Population density: 57.3 people / square mile (27,141 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,808 nationwide
#39. Rockbridge County
- Rural area: 99.4% (594 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 598 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #1,636 nationwide
- Population density: 37.8 people / square mile (22,570 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,416 nationwide
#38. Greensville County
- Rural area: 99.5% (294 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 295 square miles
--- #69 largest county in state, #2,816 nationwide
- Population density: 39.0 people / square mile (11,525 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,454 nationwide
#37. Brunswick County
- Rural area: 99.5% (563 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 566 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #1,809 nationwide
- Population density: 29.2 people / square mile (16,520 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #1,187 nationwide
#36. Goochland County
- Rural area: 99.7% (281 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 281 square miles
--- #71 largest county in state, #2,842 nationwide
- Population density: 81.3 people / square mile (22,865 residents)
--- #56 lowest density county in state, #2,106 nationwide
#35. Carroll County
- Rural area: 99.8% (474 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 475 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #2,169 nationwide
- Population density: 62.8 people / square mile (29,801 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #1,880 nationwide
#34. Southampton County
- Rural area: 99.9% (599 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 599 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #1,628 nationwide
- Population density: 29.8 people / square mile (17,880 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #1,205 nationwide
#33. Cumberland County
- Rural area: 99.9% (297 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 297 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #2,810 nationwide
- Population density: 33.0 people / square mile (9,824 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #1,294 nationwide
#32. Powhatan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (260 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 260 square miles
--- #77 largest county in state, #2,884 nationwide
- Population density: 110.7 people / square mile (28,815 residents)
--- #72 lowest density county in state, #2,328 nationwide
#31. Lee County
- Rural area: 100.0% (435 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 436 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #2,325 nationwide
- Population density: 55.0 people / square mile (23,948 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,775 nationwide
#30. Grayson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (442 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 442 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #2,298 nationwide
- Population density: 35.6 people / square mile (15,742 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,353 nationwide
#29. New Kent County
- Rural area: 100.0% (210 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 210 square miles
--- #86 largest county in state, #2,982 nationwide
- Population density: 103.4 people / square mile (21,686 residents)
--- #66 lowest density county in state, #2,279 nationwide
#28. Mathews County
- Rural area: 100.0% (86 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 86 square miles
--- #97 largest county in state, #3,090 nationwide
- Population density: 102.3 people / square mile (8,788 residents)
--- #65 lowest density county in state, #2,272 nationwide
#27. Middlesex County
- Rural area: 100.0% (130 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 130 square miles
--- #95 largest county in state, #3,069 nationwide
- Population density: 81.9 people / square mile (10,675 residents)
--- #59 lowest density county in state, #2,115 nationwide
#26. Lancaster County
- Rural area: 100.0% (133 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 133 square miles
--- #94 largest county in state, #3,068 nationwide
- Population density: 80.5 people / square mile (10,724 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #2,099 nationwide
#25. Accomack County
- Rural area: 100.0% (449 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 449 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #2,272 nationwide
- Population density: 72.7 people / square mile (32,673 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #2,010 nationwide
#24. Louisa County
- Rural area: 100.0% (496 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 496 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #2,097 nationwide
- Population density: 72.6 people / square mile (36,040 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #2,009 nationwide
#23. Northumberland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (191 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 191 square miles
--- #88 largest county in state, #3,010 nationwide
- Population density: 63.7 people / square mile (12,190 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #1,899 nationwide
#22. Northampton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (212 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 212 square miles
--- #85 largest county in state, #2,979 nationwide
- Population density: 56.2 people / square mile (11,885 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #1,794 nationwide
#21. Appomattox County
- Rural area: 100.0% (333 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 333 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,730 nationwide
- Population density: 47.1 people / square mile (15,707 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #1,633 nationwide
#20. Richmond County
- Rural area: 100.0% (191 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 191 square miles
--- #87 largest county in state, #3,009 nationwide
- Population density: 46.4 people / square mile (8,884 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,611 nationwide
#19. Dickenson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (331 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 331 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,735 nationwide
- Population density: 44.6 people / square mile (14,756 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,569 nationwide
#18. Buchanan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (503 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 503 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #2,067 nationwide
- Population density: 43.3 people / square mile (21,788 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,540 nationwide
#17. Floyd County
- Rural area: 100.0% (380 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 380 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #2,599 nationwide
- Population density: 41.3 people / square mile (15,704 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,504 nationwide
#16. Madison County
- Rural area: 100.0% (321 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 321 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #2,757 nationwide
- Population density: 41.1 people / square mile (13,170 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,498 nationwide
#15. Charles City County
- Rural area: 100.0% (183 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 183 square miles
--- #89 largest county in state, #3,026 nationwide
- Population density: 38.4 people / square mile (7,014 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,434 nationwide
#14. Patrick County
- Rural area: 100.0% (483 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 483 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #2,144 nationwide
- Population density: 36.7 people / square mile (17,748 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,390 nationwide
#13. Amelia County
- Rural area: 100.0% (355 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 355 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #2,671 nationwide
- Population density: 36.5 people / square mile (12,953 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,378 nationwide
#12. Nelson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (471 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 471 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #2,188 nationwide
- Population density: 31.5 people / square mile (14,831 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #1,256 nationwide
#11. Buckingham County
- Rural area: 100.0% (580 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 580 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #1,701 nationwide
- Population density: 29.4 people / square mile (17,059 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #1,193 nationwide
#10. Lunenburg County
- Rural area: 100.0% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 432 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #2,351 nationwide
- Population density: 28.5 people / square mile (12,282 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #1,169 nationwide
#9. Rappahannock County
- Rural area: 100.0% (266 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 266 square miles
--- #75 largest county in state, #2,869 nationwide
- Population density: 27.7 people / square mile (7,378 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #1,141 nationwide
#8. Charlotte County
- Rural area: 100.0% (475 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 475 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #2,168 nationwide
- Population density: 25.3 people / square mile (12,040 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #1,079 nationwide
#7. Surry County
- Rural area: 100.0% (279 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 279 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #2,850 nationwide
- Population density: 23.4 people / square mile (6,523 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #1,017 nationwide
#6. Sussex County
- Rural area: 100.0% (490 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 490 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #2,123 nationwide
- Population density: 23.2 people / square mile (11,377 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #1,010 nationwide
#5. King and Queen County
- Rural area: 100.0% (315 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 315 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,772 nationwide
- Population density: 22.3 people / square mile (7,042 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #973 nationwide
#4. Bland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (358 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 358 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #2,661 nationwide
- Population density: 17.9 people / square mile (6,388 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #822 nationwide
#3. Craig County
- Rural area: 100.0% (330 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 330 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,736 nationwide
- Population density: 15.5 people / square mile (5,110 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #754 nationwide
#2. Bath County
- Rural area: 100.0% (529 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 529 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #1,978 nationwide
- Population density: 8.1 people / square mile (4,307 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #501 nationwide
#1. Highland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (415 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 415 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #2,433 nationwide
- Population density: 5.3 people / square mile (2,204 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #382 nationwide
