Most rural counties in Kansas
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Kansas 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. Ellsworth County
- Rural area: 99.8% (715 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 716 square miles
--- #66 largest county in state, #1,268 nationwide
- Population density: 8.6 people / square mile (6,176 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #521 nationwide
#49. Marshall County
- Rural area: 99.8% (899 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 900 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #854 nationwide
- Population density: 10.8 people / square mile (9,713 residents)
--- #56 lowest density county in state, #600 nationwide
#48. Norton County
- Rural area: 99.9% (877 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 878 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #915 nationwide
- Population density: 6.2 people / square mile (5,416 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #419 nationwide
#47. Greenwood County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,142 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,143 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #542 nationwide
- Population density: 5.3 people / square mile (6,010 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #379 nationwide
#46. Marion County
- Rural area: 99.9% (943 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 944 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #751 nationwide
- Population density: 12.6 people / square mile (11,865 residents)
--- #59 lowest density county in state, #660 nationwide
#45. Jefferson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (532 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 533 square miles
--- #96 largest county in state, #1,958 nationwide
- Population density: 35.6 people / square mile (18,974 residents)
--- #87 lowest density county in state, #1,354 nationwide
#44. Linn County
- Rural area: 100.0% (594 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 594 square miles
--- #83 largest county in state, #1,646 nationwide
- Population density: 16.3 people / square mile (9,687 residents)
--- #67 lowest density county in state, #777 nationwide
#43. Wabaunsee County
- Rural area: 100.0% (794 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 794 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,079 nationwide
- Population density: 8.7 people / square mile (6,877 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #522 nationwide
#42. Ottawa County
- Rural area: 100.0% (721 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 721 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #1,242 nationwide
- Population density: 8.0 people / square mile (5,776 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #494 nationwide
#41. Morris County
- Rural area: 100.0% (695 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 695 square miles
--- #70 largest county in state, #1,340 nationwide
- Population density: 8.0 people / square mile (5,551 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #492 nationwide
#40. Gray County
- Rural area: 100.0% (869 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 869 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #942 nationwide
- Population density: 6.9 people / square mile (6,020 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #451 nationwide
#39. Haskell County
- Rural area: 100.0% (578 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 578 square miles
--- #87 largest county in state, #1,711 nationwide
- Population density: 6.9 people / square mile (3,990 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #448 nationwide
#38. Harper County
- Rural area: 100.0% (801 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 801 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,060 nationwide
- Population density: 6.9 people / square mile (5,506 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #447 nationwide
#37. Republic County
- Rural area: 100.0% (717 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 717 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #1,258 nationwide
- Population density: 6.4 people / square mile (4,607 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #432 nationwide
#36. Woodson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (498 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 498 square miles
--- #98 largest county in state, #2,092 nationwide
- Population density: 6.3 people / square mile (3,117 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #424 nationwide
#35. Washington County
- Rural area: 100.0% (895 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 895 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #875 nationwide
- Population density: 6.1 people / square mile (5,474 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #415 nationwide
#34. Rooks County
- Rural area: 100.0% (891 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 891 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #889 nationwide
- Population density: 5.6 people / square mile (4,985 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #392 nationwide
#33. Stafford County
- Rural area: 100.0% (792 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 792 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #1,083 nationwide
- Population density: 5.2 people / square mile (4,125 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #376 nationwide
#32. Chautauqua County
- Rural area: 100.0% (639 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 639 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #1,490 nationwide
- Population density: 5.1 people / square mile (3,280 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #373 nationwide
#31. Edwards County
- Rural area: 100.0% (622 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 622 square miles
--- #81 largest county in state, #1,553 nationwide
- Population density: 4.5 people / square mile (2,822 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #348 nationwide
#30. Kearny County
- Rural area: 100.0% (871 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 871 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #937 nationwide
- Population density: 4.4 people / square mile (3,863 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #345 nationwide
#29. Meade County
- Rural area: 100.0% (978 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 978 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #707 nationwide
- Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (4,120 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #328 nationwide
#28. Lincoln County
- Rural area: 100.0% (719 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 719 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #1,248 nationwide
- Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (3,013 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #324 nationwide
#27. Rush County
- Rural area: 100.0% (718 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 718 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #1,253 nationwide
- Population density: 4.1 people / square mile (2,953 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #318 nationwide
#26. Smith County
- Rural area: 100.0% (895 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 895 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #873 nationwide
- Population density: 4.0 people / square mile (3,594 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #312 nationwide
#25. Barber County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,134 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,134 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #551 nationwide
- Population density: 4.0 people / square mile (4,493 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #307 nationwide
#24. Osborne County
- Rural area: 100.0% (893 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 893 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #882 nationwide
- Population density: 3.9 people / square mile (3,494 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #304 nationwide
#23. Elk County
- Rural area: 100.0% (644 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 644 square miles
--- #75 largest county in state, #1,476 nationwide
- Population density: 3.9 people / square mile (2,502 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #300 nationwide
#22. Morton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (730 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 730 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #1,216 nationwide
- Population density: 3.6 people / square mile (2,656 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #282 nationwide
#21. Kiowa County
- Rural area: 100.0% (723 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 723 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #1,233 nationwide
- Population density: 3.4 people / square mile (2,483 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #268 nationwide
#20. Chase County
- Rural area: 100.0% (773 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 773 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #1,123 nationwide
- Population density: 3.4 people / square mile (2,604 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #264 nationwide
#19. Decatur County
- Rural area: 100.0% (894 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 894 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #879 nationwide
- Population density: 3.2 people / square mile (2,826 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #250 nationwide
#18. Trego County
- Rural area: 100.0% (889 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 889 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #892 nationwide
- Population density: 3.2 people / square mile (2,802 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #249 nationwide
#17. Jewell County
- Rural area: 100.0% (910 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 910 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #823 nationwide
- Population density: 3.1 people / square mile (2,854 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #248 nationwide
#16. Stanton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (680 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 680 square miles
--- #71 largest county in state, #1,380 nationwide
- Population density: 3.0 people / square mile (2,030 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #235 nationwide
#15. Wichita County
- Rural area: 100.0% (719 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 719 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #1,250 nationwide
- Population density: 2.9 people / square mile (2,112 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #231 nationwide
#14. Sheridan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (896 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 896 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #871 nationwide
- Population density: 2.8 people / square mile (2,515 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #222 nationwide
#13. Graham County
- Rural area: 100.0% (899 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 899 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #862 nationwide
- Population density: 2.7 people / square mile (2,464 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #220 nationwide
#12. Ness County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,075 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,075 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #594 nationwide
- Population density: 2.6 people / square mile (2,838 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #210 nationwide
#11. Logan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,073 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,073 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #599 nationwide
- Population density: 2.6 people / square mile (2,789 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #205 nationwide
#10. Cheyenne County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,020 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,020 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #651 nationwide
- Population density: 2.6 people / square mile (2,639 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #203 nationwide
#9. Hamilton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (997 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 997 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #686 nationwide
- Population density: 2.6 people / square mile (2,552 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #201 nationwide
#8. Gove County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,072 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,072 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #600 nationwide
- Population density: 2.5 people / square mile (2,650 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #192 nationwide
#7. Rawlins County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,069 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,069 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #602 nationwide
- Population density: 2.3 people / square mile (2,490 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #182 nationwide
#6. Comanche County
- Rural area: 100.0% (788 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 788 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,093 nationwide
- Population density: 2.2 people / square mile (1,759 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #176 nationwide
#5. Hodgeman County
- Rural area: 100.0% (860 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 860 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #966 nationwide
- Population density: 2.2 people / square mile (1,872 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #173 nationwide
#4. Lane County
- Rural area: 100.0% (717 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 717 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #1,256 nationwide
- Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (1,523 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #164 nationwide
#3. Clark County
- Rural area: 100.0% (975 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 975 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #714 nationwide
- Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (2,006 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #161 nationwide
#2. Wallace County
- Rural area: 100.0% (914 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 914 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #811 nationwide
- Population density: 1.7 people / square mile (1,583 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #130 nationwide
#1. Greeley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (778 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 778 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #1,111 nationwide
- Population density: 1.5 people / square mile (1,156 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #108 nationwide
