Most rural counties in Iowa
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Iowa 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. Winnebago County
- Rural area: 99.5% (398 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 400 square miles
--- #95 largest county in state, #2,524 nationwide
- Population density: 26.2 people / square mile (10,474 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #1,103 nationwide
#49. Cass County
- Rural area: 99.5% (561 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #1,824 nationwide
- Population density: 23.0 people / square mile (12,990 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,007 nationwide
#48. Monroe County
- Rural area: 99.5% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 434 square miles
--- #85 largest county in state, #2,341 nationwide
- Population density: 17.9 people / square mile (7,761 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #826 nationwide
#47. Wright County
- Rural area: 99.5% (578 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 580 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,698 nationwide
- Population density: 21.8 people / square mile (12,644 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #955 nationwide
#46. Washington County
- Rural area: 99.5% (566 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 569 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,793 nationwide
- Population density: 38.9 people / square mile (22,100 residents)
--- #71 lowest density county in state, #1,449 nationwide
#45. Plymouth County
- Rural area: 99.5% (859 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 863 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #957 nationwide
- Population density: 29.1 people / square mile (25,141 residents)
--- #58 lowest density county in state, #1,188 nationwide
#44. Delaware County
- Rural area: 99.5% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 578 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,709 nationwide
- Population density: 29.6 people / square mile (17,107 residents)
--- #59 lowest density county in state, #1,200 nationwide
#43. Fayette County
- Rural area: 99.6% (728 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 731 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #1,211 nationwide
- Population density: 26.8 people / square mile (19,604 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #1,121 nationwide
#42. Greene County
- Rural area: 99.6% (567 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 570 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #1,785 nationwide
- Population density: 15.7 people / square mile (8,923 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #760 nationwide
#41. Mitchell County
- Rural area: 99.6% (467 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 469 square miles
--- #76 largest county in state, #2,197 nationwide
- Population density: 22.6 people / square mile (10,588 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #984 nationwide
#40. Hancock County
- Rural area: 99.6% (569 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 571 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,766 nationwide
- Population density: 18.8 people / square mile (10,709 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #851 nationwide
#39. O'Brien County
- Rural area: 99.6% (571 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 573 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,748 nationwide
- Population density: 24.1 people / square mile (13,796 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #1,042 nationwide
#38. Shelby County
- Rural area: 99.6% (589 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 591 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #1,656 nationwide
- Population density: 19.5 people / square mile (11,544 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #874 nationwide
#37. Howard County
- Rural area: 99.7% (472 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 473 square miles
--- #75 largest county in state, #2,181 nationwide
- Population density: 19.4 people / square mile (9,201 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #868 nationwide
#36. Benton County
- Rural area: 99.7% (714 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 716 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #1,264 nationwide
- Population density: 35.7 people / square mile (25,558 residents)
--- #68 lowest density county in state, #1,358 nationwide
#35. Madison County
- Rural area: 99.7% (559 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 561 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #1,849 nationwide
- Population density: 28.8 people / square mile (16,148 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #1,177 nationwide
#34. Iowa County
- Rural area: 99.7% (584 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 586 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #1,675 nationwide
- Population density: 27.5 people / square mile (16,155 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #1,137 nationwide
#33. Franklin County
- Rural area: 99.7% (580 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 582 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,691 nationwide
- Population density: 17.3 people / square mile (10,091 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #809 nationwide
#32. Palo Alto County
- Rural area: 99.7% (562 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #1,828 nationwide
- Population density: 15.9 people / square mile (8,941 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #764 nationwide
#31. Cherokee County
- Rural area: 99.7% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 577 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #1,715 nationwide
- Population density: 19.6 people / square mile (11,281 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #875 nationwide
#30. Tama County
- Rural area: 99.7% (719 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 721 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #1,241 nationwide
- Population density: 23.5 people / square mile (16,962 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,021 nationwide
#29. Chickasaw County
- Rural area: 99.7% (503 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 504 square miles
--- #69 largest county in state, #2,060 nationwide
- Population density: 23.7 people / square mile (11,970 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #1,031 nationwide
#28. Allamakee County
- Rural area: 99.7% (637 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 639 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #1,489 nationwide
- Population density: 21.5 people / square mile (13,761 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #941 nationwide
#27. Kossuth County
- Rural area: 99.7% (970 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 973 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #716 nationwide
- Population density: 15.3 people / square mile (14,864 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #747 nationwide
#26. Osceola County
- Rural area: 99.7% (398 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 399 square miles
--- #97 largest county in state, #2,533 nationwide
- Population density: 15.1 people / square mile (6,016 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #743 nationwide
#25. Cedar County
- Rural area: 99.8% (578 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 579 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,704 nationwide
- Population density: 31.9 people / square mile (18,475 residents)
--- #64 lowest density county in state, #1,270 nationwide
#24. Monona County
- Rural area: 99.8% (693 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 694 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #1,348 nationwide
- Population density: 12.5 people / square mile (8,675 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #656 nationwide
#23. Harrison County
- Rural area: 99.8% (696 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 697 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #1,334 nationwide
- Population density: 20.2 people / square mile (14,043 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #900 nationwide
#22. Clayton County
- Rural area: 99.9% (778 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 779 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #1,110 nationwide
- Population density: 22.5 people / square mile (17,527 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #980 nationwide
#21. Fremont County
- Rural area: 100.0% (511 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 511 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #2,037 nationwide
- Population density: 13.5 people / square mile (6,895 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #691 nationwide
#20. Louisa County
- Rural area: 100.0% (402 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 402 square miles
--- #94 largest county in state, #2,514 nationwide
- Population density: 27.7 people / square mile (11,125 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #1,144 nationwide
#19. Butler County
- Rural area: 100.0% (580 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 580 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,700 nationwide
- Population density: 25.0 people / square mile (14,508 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #1,066 nationwide
#18. Grundy County
- Rural area: 100.0% (502 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 502 square miles
--- #71 largest county in state, #2,070 nationwide
- Population density: 24.4 people / square mile (12,262 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #1,051 nationwide
#17. Lyon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (588 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 588 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,668 nationwide
- Population density: 20.1 people / square mile (11,800 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #898 nationwide
#16. Worth County
- Rural area: 100.0% (400 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 400 square miles
--- #96 largest county in state, #2,529 nationwide
- Population density: 18.5 people / square mile (7,422 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #839 nationwide
#15. Guthrie County
- Rural area: 100.0% (591 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 591 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #1,657 nationwide
- Population density: 18.1 people / square mile (10,702 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #830 nationwide
#14. Davis County
- Rural area: 100.0% (502 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 502 square miles
--- #70 largest county in state, #2,069 nationwide
- Population density: 17.9 people / square mile (8,977 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #825 nationwide
#13. Keokuk County
- Rural area: 100.0% (579 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 579 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,706 nationwide
- Population density: 17.5 people / square mile (10,163 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #813 nationwide
#12. Calhoun County
- Rural area: 100.0% (570 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 570 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,781 nationwide
- Population density: 16.9 people / square mile (9,656 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #799 nationwide
#11. Sac County
- Rural area: 100.0% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 575 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,731 nationwide
- Population density: 16.9 people / square mile (9,711 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #796 nationwide
#10. Ida County
- Rural area: 100.0% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 432 square miles
--- #87 largest county in state, #2,353 nationwide
- Population density: 15.9 people / square mile (6,862 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #766 nationwide
#9. Decatur County
- Rural area: 100.0% (532 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 532 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #1,968 nationwide
- Population density: 14.9 people / square mile (7,908 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #733 nationwide
#8. Van Buren County
- Rural area: 100.0% (485 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 485 square miles
--- #74 largest county in state, #2,140 nationwide
- Population density: 14.7 people / square mile (7,104 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #727 nationwide
#7. Audubon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (443 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 443 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #2,295 nationwide
- Population density: 12.5 people / square mile (5,528 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #655 nationwide
#6. Adair County
- Rural area: 100.0% (569 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 569 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #1,790 nationwide
- Population density: 12.4 people / square mile (7,048 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #648 nationwide
#5. Wayne County
- Rural area: 100.0% (525 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 525 square miles
--- #66 largest county in state, #1,992 nationwide
- Population density: 12.2 people / square mile (6,426 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #642 nationwide
#4. Pocahontas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (577 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 577 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,714 nationwide
- Population density: 11.7 people / square mile (6,725 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #623 nationwide
#3. Taylor County
- Rural area: 100.0% (532 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 532 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #1,966 nationwide
- Population density: 11.6 people / square mile (6,160 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #622 nationwide
#2. Ringgold County
- Rural area: 100.0% (535 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 535 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #1,951 nationwide
- Population density: 9.2 people / square mile (4,922 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #544 nationwide
#1. Adams County
- Rural area: 100.0% (423 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 423 square miles
--- #92 largest county in state, #2,393 nationwide
- Population density: 8.6 people / square mile (3,633 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #518 nationwide
