Most rural counties in Michigan
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Michigan 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. Dickinson County
- Rural area: 98.0% (746 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.1% (16 square miles)
- Total land area: 761 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #1,148 nationwide
- Population density: 33.3 people / square mile (25,373 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,302 nationwide
#49. Otsego County
- Rural area: 98.0% (505 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.0% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 515 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #2,023 nationwide
- Population density: 47.8 people / square mile (24,613 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #1,646 nationwide
#48. Hillsdale County
- Rural area: 98.2% (587 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 598 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,632 nationwide
- Population density: 76.4 people / square mile (45,707 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #2,057 nationwide
#47. Charlevoix County
- Rural area: 98.3% (409 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 416 square miles
--- #80 largest county in state, #2,427 nationwide
- Population density: 62.9 people / square mile (26,197 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #1,883 nationwide
#46. Roscommon County
- Rural area: 98.3% (511 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 520 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,007 nationwide
- Population density: 45.9 people / square mile (23,863 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,603 nationwide
#45. Mason County
- Rural area: 98.3% (487 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 495 square miles
--- #73 largest county in state, #2,104 nationwide
- Population density: 58.7 people / square mile (29,062 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #1,830 nationwide
#44. Mecosta County
- Rural area: 98.3% (546 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 555 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #1,873 nationwide
- Population density: 78.3 people / square mile (43,481 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #2,078 nationwide
#43. Barry County
- Rural area: 98.3% (544 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 553 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #1,885 nationwide
- Population density: 110.4 people / square mile (61,045 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #2,324 nationwide
#42. Alpena County
- Rural area: 98.4% (562 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 572 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,758 nationwide
- Population density: 49.7 people / square mile (28,431 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,686 nationwide
#41. Clare County
- Rural area: 98.4% (555 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #1,823 nationwide
- Population density: 54.3 people / square mile (30,655 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,763 nationwide
#40. Wexford County
- Rural area: 98.5% (556 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 565 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #1,819 nationwide
- Population density: 59.2 people / square mile (33,433 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #1,835 nationwide
#39. Delta County
- Rural area: 98.5% (1,153 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.5% (18 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,171 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #526 nationwide
- Population density: 30.6 people / square mile (35,874 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,227 nationwide
#38. Manistee County
- Rural area: 98.6% (535 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 542 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #1,926 nationwide
- Population density: 45.3 people / square mile (24,539 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,583 nationwide
#37. Gratiot County
- Rural area: 98.7% (561 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 568 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,796 nationwide
- Population density: 71.6 people / square mile (40,692 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #1,998 nationwide
#36. Emmet County
- Rural area: 98.7% (462 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 467 square miles
--- #77 largest county in state, #2,203 nationwide
- Population density: 71.0 people / square mile (33,175 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #1,990 nationwide
#35. Marquette County
- Rural area: 98.8% (1,786 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (22 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,808 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #326 nationwide
- Population density: 36.7 people / square mile (66,403 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,391 nationwide
#34. Houghton County
- Rural area: 98.8% (997 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,009 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #669 nationwide
- Population density: 35.6 people / square mile (35,890 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,351 nationwide
#33. Montcalm County
- Rural area: 99.1% (699 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 705 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,312 nationwide
- Population density: 90.0 people / square mile (63,516 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #2,177 nationwide
#32. Tuscola County
- Rural area: 99.2% (797 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 803 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #1,055 nationwide
- Population density: 65.6 people / square mile (52,683 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #1,920 nationwide
#31. Newaygo County
- Rural area: 99.2% (807 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 813 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #1,039 nationwide
- Population density: 59.9 people / square mile (48,687 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #1,849 nationwide
#30. Crawford County
- Rural area: 99.3% (552 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 556 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,867 nationwide
- Population density: 25.0 people / square mile (13,904 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,065 nationwide
#29. Leelanau County
- Rural area: 99.3% (345 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 347 square miles
--- #82 largest county in state, #2,687 nationwide
- Population density: 62.4 people / square mile (21,649 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #1,874 nationwide
#28. Chippewa County
- Rural area: 99.4% (1,549 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,558 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #387 nationwide
- Population density: 24.0 people / square mile (37,418 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #1,040 nationwide
#27. Gladwin County
- Rural area: 99.5% (499 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 502 square miles
--- #70 largest county in state, #2,072 nationwide
- Population density: 50.4 people / square mile (25,312 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #1,703 nationwide
#26. Cheboygan County
- Rural area: 99.5% (712 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 715 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,274 nationwide
- Population density: 35.6 people / square mile (25,435 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,350 nationwide
#25. Kalkaska County
- Rural area: 99.6% (558 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 560 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,856 nationwide
- Population density: 31.7 people / square mile (17,725 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,261 nationwide
#24. Oceana County
- Rural area: 99.6% (510 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 512 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #2,034 nationwide
- Population density: 51.8 people / square mile (26,545 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #1,722 nationwide
#23. Menominee County
- Rural area: 99.6% (1,040 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,044 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #627 nationwide
- Population density: 21.9 people / square mile (22,902 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #961 nationwide
#22. Alger County
- Rural area: 99.6% (912 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 915 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #805 nationwide
- Population density: 9.9 people / square mile (9,098 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #574 nationwide
#21. Sanilac County
- Rural area: 99.7% (959 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 963 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #728 nationwide
- Population density: 42.8 people / square mile (41,179 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,533 nationwide
#20. Gogebic County
- Rural area: 99.7% (1,098 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,102 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #575 nationwide
- Population density: 13.4 people / square mile (14,715 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #684 nationwide
#19. Huron County
- Rural area: 99.7% (833 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 836 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #1,002 nationwide
- Population density: 37.2 people / square mile (31,105 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,404 nationwide
#18. Schoolcraft County
- Rural area: 99.7% (1,168 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,171 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #525 nationwide
- Population density: 6.9 people / square mile (8,031 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #446 nationwide
#17. Presque Isle County
- Rural area: 99.8% (657 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 659 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,426 nationwide
- Population density: 19.3 people / square mile (12,687 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #860 nationwide
#16. Mackinac County
- Rural area: 99.8% (1,019 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,022 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #648 nationwide
- Population density: 10.6 people / square mile (10,781 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #594 nationwide
#15. Iron County
- Rural area: 99.8% (1,164 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,166 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #528 nationwide
- Population density: 9.5 people / square mile (11,099 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #559 nationwide
#14. Luce County
- Rural area: 99.8% (898 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 899 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #860 nationwide
- Population density: 7.0 people / square mile (6,286 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #455 nationwide
#13. Alcona County
- Rural area: 100.0% (674 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 675 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,394 nationwide
- Population density: 15.4 people / square mile (10,396 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #750 nationwide
#12. Benzie County
- Rural area: 100.0% (320 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 320 square miles
--- #83 largest county in state, #2,764 nationwide
- Population density: 55.4 people / square mile (17,703 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,783 nationwide
#11. Antrim County
- Rural area: 100.0% (476 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 476 square miles
--- #76 largest county in state, #2,168 nationwide
- Population density: 49.0 people / square mile (23,301 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,671 nationwide
#10. Arenac County
- Rural area: 100.0% (363 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 363 square miles
--- #81 largest county in state, #2,645 nationwide
- Population density: 41.3 people / square mile (15,013 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,505 nationwide
#9. Osceola County
- Rural area: 100.0% (566 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 566 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,809 nationwide
- Population density: 41.2 people / square mile (23,323 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,501 nationwide
#8. Ogemaw County
- Rural area: 100.0% (563 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 563 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #1,832 nationwide
- Population density: 37.1 people / square mile (20,895 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,401 nationwide
#7. Missaukee County
- Rural area: 100.0% (565 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 565 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #1,821 nationwide
- Population density: 26.7 people / square mile (15,075 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,115 nationwide
#6. Lake County
- Rural area: 100.0% (567 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 567 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #1,803 nationwide
- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (11,805 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #920 nationwide
#5. Montmorency County
- Rural area: 100.0% (547 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 547 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #1,909 nationwide
- Population density: 17.0 people / square mile (9,270 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #800 nationwide
#4. Oscoda County
- Rural area: 100.0% (566 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 566 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,815 nationwide
- Population density: 14.6 people / square mile (8,282 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #726 nationwide
#3. Baraga County
- Rural area: 100.0% (898 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 898 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #865 nationwide
- Population density: 9.3 people / square mile (8,337 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #548 nationwide
#2. Ontonagon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,311 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,311 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #455 nationwide
- Population density: 4.4 people / square mile (5,802 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #344 nationwide
#1. Keweenaw County
- Rural area: 100.0% (540 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 540 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #1,935 nationwide
- Population density: 3.9 people / square mile (2,102 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #303 nationwide