Most rural counties in Colorado
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Colorado 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. Eagle County
- Rural area: 98.8% (1,664 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (21 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,685 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #358 nationwide
- Population density: 32.6 people / square mile (54,960 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #1,287 nationwide
#49. Teller County
- Rural area: 98.8% (550 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 557 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #1,865 nationwide
- Population density: 44.8 people / square mile (24,981 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #1,571 nationwide
#48. Alamosa County
- Rural area: 99.0% (715 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 723 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #1,232 nationwide
- Population density: 22.4 people / square mile (16,153 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #974 nationwide
#47. Lake County
- Rural area: 99.1% (374 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 377 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,612 nationwide
- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (7,845 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #923 nationwide
#46. Chaffee County
- Rural area: 99.1% (1,005 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,013 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #662 nationwide
- Population density: 19.7 people / square mile (19,977 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #885 nationwide
#45. Montrose County
- Rural area: 99.2% (2,223 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (18 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,241 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #249 nationwide
- Population density: 18.9 people / square mile (42,280 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #855 nationwide
#44. Delta County
- Rural area: 99.2% (1,133 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,142 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #543 nationwide
- Population density: 26.9 people / square mile (30,758 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #1,123 nationwide
#43. La Plata County
- Rural area: 99.3% (1,681 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,692 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #357 nationwide
- Population density: 33.2 people / square mile (56,138 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #1,299 nationwide
#42. Garfield County
- Rural area: 99.4% (2,930 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (18 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,948 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #177 nationwide
- Population density: 20.2 people / square mile (59,605 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #902 nationwide
#41. Morgan County
- Rural area: 99.4% (1,273 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,280 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #470 nationwide
- Population density: 22.3 people / square mile (28,617 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #973 nationwide
#40. Pitkin County
- Rural area: 99.4% (965 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 971 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #719 nationwide
- Population density: 18.5 people / square mile (17,980 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #838 nationwide
#39. Otero County
- Rural area: 99.6% (1,256 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,262 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #478 nationwide
- Population density: 14.5 people / square mile (18,284 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #722 nationwide
#38. Archuleta County
- Rural area: 99.6% (1,345 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,350 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #444 nationwide
- Population density: 10.1 people / square mile (13,588 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #579 nationwide
#37. Logan County
- Rural area: 99.7% (1,832 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,839 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #319 nationwide
- Population density: 12.1 people / square mile (22,282 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #640 nationwide
#36. Routt County
- Rural area: 99.7% (2,354 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,362 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #235 nationwide
- Population density: 10.7 people / square mile (25,317 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #598 nationwide
#35. Prowers County
- Rural area: 99.7% (1,634 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,638 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #369 nationwide
- Population density: 7.3 people / square mile (12,035 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #464 nationwide
#34. Rio Grande County
- Rural area: 99.8% (910 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 912 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #817 nationwide
- Population density: 12.4 people / square mile (11,300 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #649 nationwide
#33. Montezuma County
- Rural area: 99.8% (2,026 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,030 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #281 nationwide
- Population density: 12.9 people / square mile (26,266 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #674 nationwide
#32. Grand County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,844 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,846 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #316 nationwide
- Population density: 8.4 people / square mile (15,536 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #514 nationwide
#31. Las Animas County
- Rural area: 99.9% (4,767 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,773 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #87 nationwide
- Population density: 3.0 people / square mile (14,323 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #237 nationwide
#30. Moffat County
- Rural area: 99.9% (4,738 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,743 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #90 nationwide
- Population density: 2.8 people / square mile (13,150 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #221 nationwide
#29. Gunnison County
- Rural area: 99.9% (3,236 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,239 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #159 nationwide
- Population density: 5.3 people / square mile (17,119 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #381 nationwide
#28. Huerfano County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,589 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,591 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #379 nationwide
- Population density: 4.3 people / square mile (6,769 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #332 nationwide
#27. Bent County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,511 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,513 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #393 nationwide
- Population density: 3.8 people / square mile (5,677 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #291 nationwide
#26. Kit Carson County
- Rural area: 99.9% (2,159 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,161 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #258 nationwide
- Population density: 3.4 people / square mile (7,246 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #263 nationwide
#25. Yuma County
- Rural area: 99.9% (2,363 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,364 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #234 nationwide
- Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (10,013 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #330 nationwide
#24. Gilpin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (150 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 150 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #3,062 nationwide
- Population density: 40.7 people / square mile (6,108 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #1,489 nationwide
#23. Clear Creek County
- Rural area: 100.0% (395 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 395 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,548 nationwide
- Population density: 24.1 people / square mile (9,533 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #1,043 nationwide
#22. Elbert County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,851 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,851 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #314 nationwide
- Population density: 14.2 people / square mile (26,230 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #716 nationwide
#21. Ouray County
- Rural area: 100.0% (542 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 542 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #1,929 nationwide
- Population density: 9.0 people / square mile (4,890 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #535 nationwide
#20. Park County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,194 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,194 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #257 nationwide
- Population density: 8.4 people / square mile (18,345 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #512 nationwide
#19. Crowley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (787 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 787 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #1,096 nationwide
- Population density: 7.3 people / square mile (5,733 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #461 nationwide
#18. Custer County
- Rural area: 100.0% (739 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 739 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #1,196 nationwide
- Population density: 6.7 people / square mile (4,941 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #440 nationwide
#17. Conejos County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,287 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,287 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #465 nationwide
- Population density: 6.3 people / square mile (8,130 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #427 nationwide
#16. Phillips County
- Rural area: 100.0% (688 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 688 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,363 nationwide
- Population density: 6.3 people / square mile (4,343 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #426 nationwide
#15. San Miguel County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,287 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,287 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #466 nationwide
- Population density: 6.3 people / square mile (8,110 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #425 nationwide
#14. Sedgwick County
- Rural area: 100.0% (548 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 548 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #1,905 nationwide
- Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (2,306 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #327 nationwide
#13. Costilla County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,227 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,227 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #500 nationwide
- Population density: 3.1 people / square mile (3,810 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #246 nationwide
#12. Lincoln County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,578 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,578 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #208 nationwide
- Population density: 2.2 people / square mile (5,608 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #172 nationwide
#11. Saguache County
- Rural area: 100.0% (3,169 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,169 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #163 nationwide
- Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (6,730 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #165 nationwide
#10. Rio Blanco County
- Rural area: 100.0% (3,221 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,221 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #160 nationwide
- Population density: 2.0 people / square mile (6,369 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #152 nationwide
#9. Washington County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,518 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,518 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #217 nationwide
- Population density: 1.9 people / square mile (4,869 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #147 nationwide
#8. Dolores County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,067 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,067 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #605 nationwide
- Population density: 1.8 people / square mile (1,896 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #137 nationwide
#7. San Juan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (387 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 387 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,576 nationwide
- Population density: 1.7 people / square mile (646 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #125 nationwide
#6. Baca County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,555 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,555 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #213 nationwide
- Population density: 1.4 people / square mile (3,570 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #100 nationwide
#5. Cheyenne County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,778 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,778 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #334 nationwide
- Population density: 1.1 people / square mile (1,999 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #81 nationwide
#4. Mineral County
- Rural area: 100.0% (876 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 876 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #923 nationwide
- Population density: 1.0 people / square mile (853 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #65 nationwide
#3. Kiowa County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,768 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,768 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #336 nationwide
- Population density: 0.8 people / square mile (1,463 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #52 nationwide
#2. Jackson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,614 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,614 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #376 nationwide
- Population density: 0.8 people / square mile (1,316 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #49 nationwide
#1. Hinsdale County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,117 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,117 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #565 nationwide
- Population density: 0.7 people / square mile (781 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #42 nationwide