Most rural counties in Maryland

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July 25, 2022
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Most rural counties in Maryland

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

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#24. Baltimore city

- Rural area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Urban area: 100.0% (81 square miles)
- Total land area: 81 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #3,094 nationwide

- Population density: 10,231.7 people / square mile (828,193 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #3,131 nationwide

#23. Prince George's County

- Rural area: 38.8% (187 square miles)
- Urban area: 61.2% (296 square miles)
- Total land area: 483 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #2,149 nationwide

- Population density: 1,886.4 people / square mile (910,551 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #3,071 nationwide

#22. Anne Arundel County

- Rural area: 42.7% (177 square miles)
- Urban area: 57.3% (238 square miles)
- Total land area: 415 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #2,437 nationwide

- Population density: 1,386.9 people / square mile (575,421 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #3,034 nationwide

#21. Montgomery County

- Rural area: 44.9% (221 square miles)
- Urban area: 55.1% (271 square miles)
- Total land area: 491 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #2,120 nationwide

- Population density: 2,132.6 people / square mile (1.0 million residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #3,081 nationwide

#20. Howard County

- Rural area: 49.3% (124 square miles)
- Urban area: 50.7% (127 square miles)
- Total land area: 251 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #2,910 nationwide

- Population density: 1,285.8 people / square mile (322,407 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #3,025 nationwide

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#19. Baltimore County

- Rural area: 56.1% (335 square miles)
- Urban area: 43.9% (263 square miles)
- Total land area: 598 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #1,630 nationwide

- Population density: 1,384.2 people / square mile (828,193 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #3,033 nationwide

#18. Harford County

- Rural area: 73.4% (321 square miles)
- Urban area: 26.6% (116 square miles)
- Total land area: 437 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #2,318 nationwide

- Population density: 580.5 people / square mile (253,736 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #2,914 nationwide

#17. Calvert County

- Rural area: 75.3% (161 square miles)
- Urban area: 24.7% (53 square miles)
- Total land area: 213 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #2,978 nationwide

- Population density: 432.1 people / square mile (92,094 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #2,847 nationwide

#16. Carroll County

- Rural area: 83.6% (374 square miles)
- Urban area: 16.4% (73 square miles)
- Total land area: 448 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #2,280 nationwide

- Population density: 375.9 people / square mile (168,233 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #2,797 nationwide

#15. Frederick County

- Rural area: 84.6% (559 square miles)
- Urban area: 15.4% (101 square miles)
- Total land area: 660 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #1,422 nationwide

- Population density: 387.7 people / square mile (255,955 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #2,811 nationwide

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#14. Cecil County

- Rural area: 84.6% (293 square miles)
- Urban area: 15.4% (53 square miles)
- Total land area: 346 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #2,688 nationwide

- Population density: 297.1 people / square mile (102,889 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #2,733 nationwide

#13. St. Mary's County

- Rural area: 85.8% (306 square miles)
- Urban area: 14.2% (51 square miles)
- Total land area: 357 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #2,665 nationwide

- Population density: 316.9 people / square mile (113,182 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #2,752 nationwide

#12. Charles County

- Rural area: 86.3% (395 square miles)
- Urban area: 13.8% (63 square miles)
- Total land area: 458 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #2,245 nationwide

- Population density: 352.7 people / square mile (161,448 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #2,779 nationwide

#11. Wicomico County

- Rural area: 86.8% (325 square miles)
- Urban area: 13.2% (49 square miles)
- Total land area: 374 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #2,621 nationwide

- Population density: 275.7 people / square mile (103,222 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #2,705 nationwide

#10. Washington County

- Rural area: 87.1% (399 square miles)
- Urban area: 12.9% (59 square miles)
- Total land area: 458 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #2,244 nationwide

- Population density: 328.9 people / square mile (150,575 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #2,758 nationwide

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#9. Allegany County

- Rural area: 92.0% (390 square miles)
- Urban area: 8.0% (34 square miles)
- Total land area: 424 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #2,388 nationwide

- Population density: 167.4 people / square mile (71,002 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #2,532 nationwide

#8. Worcester County

- Rural area: 95.3% (446 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.7% (22 square miles)
- Total land area: 468 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #2,201 nationwide

- Population density: 111.0 people / square mile (51,967 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #2,325 nationwide

#7. Queen Anne's County

- Rural area: 95.4% (355 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.7% (17 square miles)
- Total land area: 372 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #2,628 nationwide

- Population density: 134.9 people / square mile (50,163 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #2,415 nationwide

#6. Talbot County

- Rural area: 96.4% (259 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.6% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 269 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #2,866 nationwide

- Population density: 138.1 people / square mile (37,087 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #2,431 nationwide

#5. Caroline County

- Rural area: 98.0% (313 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.0% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 319 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #2,765 nationwide

- Population density: 104.1 people / square mile (33,260 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #2,285 nationwide

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#4. Somerset County

- Rural area: 98.0% (313 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.0% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 320 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #2,762 nationwide

- Population density: 80.4 people / square mile (25,699 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #2,098 nationwide

#3. Dorchester County

- Rural area: 98.4% (532 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 541 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #1,933 nationwide

- Population density: 59.2 people / square mile (31,994 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #1,834 nationwide

#2. Kent County

- Rural area: 99.1% (274 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 277 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #2,854 nationwide

- Population density: 70.2 people / square mile (19,456 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #1,982 nationwide

#1. Garrett County

- Rural area: 99.3% (643 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 647 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #1,464 nationwide

- Population density: 45.1 people / square mile (29,155 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #1,581 nationwide

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