Most rural counties in Delaware
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Delaware 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.
#3. New Castle County
- Rural area: 50.8% (217 square miles)
- Urban area: 49.2% (210 square miles)
- Total land area: 426 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #2,382 nationwide
- Population density: 1,309.7 people / square mile (558,306 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #3,027 nationwide
#2. Kent County
- Rural area: 85.9% (504 square miles)
- Urban area: 14.1% (82 square miles)
- Total land area: 586 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #1,676 nationwide
- Population density: 305.6 people / square mile (179,124 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #2,737 nationwide
#1. Sussex County
- Rural area: 87.7% (821 square miles)
- Urban area: 12.3% (115 square miles)
- Total land area: 936 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #761 nationwide
- Population density: 246.0 people / square mile (230,249 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #2,669 nationwide
