Most rural counties in Hawaii
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Hawaii 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.
#5. Honolulu County
- Rural area: 63.6% (382 square miles)
- Urban area: 36.4% (219 square miles)
- Total land area: 601 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #1,625 nationwide
- Population density: 1,630.8 people / square mile (979,682 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #3,056 nationwide
#4. Kauai County
- Rural area: 94.2% (584 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.8% (36 square miles)
- Total land area: 620 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #1,555 nationwide
- Population density: 116.1 people / square mile (71,949 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #2,351 nationwide
#3. Maui County
- Rural area: 95.5% (1,110 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.5% (52 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,162 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #531 nationwide
- Population density: 143.5 people / square mile (166,657 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #2,458 nationwide
#2. Hawaii County
- Rural area: 97.9% (3,942 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.2% (87 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,028 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #118 nationwide
- Population density: 50.0 people / square mile (201,350 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #1,693 nationwide
#1. Kalawao County
- Rural area: 100.0% (12 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 12 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #3,124 nationwide
- Population density: 36.4 people / square mile (436 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #1,380 nationwide
