Most rural counties in Alabama
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Alabama using data from the . 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 2020 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. Dale County
- Rural area: 94.7% (531 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.3% (30 square miles)
- Total land area: 561 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #1,848 nationwide
- Population density: 87.8 people / square mile (49,293 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #2,155 nationwide
#49. Colbert County
- Rural area: 95.5% (566 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.5% (26 square miles)
- Total land area: 593 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #1,650 nationwide
- Population density: 92.7 people / square mile (54,957 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #2,198 nationwide
#48. St. Clair County
- Rural area: 96.2% (608 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.8% (24 square miles)
- Total land area: 632 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,516 nationwide
- Population density: 140.7 people / square mile (88,929 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #2,442 nationwide
#47. Russell County
- Rural area: 96.3% (617 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.7% (24 square miles)
- Total land area: 641 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #1,484 nationwide
- Population density: 90.4 people / square mile (57,938 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #2,182 nationwide
#46. Chambers County
- Rural area: 96.5% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.6% (21 square miles)
- Total land area: 597 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,642 nationwide
- Population density: 56.0 people / square mile (33,427 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,792 nationwide
#45. Cullman County
- Rural area: 96.6% (710 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.4% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 735 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,205 nationwide
- Population density: 113.4 people / square mile (83,345 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #2,342 nationwide
#44. Autauga County
- Rural area: 96.7% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.3% (20 square miles)
- Total land area: 594 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,645 nationwide
- Population density: 93.6 people / square mile (55,639 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #2,204 nationwide
#43. Coffee County
- Rural area: 96.8% (657 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.2% (21 square miles)
- Total land area: 679 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,382 nationwide
- Population density: 76.9 people / square mile (52,238 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #2,060 nationwide
#42. Walker County
- Rural area: 96.9% (766 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.1% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 791 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #1,087 nationwide
- Population density: 80.6 people / square mile (63,802 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #2,100 nationwide
#41. Cherokee County
- Rural area: 98.2% (543 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 554 square miles
--- #66 largest county in state, #1,878 nationwide
- Population density: 47.0 people / square mile (26,035 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #1,627 nationwide
#40. Pike County
- Rural area: 98.2% (660 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 672 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,400 nationwide
- Population density: 49.5 people / square mile (33,274 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #1,683 nationwide
#39. Dallas County
- Rural area: 98.3% (962 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (17 square miles)
- Total land area: 979 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #706 nationwide
- Population density: 39.0 people / square mile (38,184 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,455 nationwide
#38. Macon County
- Rural area: 98.4% (599 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 609 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,592 nationwide
- Population density: 30.3 people / square mile (18,437 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,218 nationwide
#37. Tallapoosa County
- Rural area: 98.5% (706 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.5% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 717 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,261 nationwide
- Population density: 56.5 people / square mile (40,450 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,799 nationwide
#36. Jackson County
- Rural area: 98.8% (1,065 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (13 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,078 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #591 nationwide
- Population density: 48.0 people / square mile (51,765 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,654 nationwide
#35. Escambia County
- Rural area: 98.8% (934 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 945 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #747 nationwide
- Population density: 38.9 people / square mile (36,775 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,452 nationwide
#34. Bibb County
- Rural area: 98.8% (615 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 623 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,551 nationwide
- Population density: 35.9 people / square mile (22,374 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,364 nationwide
#33. Franklin County
- Rural area: 98.9% (627 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 634 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,509 nationwide
- Population density: 49.8 people / square mile (31,587 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #1,690 nationwide
#32. Covington County
- Rural area: 99.0% (1,020 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,030 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #641 nationwide
- Population density: 36.0 people / square mile (37,096 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,369 nationwide
#31. Chilton County
- Rural area: 99.0% (686 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 693 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,352 nationwide
- Population density: 63.7 people / square mile (44,147 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #1,899 nationwide
#30. Bullock County
- Rural area: 99.2% (618 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 623 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #1,549 nationwide
- Population density: 16.3 people / square mile (10,173 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #778 nationwide
#29. Barbour County
- Rural area: 99.2% (878 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 885 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #902 nationwide
- Population density: 28.3 people / square mile (25,026 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,163 nationwide
#28. Randolph County
- Rural area: 99.3% (576 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 581 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #1,697 nationwide
- Population density: 39.2 people / square mile (22,732 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,459 nationwide
#27. Blount County
- Rural area: 99.4% (641 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 645 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,474 nationwide
- Population density: 89.6 people / square mile (57,755 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #2,173 nationwide
#26. Marion County
- Rural area: 99.4% (738 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 742 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,188 nationwide
- Population density: 40.2 people / square mile (29,818 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #1,472 nationwide
#25. Winston County
- Rural area: 99.4% (609 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 613 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #1,579 nationwide
- Population density: 38.7 people / square mile (23,712 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,444 nationwide
#24. Clarke County
- Rural area: 99.4% (1,231 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,238 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #493 nationwide
- Population density: 19.3 people / square mile (23,866 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #862 nationwide
#23. DeKalb County
- Rural area: 99.4% (773 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 777 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #1,115 nationwide
- Population density: 91.9 people / square mile (71,430 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #2,193 nationwide
#22. Butler County
- Rural area: 99.5% (773 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 777 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #1,116 nationwide
- Population density: 25.4 people / square mile (19,726 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,084 nationwide
#21. Marengo County
- Rural area: 99.5% (972 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 977 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #709 nationwide
- Population density: 19.6 people / square mile (19,138 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #877 nationwide
#20. Monroe County
- Rural area: 99.5% (1,021 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,026 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #646 nationwide
- Population density: 20.5 people / square mile (21,006 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #907 nationwide
#19. Lawrence County
- Rural area: 99.5% (687 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 691 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,356 nationwide
- Population density: 47.7 people / square mile (32,969 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,643 nationwide
#18. Fayette County
- Rural area: 99.6% (625 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 628 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #1,534 nationwide
- Population density: 26.1 people / square mile (16,406 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,102 nationwide
#17. Geneva County
- Rural area: 99.6% (572 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 574 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #1,735 nationwide
- Population density: 45.9 people / square mile (26,383 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,604 nationwide
#16. Hale County
- Rural area: 99.7% (642 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 644 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,478 nationwide
- Population density: 22.9 people / square mile (14,754 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,001 nationwide
#15. Henry County
- Rural area: 99.7% (560 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 562 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #1,842 nationwide
- Population density: 30.5 people / square mile (17,123 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,225 nationwide
#14. Conecuh County
- Rural area: 99.8% (848 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 850 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #979 nationwide
- Population density: 14.4 people / square mile (12,219 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #721 nationwide
#13. Cleburne County
- Rural area: 100.0% (560 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 560 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #1,853 nationwide
- Population density: 26.7 people / square mile (14,952 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,116 nationwide
#12. Lamar County
- Rural area: 100.0% (605 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 605 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #1,608 nationwide
- Population density: 22.9 people / square mile (13,854 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,000 nationwide
#11. Pickens County
- Rural area: 100.0% (881 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 881 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #907 nationwide
- Population density: 22.7 people / square mile (20,049 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #991 nationwide
#10. Crenshaw County
- Rural area: 100.0% (609 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 609 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #1,594 nationwide
- Population density: 22.7 people / square mile (13,826 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #989 nationwide
#9. Clay County
- Rural area: 100.0% (604 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 604 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #1,615 nationwide
- Population density: 22.0 people / square mile (13,285 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #963 nationwide
#8. Coosa County
- Rural area: 100.0% (651 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 651 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,449 nationwide
- Population density: 16.4 people / square mile (10,696 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #783 nationwide
#7. Washington County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,080 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,080 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #590 nationwide
- Population density: 15.1 people / square mile (16,336 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #744 nationwide
#6. Choctaw County
- Rural area: 100.0% (914 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 914 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #813 nationwide
- Population density: 14.0 people / square mile (12,755 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #707 nationwide
#5. Sumter County
- Rural area: 100.0% (904 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 904 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #835 nationwide
- Population density: 13.9 people / square mile (12,595 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #705 nationwide
#4. Lowndes County
- Rural area: 100.0% (716 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 716 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,266 nationwide
- Population density: 13.9 people / square mile (9,936 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #703 nationwide
#3. Greene County
- Rural area: 100.0% (647 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 647 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,463 nationwide
- Population density: 12.7 people / square mile (8,221 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #664 nationwide
#2. Perry County
- Rural area: 100.0% (720 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 720 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,246 nationwide
- Population density: 12.7 people / square mile (9,104 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #662 nationwide
#1. Wilcox County
- Rural area: 100.0% (888 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 888 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #895 nationwide
- Population density: 11.9 people / square mile (10,552 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #630 nationwide