Most rural counties in Missouri
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Missouri 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. Barton County
- Rural area: 99.5% (589 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 592 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #1,655 nationwide
- Population density: 19.8 people / square mile (11,732 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #889 nationwide
#49. Dent County
- Rural area: 99.5% (749 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 753 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #1,170 nationwide
- Population density: 20.6 people / square mile (15,518 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #911 nationwide
#48. Cedar County
- Rural area: 99.6% (473 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 474 square miles
--- #89 largest county in state, #2,172 nationwide
- Population density: 29.8 people / square mile (14,144 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #1,206 nationwide
#47. Dallas County
- Rural area: 99.6% (539 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 541 square miles
--- #70 largest county in state, #1,932 nationwide
- Population density: 31.1 people / square mile (16,841 residents)
--- #58 lowest density county in state, #1,244 nationwide
#46. Iron County
- Rural area: 99.6% (548 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 550 square miles
--- #66 largest county in state, #1,898 nationwide
- Population density: 18.4 people / square mile (10,150 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #835 nationwide
#45. Wright County
- Rural area: 99.6% (679 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 682 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,375 nationwide
- Population density: 26.8 people / square mile (18,256 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #1,120 nationwide
#44. Gasconade County
- Rural area: 99.6% (516 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 518 square miles
--- #75 largest county in state, #2,013 nationwide
- Population density: 28.3 people / square mile (14,673 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #1,165 nationwide
#43. Benton County
- Rural area: 99.6% (701 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 704 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,317 nationwide
- Population density: 27.4 people / square mile (19,305 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #1,132 nationwide
#42. Macon County
- Rural area: 99.6% (798 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 801 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #1,061 nationwide
- Population density: 18.9 people / square mile (15,154 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #856 nationwide
#41. Washington County
- Rural area: 99.6% (757 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 760 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #1,150 nationwide
- Population density: 32.7 people / square mile (24,819 residents)
--- #62 lowest density county in state, #1,289 nationwide
#40. DeKalb County
- Rural area: 99.7% (420 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 421 square miles
--- #103 largest county in state, #2,404 nationwide
- Population density: 28.2 people / square mile (11,872 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #1,160 nationwide
#39. Montgomery County
- Rural area: 99.7% (535 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 536 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #1,949 nationwide
- Population density: 21.3 people / square mile (11,414 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #934 nationwide
#38. Carroll County
- Rural area: 99.7% (692 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 695 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,347 nationwide
- Population density: 12.6 people / square mile (8,723 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #658 nationwide
#37. Bates County
- Rural area: 99.7% (835 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 837 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #1,000 nationwide
- Population density: 19.5 people / square mile (16,282 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #870 nationwide
#36. Douglas County
- Rural area: 99.7% (812 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 814 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #1,037 nationwide
- Population density: 16.4 people / square mile (13,335 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #781 nationwide
#35. Harrison County
- Rural area: 99.8% (721 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 723 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #1,235 nationwide
- Population density: 11.7 people / square mile (8,427 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #624 nationwide
#34. Oregon County
- Rural area: 99.8% (788 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 790 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #1,091 nationwide
- Population density: 13.4 people / square mile (10,561 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #685 nationwide
#33. Ralls County
- Rural area: 99.8% (469 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 470 square miles
--- #91 largest county in state, #2,193 nationwide
- Population density: 21.8 people / square mile (10,258 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #957 nationwide
#32. McDonald County
- Rural area: 100.0% (539 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 539 square miles
--- #71 largest county in state, #1,939 nationwide
- Population density: 42.4 people / square mile (22,882 residents)
--- #72 lowest density county in state, #1,524 nationwide
#31. Texas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,177 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,177 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #520 nationwide
- Population density: 21.7 people / square mile (25,518 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #950 nationwide
#30. Morgan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (598 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 598 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,636 nationwide
- Population density: 34.2 people / square mile (20,438 residents)
--- #64 lowest density county in state, #1,322 nationwide
#29. Hickory County
- Rural area: 100.0% (399 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 399 square miles
--- #110 largest county in state, #2,531 nationwide
- Population density: 23.7 people / square mile (9,452 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #1,029 nationwide
#28. Osage County
- Rural area: 100.0% (604 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 604 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,613 nationwide
- Population density: 22.5 people / square mile (13,613 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #981 nationwide
#27. Ripley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (630 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 630 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,526 nationwide
- Population density: 21.4 people / square mile (13,484 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #940 nationwide
#26. Caldwell County
- Rural area: 100.0% (426 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 426 square miles
--- #102 largest county in state, #2,381 nationwide
- Population density: 21.2 people / square mile (9,052 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #932 nationwide
#25. Bollinger County
- Rural area: 100.0% (618 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 618 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #1,565 nationwide
- Population density: 19.7 people / square mile (12,181 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #886 nationwide
#24. Lewis County
- Rural area: 100.0% (505 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 505 square miles
--- #79 largest county in state, #2,056 nationwide
- Population density: 19.6 people / square mile (9,898 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #878 nationwide
#23. Wayne County
- Rural area: 100.0% (759 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 759 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #1,152 nationwide
- Population density: 17.2 people / square mile (13,058 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #805 nationwide
#22. Maries County
- Rural area: 100.0% (527 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 527 square miles
--- #74 largest county in state, #1,986 nationwide
- Population density: 16.7 people / square mile (8,791 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #791 nationwide
#21. Dade County
- Rural area: 100.0% (490 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 490 square miles
--- #87 largest county in state, #2,127 nationwide
- Population density: 15.5 people / square mile (7,571 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #753 nationwide
#20. Schuyler County
- Rural area: 100.0% (307 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 307 square miles
--- #113 largest county in state, #2,792 nationwide
- Population density: 14.8 people / square mile (4,550 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #730 nationwide
#19. Daviess County
- Rural area: 100.0% (563 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 563 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #1,836 nationwide
- Population density: 14.7 people / square mile (8,294 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #728 nationwide
#18. St. Clair County
- Rural area: 100.0% (670 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 670 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,404 nationwide
- Population density: 14.1 people / square mile (9,455 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #714 nationwide
#17. Clark County
- Rural area: 100.0% (505 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 505 square miles
--- #80 largest county in state, #2,057 nationwide
- Population density: 13.4 people / square mile (6,783 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #689 nationwide
#16. Gentry County
- Rural area: 100.0% (491 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 491 square miles
--- #86 largest county in state, #2,118 nationwide
- Population density: 13.4 people / square mile (6,576 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #686 nationwide
#15. Monroe County
- Rural area: 100.0% (648 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 648 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,459 nationwide
- Population density: 13.3 people / square mile (8,630 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #682 nationwide
#14. Ozark County
- Rural area: 100.0% (745 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 745 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #1,184 nationwide
- Population density: 12.3 people / square mile (9,138 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #645 nationwide
#13. Carter County
- Rural area: 100.0% (507 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 507 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #2,045 nationwide
- Population density: 12.0 people / square mile (6,085 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #637 nationwide
#12. Shelby County
- Rural area: 100.0% (501 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 501 square miles
--- #82 largest county in state, #2,077 nationwide
- Population density: 11.9 people / square mile (5,975 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #634 nationwide
#11. Scotland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (437 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 437 square miles
--- #98 largest county in state, #2,321 nationwide
- Population density: 11.3 people / square mile (4,923 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #611 nationwide
#10. Chariton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (751 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 751 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #1,171 nationwide
- Population density: 9.9 people / square mile (7,449 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #573 nationwide
#9. Sullivan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (648 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 648 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,456 nationwide
- Population density: 9.5 people / square mile (6,163 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #558 nationwide
#8. Atchison County
- Rural area: 100.0% (547 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 547 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #1,906 nationwide
- Population density: 9.5 people / square mile (5,180 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #556 nationwide
#7. Holt County
- Rural area: 100.0% (463 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 463 square miles
--- #94 largest county in state, #2,221 nationwide
- Population density: 9.5 people / square mile (4,374 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #555 nationwide
#6. Putnam County
- Rural area: 100.0% (517 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 517 square miles
--- #76 largest county in state, #2,015 nationwide
- Population density: 9.2 people / square mile (4,746 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #543 nationwide
#5. Shannon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,004 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,004 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #675 nationwide
- Population density: 8.2 people / square mile (8,207 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #502 nationwide
#4. Mercer County
- Rural area: 100.0% (454 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 454 square miles
--- #95 largest county in state, #2,256 nationwide
- Population density: 8.0 people / square mile (3,623 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #491 nationwide
#3. Knox County
- Rural area: 100.0% (504 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 504 square miles
--- #81 largest county in state, #2,062 nationwide
- Population density: 7.8 people / square mile (3,948 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #484 nationwide
#2. Reynolds County
- Rural area: 100.0% (808 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 808 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #1,048 nationwide
- Population density: 7.8 people / square mile (6,274 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #482 nationwide
#1. Worth County
- Rural area: 100.0% (267 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 267 square miles
--- #114 largest county in state, #2,868 nationwide
- Population density: 7.5 people / square mile (2,001 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #472 nationwide