Most rural counties in Georgia
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Georgia 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. Jenkins County
- Rural area: 99.3% (345 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 347 square miles
--- #77 largest county in state, #2,686 nationwide
- Population density: 25.3 people / square mile (8,787 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,080 nationwide
#49. Berrien County
- Rural area: 99.3% (449 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 452 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #2,266 nationwide
- Population density: 42.5 people / square mile (19,206 residents)
--- #56 lowest density county in state, #1,526 nationwide
#48. McIntosh County
- Rural area: 99.3% (421 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 424 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #2,386 nationwide
- Population density: 33.5 people / square mile (14,217 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,305 nationwide
#47. Long County
- Rural area: 99.3% (397 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 400 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #2,525 nationwide
- Population density: 48.1 people / square mile (19,236 residents)
--- #67 lowest density county in state, #1,656 nationwide
#46. Banks County
- Rural area: 99.3% (230 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 232 square miles
--- #127 largest county in state, #2,947 nationwide
- Population density: 81.4 people / square mile (18,900 residents)
--- #92 lowest density county in state, #2,107 nationwide
#45. Wilkes County
- Rural area: 99.3% (466 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 469 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #2,194 nationwide
- Population density: 20.9 people / square mile (9,797 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #925 nationwide
#44. Terrell County
- Rural area: 99.4% (333 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 335 square miles
--- #84 largest county in state, #2,725 nationwide
- Population density: 25.8 people / square mile (8,654 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,093 nationwide
#43. Meriwether County
- Rural area: 99.4% (498 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 501 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #2,076 nationwide
- Population density: 42.1 people / square mile (21,080 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #1,519 nationwide
#42. Charlton County
- Rural area: 99.4% (769 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 774 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #1,121 nationwide
- Population density: 16.8 people / square mile (13,032 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #795 nationwide
#41. Irwin County
- Rural area: 99.4% (352 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 354 square miles
--- #74 largest county in state, #2,674 nationwide
- Population density: 26.5 people / square mile (9,379 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,110 nationwide
#40. Early County
- Rural area: 99.4% (510 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 513 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #2,031 nationwide
- Population density: 19.9 people / square mile (10,218 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #894 nationwide
#39. Greene County
- Rural area: 99.4% (385 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 387 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #2,577 nationwide
- Population density: 46.0 people / square mile (17,808 residents)
--- #65 lowest density county in state, #1,606 nationwide
#38. Lanier County
- Rural area: 99.4% (184 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 185 square miles
--- #143 largest county in state, #3,020 nationwide
- Population density: 56.9 people / square mile (10,534 residents)
--- #72 lowest density county in state, #1,802 nationwide
#37. Burke County
- Rural area: 99.4% (822 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 827 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #1,021 nationwide
- Population density: 27.3 people / square mile (22,567 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,129 nationwide
#36. Screven County
- Rural area: 99.4% (642 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 645 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #1,473 nationwide
- Population density: 21.7 people / square mile (13,977 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #949 nationwide
#35. Randolph County
- Rural area: 99.5% (426 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 428 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #2,372 nationwide
- Population density: 16.1 people / square mile (6,888 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #771 nationwide
#34. Jasper County
- Rural area: 99.5% (366 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 368 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #2,638 nationwide
- Population density: 38.2 people / square mile (14,074 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #1,430 nationwide
#33. Quitman County
- Rural area: 99.5% (151 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 151 square miles
--- #154 largest county in state, #3,060 nationwide
- Population density: 15.1 people / square mile (2,290 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #745 nationwide
#32. Jefferson County
- Rural area: 99.6% (524 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 526 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #1,988 nationwide
- Population density: 29.4 people / square mile (15,489 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,194 nationwide
#31. Clinch County
- Rural area: 99.7% (798 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 800 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #1,063 nationwide
- Population density: 8.3 people / square mile (6,648 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #508 nationwide
#30. Harris County
- Rural area: 99.8% (463 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 464 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #2,217 nationwide
- Population density: 74.8 people / square mile (34,676 residents)
--- #87 lowest density county in state, #2,034 nationwide
#29. Talbot County
- Rural area: 99.8% (391 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 391 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,568 nationwide
- Population density: 16.0 people / square mile (6,245 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #768 nationwide
#28. Pike County
- Rural area: 99.9% (216 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 216 square miles
--- #132 largest county in state, #2,972 nationwide
- Population density: 85.9 people / square mile (18,565 residents)
--- #98 lowest density county in state, #2,142 nationwide
#27. Oglethorpe County
- Rural area: 99.9% (439 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 439 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #2,309 nationwide
- Population density: 34.3 people / square mile (15,040 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #1,327 nationwide
#26. Montgomery County
- Rural area: 100.0% (239 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 240 square miles
--- #124 largest county in state, #2,931 nationwide
- Population density: 37.9 people / square mile (9,069 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #1,420 nationwide
#25. Brantley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (442 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 442 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #2,297 nationwide
- Population density: 42.8 people / square mile (18,924 residents)
--- #57 lowest density county in state, #1,532 nationwide
#24. Union County
- Rural area: 100.0% (322 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 322 square miles
--- #92 largest county in state, #2,756 nationwide
- Population density: 74.5 people / square mile (23,999 residents)
--- #86 lowest density county in state, #2,032 nationwide
#23. Towns County
- Rural area: 100.0% (167 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 167 square miles
--- #151 largest county in state, #3,043 nationwide
- Population density: 70.9 people / square mile (11,815 residents)
--- #82 lowest density county in state, #1,987 nationwide
#22. Fannin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (387 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 387 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #2,580 nationwide
- Population density: 66.7 people / square mile (25,797 residents)
--- #79 lowest density county in state, #1,933 nationwide
#21. Heard County
- Rural area: 100.0% (296 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 296 square miles
--- #98 largest county in state, #2,814 nationwide
- Population density: 39.8 people / square mile (11,785 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #1,465 nationwide
#20. Crawford County
- Rural area: 100.0% (325 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 325 square miles
--- #88 largest county in state, #2,749 nationwide
- Population density: 37.8 people / square mile (12,267 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #1,415 nationwide
#19. Lincoln County
- Rural area: 100.0% (210 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 210 square miles
--- #135 largest county in state, #2,982 nationwide
- Population density: 37.7 people / square mile (7,929 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #1,414 nationwide
#18. Schley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (167 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 167 square miles
--- #150 largest county in state, #3,042 nationwide
- Population density: 31.2 people / square mile (5,215 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,247 nationwide
#17. Wheeler County
- Rural area: 100.0% (295 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 295 square miles
--- #99 largest county in state, #2,816 nationwide
- Population density: 26.7 people / square mile (7,897 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,118 nationwide
#16. Atkinson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (339 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 339 square miles
--- #83 largest county in state, #2,713 nationwide
- Population density: 24.5 people / square mile (8,311 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,053 nationwide
#15. Marion County
- Rural area: 100.0% (366 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 366 square miles
--- #69 largest county in state, #2,641 nationwide
- Population density: 23.1 people / square mile (8,450 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,010 nationwide
#14. Wilcox County
- Rural area: 100.0% (378 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 378 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #2,610 nationwide
- Population density: 23.0 people / square mile (8,701 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,008 nationwide
#13. Twiggs County
- Rural area: 100.0% (358 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 358 square miles
--- #71 largest county in state, #2,659 nationwide
- Population density: 22.9 people / square mile (8,195 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #997 nationwide
#12. Calhoun County
- Rural area: 100.0% (280 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 280 square miles
--- #108 largest county in state, #2,847 nationwide
- Population density: 22.5 people / square mile (6,301 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #978 nationwide
#11. Taylor County
- Rural area: 100.0% (377 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 377 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,613 nationwide
- Population density: 21.6 people / square mile (8,126 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #945 nationwide
#10. Glascock County
- Rural area: 100.0% (144 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 144 square miles
--- #156 largest county in state, #3,065 nationwide
- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (2,984 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #917 nationwide
#9. Miller County
- Rural area: 100.0% (282 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 282 square miles
--- #105 largest county in state, #2,838 nationwide
- Population density: 20.3 people / square mile (5,725 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #903 nationwide
#8. Wilkinson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (447 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 447 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #2,281 nationwide
- Population density: 20.0 people / square mile (8,945 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #896 nationwide
#7. Warren County
- Rural area: 100.0% (284 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 284 square miles
--- #103 largest county in state, #2,835 nationwide
- Population density: 18.5 people / square mile (5,259 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #836 nationwide
#6. Clay County
- Rural area: 100.0% (195 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 195 square miles
--- #140 largest county in state, #3,003 nationwide
- Population density: 15.0 people / square mile (2,931 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #740 nationwide
#5. Stewart County
- Rural area: 100.0% (459 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 459 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #2,233 nationwide
- Population density: 14.1 people / square mile (6,446 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #710 nationwide
#4. Webster County
- Rural area: 100.0% (209 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 209 square miles
--- #136 largest county in state, #2,985 nationwide
- Population density: 12.4 people / square mile (2,587 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #647 nationwide
#3. Echols County
- Rural area: 100.0% (415 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 415 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #2,438 nationwide
- Population density: 9.5 people / square mile (3,944 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #557 nationwide
#2. Baker County
- Rural area: 100.0% (342 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 342 square miles
--- #80 largest county in state, #2,702 nationwide
- Population density: 9.0 people / square mile (3,090 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #536 nationwide
#1. Taliaferro County
- Rural area: 100.0% (195 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 195 square miles
--- #141 largest county in state, #3,006 nationwide
- Population density: 8.2 people / square mile (1,596 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #503 nationwide