Most rural counties in Wisconsin
Most rural counties in Wisconsin
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land—702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Wisconsin 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. Marathon County
- Rural area: 96.9% (1,497 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.1% (48 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,545 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #389 nationwide
- Population density: 87.6 people / square mile (135,396 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #2,158 nationwide
#49. Portage County
- Rural area: 96.9% (776 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.1% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 801 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,061 nationwide
- Population density: 88.2 people / square mile (70,632 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #2,163 nationwide
#48. Sauk County
- Rural area: 97.7% (812 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.3% (19 square miles)
- Total land area: 831 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,012 nationwide
- Population density: 76.9 people / square mile (63,922 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #2,059 nationwide
#47. Dodge County
- Rural area: 97.9% (857 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.1% (19 square miles)
- Total land area: 876 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #923 nationwide
- Population density: 100.2 people / square mile (87,715 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #2,253 nationwide
#46. Pierce County
- Rural area: 98.4% (564 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 574 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #1,743 nationwide
- Population density: 73.2 people / square mile (41,977 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #2,018 nationwide
#45. Columbia County
- Rural area: 98.4% (754 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 766 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,135 nationwide
- Population density: 74.6 people / square mile (57,133 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #2,034 nationwide
#44. Waupaca County
- Rural area: 98.5% (736 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.5% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 748 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,179 nationwide
- Population density: 68.5 people / square mile (51,245 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #1,956 nationwide
#43. Dunn County
- Rural area: 98.6% (838 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 850 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #979 nationwide
- Population density: 52.7 people / square mile (44,759 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,734 nationwide
#42. Barron County
- Rural area: 98.7% (852 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 863 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #957 nationwide
- Population density: 52.4 people / square mile (45,229 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,730 nationwide
#41. Monroe County
- Rural area: 98.8% (890 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 901 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #846 nationwide
- Population density: 50.8 people / square mile (45,771 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #1,706 nationwide
#40. Lincoln County
- Rural area: 98.8% (869 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 879 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #910 nationwide
- Population density: 31.6 people / square mile (27,744 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,259 nationwide
#39. Door County
- Rural area: 98.9% (476 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 482 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,152 nationwide
- Population density: 57.0 people / square mile (27,472 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #1,803 nationwide
#38. Douglas County
- Rural area: 98.9% (1,290 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (14 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,304 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #459 nationwide
- Population density: 33.2 people / square mile (43,295 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,298 nationwide
#37. Green County
- Rural area: 98.9% (578 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 584 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #1,683 nationwide
- Population density: 63.2 people / square mile (36,896 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #1,889 nationwide
#36. Kewaunee County
- Rural area: 99.1% (339 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 343 square miles
--- #66 largest county in state, #2,700 nationwide
- Population density: 59.5 people / square mile (20,387 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #1,842 nationwide
#35. Oneida County
- Rural area: 99.2% (1,104 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,113 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #565 nationwide
- Population density: 31.8 people / square mile (35,381 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,264 nationwide
#34. Marinette County
- Rural area: 99.3% (1,389 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,399 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #430 nationwide
- Population density: 28.9 people / square mile (40,391 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,177 nationwide
#33. Shawano County
- Rural area: 99.3% (887 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 893 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #880 nationwide
- Population density: 45.8 people / square mile (40,904 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,598 nationwide
#32. Crawford County
- Rural area: 99.3% (567 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 571 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #1,772 nationwide
- Population density: 28.4 people / square mile (16,235 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,168 nationwide
#31. Grant County
- Rural area: 99.3% (1,139 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,147 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #538 nationwide
- Population density: 45.1 people / square mile (51,733 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,581 nationwide
#30. Green Lake County
- Rural area: 99.3% (347 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 349 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,681 nationwide
- Population density: 53.7 people / square mile (18,755 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #1,751 nationwide
#29. Polk County
- Rural area: 99.3% (908 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 914 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #809 nationwide
- Population density: 47.5 people / square mile (43,438 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #1,643 nationwide
#28. Jackson County
- Rural area: 99.5% (982 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 988 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #695 nationwide
- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (20,522 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #917 nationwide
#27. Langlade County
- Rural area: 99.5% (866 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 871 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #935 nationwide
- Population density: 22.0 people / square mile (19,146 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #959 nationwide
#26. Richland County
- Rural area: 99.5% (583 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 586 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #1,676 nationwide
- Population density: 29.8 people / square mile (17,459 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,203 nationwide
#25. Oconto County
- Rural area: 99.6% (993 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 998 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #683 nationwide
- Population density: 37.7 people / square mile (37,646 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,411 nationwide
#24. Ashland County
- Rural area: 99.6% (1,041 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,045 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #624 nationwide
- Population density: 14.9 people / square mile (15,617 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #733 nationwide
#23. Iowa County
- Rural area: 99.6% (760 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 763 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #1,144 nationwide
- Population density: 31.0 people / square mile (23,618 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,236 nationwide
#22. Juneau County
- Rural area: 99.7% (764 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 767 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,131 nationwide
- Population density: 34.5 people / square mile (26,478 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,328 nationwide
#21. Trempealeau County
- Rural area: 99.7% (731 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 733 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,207 nationwide
- Population density: 40.2 people / square mile (29,499 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #1,475 nationwide
#20. Waushara County
- Rural area: 99.7% (624 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 626 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #1,538 nationwide
- Population density: 38.6 people / square mile (24,193 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #1,439 nationwide
#19. Rusk County
- Rural area: 99.7% (911 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 914 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #811 nationwide
- Population density: 15.5 people / square mile (14,132 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #752 nationwide
#18. Vernon County
- Rural area: 99.7% (789 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 792 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,083 nationwide
- Population density: 38.7 people / square mile (30,633 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,443 nationwide
#17. Taylor County
- Rural area: 99.7% (972 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 975 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #710 nationwide
- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (20,325 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #922 nationwide
#16. Sawyer County
- Rural area: 99.8% (1,255 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,257 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #481 nationwide
- Population density: 13.0 people / square mile (16,399 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #675 nationwide
#15. Iron County
- Rural area: 99.8% (756 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 758 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,158 nationwide
- Population density: 7.5 people / square mile (5,687 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #469 nationwide
#14. Washburn County
- Rural area: 99.8% (795 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 797 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,073 nationwide
- Population density: 19.7 people / square mile (15,688 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #882 nationwide
#13. Clark County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,209 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,210 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #506 nationwide
- Population density: 28.6 people / square mile (34,579 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,173 nationwide
#12. Marquette County
- Rural area: 100.0% (456 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 456 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,249 nationwide
- Population density: 33.6 people / square mile (15,304 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,307 nationwide
#11. Pepin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (232 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 232 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #2,948 nationwide
- Population density: 31.3 people / square mile (7,265 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,250 nationwide
#10. Adams County
- Rural area: 100.0% (646 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 646 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #1,467 nationwide
- Population density: 31.1 people / square mile (20,094 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,240 nationwide
#9. Lafayette County
- Rural area: 100.0% (634 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 634 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,510 nationwide
- Population density: 26.4 people / square mile (16,715 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,107 nationwide
#8. Vilas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (857 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 857 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #971 nationwide
- Population density: 25.4 people / square mile (21,751 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #1,082 nationwide
#7. Buffalo County
- Rural area: 100.0% (672 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 672 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,401 nationwide
- Population density: 19.5 people / square mile (13,126 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #874 nationwide
#6. Burnett County
- Rural area: 100.0% (822 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 822 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,029 nationwide
- Population density: 18.6 people / square mile (15,289 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #838 nationwide
#5. Menominee County
- Rural area: 100.0% (358 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 358 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #2,662 nationwide
- Population density: 12.7 people / square mile (4,558 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #663 nationwide
#4. Price County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,254 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,254 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #484 nationwide
- Population density: 10.7 people / square mile (13,416 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #596 nationwide
#3. Bayfield County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,478 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,478 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #407 nationwide
- Population density: 10.1 people / square mile (14,993 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #582 nationwide
#2. Forest County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,014 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,014 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #660 nationwide
- Population density: 8.9 people / square mile (8,995 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #532 nationwide
#1. Florence County
- Rural area: 100.0% (488 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 488 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #2,130 nationwide
- Population density: 8.8 people / square mile (4,314 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #530 nationwide


