Most rural counties in Florida

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July 25, 2022
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Most rural counties in Florida

A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Florida 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. Leon County

- Rural area: 80.8% (539 square miles)
- Urban area: 19.2% (128 square miles)
- Total land area: 667 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,411 nationwide

- Population density: 437.7 people / square mile (291,863 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #2,849 nationwide

#49. Clay County

- Rural area: 82.1% (496 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.9% (108 square miles)
- Total land area: 604 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #1,612 nationwide

- Population density: 356.2 people / square mile (215,294 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #2,783 nationwide

#48. Citrus County

- Rural area: 82.1% (478 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.9% (104 square miles)
- Total land area: 582 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,692 nationwide

- Population density: 254.3 people / square mile (147,938 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #2,679 nationwide

#47. Polk County

- Rural area: 82.2% (1,477 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.9% (321 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,798 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #328 nationwide

- Population density: 392.5 people / square mile (705,735 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #2,816 nationwide

#46. Charlotte County

- Rural area: 82.7% (563 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.3% (118 square miles)
- Total land area: 680 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,381 nationwide

- Population density: 273.3 people / square mile (185,926 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #2,702 nationwide

#45. Lake County

- Rural area: 82.9% (777 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.2% (161 square miles)
- Total land area: 938 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #757 nationwide

- Population density: 379.5 people / square mile (356,115 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #2,801 nationwide

#44. Indian River County

- Rural area: 83.3% (419 square miles)
- Urban area: 16.7% (84 square miles)
- Total land area: 503 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,067 nationwide

- Population density: 312.1 people / square mile (156,964 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #2,747 nationwide

#43. St. Johns County

- Rural area: 84.2% (505 square miles)
- Urban area: 15.9% (95 square miles)
- Total land area: 601 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #1,626 nationwide

- Population density: 425.2 people / square mile (255,410 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #2,842 nationwide

#42. Martin County

- Rural area: 86.1% (468 square miles)
- Urban area: 13.9% (75 square miles)
- Total land area: 543 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,918 nationwide

- Population density: 295.2 people / square mile (160,420 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #2,729 nationwide

#41. Bay County

- Rural area: 87.1% (661 square miles)
- Urban area: 12.9% (98 square miles)
- Total land area: 758 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,157 nationwide

- Population density: 237.4 people / square mile (180,076 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #2,651 nationwide

#40. Marion County

- Rural area: 89.2% (1,413 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.9% (172 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,585 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #384 nationwide

- Population density: 227.3 people / square mile (360,210 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #2,634 nationwide

#39. Flagler County

- Rural area: 89.2% (433 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.8% (53 square miles)
- Total land area: 485 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,138 nationwide

- Population density: 232.5 people / square mile (112,854 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #2,643 nationwide

#38. Alachua County

- Rural area: 89.4% (782 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.7% (93 square miles)
- Total land area: 875 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #926 nationwide

- Population density: 306.4 people / square mile (268,105 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #2,740 nationwide

#37. Osceola County

- Rural area: 89.5% (1,187 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.6% (140 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,327 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #449 nationwide

- Population density: 274.0 people / square mile (363,666 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #2,703 nationwide

#36. Okaloosa County

- Rural area: 90.2% (839 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.8% (91 square miles)
- Total land area: 930 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #772 nationwide

- Population density: 223.0 people / square mile (207,430 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #2,626 nationwide

#35. Santa Rosa County

- Rural area: 90.4% (915 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.6% (97 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,012 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #667 nationwide

- Population density: 177.5 people / square mile (179,587 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #2,555 nationwide

#34. Collier County

- Rural area: 91.1% (1,820 square miles)
- Urban area: 8.9% (178 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,998 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #288 nationwide

- Population density: 189.8 people / square mile (379,345 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #2,576 nationwide

#33. Sumter County

- Rural area: 93.6% (512 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.4% (35 square miles)
- Total land area: 547 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #1,908 nationwide

- Population density: 237.6 people / square mile (129,938 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #2,653 nationwide

#32. Highlands County

- Rural area: 93.6% (952 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.4% (65 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,017 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #655 nationwide

- Population density: 102.9 people / square mile (104,574 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #2,274 nationwide

#31. Nassau County

- Rural area: 93.7% (608 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.3% (41 square miles)
- Total land area: 649 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,454 nationwide

- Population density: 132.2 people / square mile (85,762 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #2,406 nationwide

#30. Putnam County

- Rural area: 94.7% (689 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.3% (38 square miles)
- Total land area: 728 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,218 nationwide

- Population density: 101.4 people / square mile (73,784 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #2,262 nationwide

#29. Monroe County

- Rural area: 96.2% (946 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.8% (38 square miles)
- Total land area: 983 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #699 nationwide

- Population density: 76.4 people / square mile (75,137 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #2,056 nationwide

#28. Okeechobee County

- Rural area: 96.8% (744 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.2% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 769 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,128 nationwide

- Population density: 54.1 people / square mile (41,611 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,758 nationwide

#27. Columbia County

- Rural area: 96.9% (773 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.1% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 798 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,073 nationwide

- Population density: 88.9 people / square mile (70,898 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #2,169 nationwide

#26. Gadsden County

- Rural area: 97.5% (503 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.5% (13 square miles)
- Total land area: 516 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #2,017 nationwide

- Population density: 88.7 people / square mile (45,787 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #2,166 nationwide

#25. Wakulla County

- Rural area: 97.5% (591 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.5% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 606 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,604 nationwide

- Population density: 54.2 people / square mile (32,855 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,760 nationwide

#24. Walton County

- Rural area: 97.6% (1,013 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.4% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,038 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #637 nationwide

- Population density: 68.5 people / square mile (71,049 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,955 nationwide

#23. Bradford County

- Rural area: 97.9% (288 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.1% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 294 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,818 nationwide

- Population density: 94.3 people / square mile (27,723 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #2,209 nationwide

#22. Union County

- Rural area: 98.0% (239 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.0% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 244 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #2,923 nationwide

- Population density: 62.7 people / square mile (15,282 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,881 nationwide

#21. DeSoto County

- Rural area: 98.2% (625 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 637 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,497 nationwide

- Population density: 58.7 people / square mile (37,371 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,829 nationwide

#20. Baker County

- Rural area: 98.4% (576 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 585 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,680 nationwide

- Population density: 49.0 people / square mile (28,679 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,674 nationwide

#19. Hardee County

- Rural area: 98.4% (628 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 638 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #1,494 nationwide

- Population density: 42.4 people / square mile (27,027 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #1,522 nationwide

#18. Hendry County

- Rural area: 98.7% (1,138 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,153 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #535 nationwide

- Population density: 36.0 people / square mile (41,472 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #1,368 nationwide

#17. Jackson County

- Rural area: 99.1% (909 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 918 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #800 nationwide

- Population density: 51.7 people / square mile (47,409 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,720 nationwide

#16. Suwannee County

- Rural area: 99.2% (683 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 689 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #1,360 nationwide

- Population density: 64.3 people / square mile (44,290 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,906 nationwide

#15. Holmes County

- Rural area: 99.3% (475 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 479 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,161 nationwide

- Population density: 40.8 people / square mile (19,530 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #1,491 nationwide

#14. Calhoun County

- Rural area: 99.3% (563 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 567 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #1,804 nationwide

- Population density: 25.2 people / square mile (14,324 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #1,078 nationwide

#13. Taylor County

- Rural area: 99.3% (1,036 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,043 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #628 nationwide

- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (21,709 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #921 nationwide

#12. Washington County

- Rural area: 99.4% (579 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 583 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #1,688 nationwide

- Population density: 43.1 people / square mile (25,094 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #1,539 nationwide

#11. Gilchrist County

- Rural area: 99.5% (348 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 350 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #2,681 nationwide

- Population density: 52.2 people / square mile (18,245 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,726 nationwide

#10. Franklin County

- Rural area: 99.5% (532 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 535 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #1,954 nationwide

- Population density: 22.3 people / square mile (11,914 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #972 nationwide

#9. Gulf County

- Rural area: 99.5% (561 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #1,826 nationwide

- Population density: 26.7 people / square mile (15,073 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #1,117 nationwide

#8. Dixie County

- Rural area: 99.5% (702 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 705 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,313 nationwide

- Population density: 23.7 people / square mile (16,740 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #1,032 nationwide

#7. Hamilton County

- Rural area: 99.6% (512 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 514 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #2,026 nationwide

- Population density: 28.0 people / square mile (14,397 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #1,155 nationwide

#6. Glades County

- Rural area: 99.7% (803 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 806 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #1,052 nationwide

- Population density: 17.1 people / square mile (13,777 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #802 nationwide

#5. Madison County

- Rural area: 99.7% (694 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 696 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,338 nationwide

- Population density: 26.7 people / square mile (18,557 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #1,113 nationwide

#4. Levy County

- Rural area: 99.7% (1,115 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,118 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #563 nationwide

- Population density: 36.6 people / square mile (40,979 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #1,387 nationwide

#3. Jefferson County

- Rural area: 100.0% (598 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 598 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,634 nationwide

- Population density: 23.9 people / square mile (14,278 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #1,036 nationwide

#2. Lafayette County

- Rural area: 100.0% (543 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 543 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,919 nationwide

- Population density: 15.8 people / square mile (8,576 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #762 nationwide

#1. Liberty County

- Rural area: 100.0% (836 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 836 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #1,004 nationwide

- Population density: 10.0 people / square mile (8,333 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #576 nationwide

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