Most rural counties in Mississippi
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Mississippi 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. Monroe County
- Rural area: 98.9% (757 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 765 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #1,138 nationwide
- Population density: 46.5 people / square mile (35,559 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #1,618 nationwide
#49. Copiah County
- Rural area: 99.0% (769 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 777 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #1,114 nationwide
- Population density: 36.5 people / square mile (28,339 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #1,383 nationwide
#48. Sunflower County
- Rural area: 99.0% (691 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 698 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #1,329 nationwide
- Population density: 36.9 people / square mile (25,759 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #1,396 nationwide
#47. Scott County
- Rural area: 99.0% (603 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 609 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,591 nationwide
- Population density: 46.4 people / square mile (28,288 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #1,616 nationwide
#46. Tate County
- Rural area: 99.0% (401 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 405 square miles
--- #80 largest county in state, #2,503 nationwide
- Population density: 70.2 people / square mile (28,419 residents)
--- #64 lowest density county in state, #1,981 nationwide
#45. Bolivar County
- Rural area: 99.1% (868 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 877 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #920 nationwide
- Population density: 35.7 people / square mile (31,253 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,357 nationwide
#44. Yazoo County
- Rural area: 99.1% (914 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 923 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #791 nationwide
- Population density: 30.9 people / square mile (28,511 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,232 nationwide
#43. Stone County
- Rural area: 99.2% (442 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 445 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #2,285 nationwide
- Population density: 41.0 people / square mile (18,282 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #1,498 nationwide
#42. Montgomery County
- Rural area: 99.2% (404 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 407 square miles
--- #77 largest county in state, #2,485 nationwide
- Population density: 24.5 people / square mile (9,956 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,052 nationwide
#41. Attala County
- Rural area: 99.3% (730 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 735 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #1,204 nationwide
- Population density: 24.9 people / square mile (18,308 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,063 nationwide
#40. Tippah County
- Rural area: 99.3% (455 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 458 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,243 nationwide
- Population density: 48.0 people / square mile (21,976 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #1,653 nationwide
#39. Leake County
- Rural area: 99.3% (579 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 583 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,686 nationwide
- Population density: 39.1 people / square mile (22,791 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,457 nationwide
#38. Winston County
- Rural area: 99.4% (603 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 607 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,601 nationwide
- Population density: 29.8 people / square mile (18,116 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #1,208 nationwide
#37. Itawamba County
- Rural area: 99.4% (529 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 533 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,957 nationwide
- Population density: 43.9 people / square mile (23,396 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #1,553 nationwide
#36. Marshall County
- Rural area: 99.4% (702 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 706 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #1,308 nationwide
- Population density: 50.3 people / square mile (35,502 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #1,699 nationwide
#35. Quitman County
- Rural area: 99.4% (403 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 405 square miles
--- #79 largest county in state, #2,501 nationwide
- Population density: 17.4 people / square mile (7,038 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #811 nationwide
#34. Humphreys County
- Rural area: 99.5% (416 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 418 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #2,418 nationwide
- Population density: 19.6 people / square mile (8,198 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #876 nationwide
#33. George County
- Rural area: 99.5% (476 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 479 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #2,162 nationwide
- Population density: 50.3 people / square mile (24,098 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #1,700 nationwide
#32. Chickasaw County
- Rural area: 99.5% (499 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 502 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #2,071 nationwide
- Population density: 34.0 people / square mile (17,060 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #1,316 nationwide
#31. Wayne County
- Rural area: 99.5% (807 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 811 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #1,045 nationwide
- Population density: 25.1 people / square mile (20,344 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,073 nationwide
#30. Newton County
- Rural area: 99.5% (575 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 578 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,708 nationwide
- Population density: 36.7 people / square mile (21,215 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #1,390 nationwide
#29. Simpson County
- Rural area: 99.5% (586 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 589 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,662 nationwide
- Population density: 45.5 people / square mile (26,818 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #1,590 nationwide
#28. Yalobusha County
- Rural area: 99.5% (465 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 467 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #2,204 nationwide
- Population density: 26.3 people / square mile (12,276 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,107 nationwide
#27. Tunica County
- Rural area: 99.6% (453 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 455 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,254 nationwide
- Population density: 21.6 people / square mile (9,807 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #944 nationwide
#26. Noxubee County
- Rural area: 99.7% (693 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 695 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #1,341 nationwide
- Population density: 15.2 people / square mile (10,566 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #746 nationwide
#25. Tallahatchie County
- Rural area: 99.7% (643 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 645 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,471 nationwide
- Population density: 21.8 people / square mile (14,041 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #953 nationwide
#24. Holmes County
- Rural area: 99.8% (755 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 757 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #1,164 nationwide
- Population density: 23.0 people / square mile (17,414 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,006 nationwide
#23. Tishomingo County
- Rural area: 100.0% (424 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 424 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,387 nationwide
- Population density: 45.7 people / square mile (19,396 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #1,597 nationwide
#22. Covington County
- Rural area: 100.0% (414 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 414 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #2,443 nationwide
- Population density: 45.5 people / square mile (18,810 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #1,589 nationwide
#21. Walthall County
- Rural area: 100.0% (404 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 404 square miles
--- #81 largest county in state, #2,505 nationwide
- Population density: 35.7 people / square mile (14,423 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,359 nationwide
#20. Lawrence County
- Rural area: 100.0% (431 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 431 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #2,360 nationwide
- Population density: 29.2 people / square mile (12,595 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,190 nationwide
#19. Jefferson Davis County
- Rural area: 100.0% (408 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 408 square miles
--- #76 largest county in state, #2,473 nationwide
- Population density: 27.4 people / square mile (11,182 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,131 nationwide
#18. Smith County
- Rural area: 100.0% (636 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 636 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,499 nationwide
- Population density: 25.0 people / square mile (15,919 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,069 nationwide
#17. Calhoun County
- Rural area: 100.0% (587 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 587 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,674 nationwide
- Population density: 24.6 people / square mile (14,417 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,055 nationwide
#16. Jasper County
- Rural area: 100.0% (676 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 676 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,388 nationwide
- Population density: 24.3 people / square mile (16,454 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,047 nationwide
#15. Webster County
- Rural area: 100.0% (421 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 421 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #2,407 nationwide
- Population density: 23.1 people / square mile (9,727 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,011 nationwide
#14. Clarke County
- Rural area: 100.0% (692 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 692 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #1,355 nationwide
- Population density: 22.6 people / square mile (15,612 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #985 nationwide
#13. Benton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (407 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 407 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #2,490 nationwide
- Population density: 20.4 people / square mile (8,275 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #904 nationwide
#12. Choctaw County
- Rural area: 100.0% (418 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 418 square miles
--- #69 largest county in state, #2,419 nationwide
- Population density: 19.6 people / square mile (8,206 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #880 nationwide
#11. Greene County
- Rural area: 100.0% (713 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 713 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #1,284 nationwide
- Population density: 19.1 people / square mile (13,619 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #857 nationwide
#10. Claiborne County
- Rural area: 100.0% (487 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 487 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #2,134 nationwide
- Population density: 18.6 people / square mile (9,042 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #840 nationwide
#9. Perry County
- Rural area: 100.0% (647 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 647 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #1,461 nationwide
- Population density: 18.5 people / square mile (11,981 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #837 nationwide
#8. Amite County
- Rural area: 100.0% (730 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 730 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #1,213 nationwide
- Population density: 16.9 people / square mile (12,341 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #797 nationwide
#7. Carroll County
- Rural area: 100.0% (628 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 628 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,532 nationwide
- Population density: 15.9 people / square mile (9,972 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #765 nationwide
#6. Jefferson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (520 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 520 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #2,006 nationwide
- Population density: 13.7 people / square mile (7,129 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #700 nationwide
#5. Franklin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (564 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,829 nationwide
- Population density: 13.7 people / square mile (7,716 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #699 nationwide
#4. Wilkinson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (678 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 678 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #1,384 nationwide
- Population density: 12.9 people / square mile (8,727 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #671 nationwide
#3. Kemper County
- Rural area: 100.0% (766 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 766 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #1,134 nationwide
- Population density: 12.8 people / square mile (9,829 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #670 nationwide
#2. Sharkey County
- Rural area: 100.0% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 432 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #2,351 nationwide
- Population density: 10.3 people / square mile (4,427 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #588 nationwide
#1. Issaquena County
- Rural area: 100.0% (413 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 413 square miles
--- #73 largest county in state, #2,448 nationwide
- Population density: 3.0 people / square mile (1,223 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #234 nationwide
