Most rural counties in Montana
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Montana 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.
#56. Silver Bow County
- Rural area: 97.7% (702 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.3% (16 square miles)
- Total land area: 718 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #1,251 nationwide
- Population density: 48.6 people / square mile (34,895 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #1,665 nationwide
#55. Yellowstone County
- Rural area: 97.7% (2,574 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.3% (60 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,633 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #201 nationwide
- Population density: 60.9 people / square mile (160,390 residents)
--- #56 lowest density county in state, #1,855 nationwide
#54. Missoula County
- Rural area: 98.2% (2,547 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (47 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,593 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #206 nationwide
- Population density: 45.9 people / square mile (119,062 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #1,601 nationwide
#53. Gallatin County
- Rural area: 98.7% (2,570 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (33 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,603 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #204 nationwide
- Population density: 42.8 people / square mile (111,401 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #1,535 nationwide
#52. Cascade County
- Rural area: 98.9% (2,667 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (31 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,698 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #192 nationwide
- Population density: 30.2 people / square mile (81,576 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #1,216 nationwide
#51. Lewis and Clark County
- Rural area: 99.2% (3,431 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (28 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,459 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #145 nationwide
- Population density: 19.9 people / square mile (68,714 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #891 nationwide
#50. Flathead County
- Rural area: 99.5% (5,061 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (26 square miles)
- Total land area: 5,088 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #75 nationwide
- Population density: 20.0 people / square mile (102,001 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #897 nationwide
#49. Deer Lodge County
- Rural area: 99.7% (734 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 737 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,201 nationwide
- Population density: 12.4 people / square mile (9,153 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #650 nationwide
#48. Lake County
- Rural area: 99.8% (1,487 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,490 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #404 nationwide
- Population density: 20.4 people / square mile (30,383 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #905 nationwide
#47. Richland County
- Rural area: 99.8% (2,080 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,084 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #272 nationwide
- Population density: 5.3 people / square mile (11,097 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #385 nationwide
#46. Dawson County
- Rural area: 99.8% (2,367 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,372 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #233 nationwide
- Population density: 3.7 people / square mile (8,824 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #290 nationwide
#45. Custer County
- Rural area: 99.8% (3,776 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,783 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #132 nationwide
- Population density: 3.1 people / square mile (11,563 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #240 nationwide
#44. Ravalli County
- Rural area: 99.8% (2,387 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,391 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #230 nationwide
- Population density: 18.2 people / square mile (43,424 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #831 nationwide
#43. Hill County
- Rural area: 99.9% (2,895 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,899 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #179 nationwide
- Population density: 5.7 people / square mile (16,422 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #394 nationwide
#42. Park County
- Rural area: 99.9% (2,799 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,803 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #185 nationwide
- Population density: 5.9 people / square mile (16,513 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #404 nationwide
#41. Roosevelt County
- Rural area: 99.9% (2,352 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,355 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #237 nationwide
- Population density: 4.7 people / square mile (11,091 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #358 nationwide
#40. Glacier County
- Rural area: 99.9% (2,993 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,996 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #173 nationwide
- Population density: 4.6 people / square mile (13,706 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #352 nationwide
#39. Lincoln County
- Rural area: 99.9% (3,610 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,613 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #139 nationwide
- Population density: 5.5 people / square mile (19,845 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #390 nationwide
#38. Pondera County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,622 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,623 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #374 nationwide
- Population density: 3.6 people / square mile (5,911 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #283 nationwide
#37. Toole County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,914 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,916 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #298 nationwide
- Population density: 2.5 people / square mile (4,812 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #195 nationwide
#36. Valley County
- Rural area: 99.9% (4,922 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,926 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #80 nationwide
- Population density: 1.5 people / square mile (7,424 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #112 nationwide
#35. Powell County
- Rural area: 99.9% (2,325 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,326 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #238 nationwide
- Population density: 2.9 people / square mile (6,843 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #233 nationwide
#34. Fergus County
- Rural area: 100.0% (4,338 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,340 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #105 nationwide
- Population density: 2.6 people / square mile (11,167 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #202 nationwide
#33. Beaverhead County
- Rural area: 100.0% (5,539 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 5,542 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #65 nationwide
- Population density: 1.7 people / square mile (9,454 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #127 nationwide
#32. Big Horn County
- Rural area: 100.0% (4,994 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,995 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #78 nationwide
- Population density: 2.7 people / square mile (13,302 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #213 nationwide
#31. Jefferson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,656 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,656 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #364 nationwide
- Population density: 7.3 people / square mile (12,069 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #462 nationwide
#30. Stillwater County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,795 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,795 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #329 nationwide
- Population density: 5.3 people / square mile (9,562 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #386 nationwide
#29. Carbon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,049 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,049 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #277 nationwide
- Population density: 5.2 people / square mile (10,689 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #377 nationwide
#28. Broadwater County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,193 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,193 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #514 nationwide
- Population density: 5.1 people / square mile (6,080 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #372 nationwide
#27. Sanders County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,761 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,761 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #188 nationwide
- Population density: 4.3 people / square mile (11,804 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #335 nationwide
#26. Mineral County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,219 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,219 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #504 nationwide
- Population density: 3.6 people / square mile (4,330 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #275 nationwide
#25. Teton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,272 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,272 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #245 nationwide
- Population density: 2.7 people / square mile (6,127 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #215 nationwide
#24. Musselshell County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,868 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,868 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #309 nationwide
- Population density: 2.5 people / square mile (4,682 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #194 nationwide
#23. Madison County
- Rural area: 100.0% (3,587 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,587 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #140 nationwide
- Population density: 2.4 people / square mile (8,530 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #189 nationwide
#22. Sheridan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,677 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,677 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #359 nationwide
- Population density: 2.0 people / square mile (3,389 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #156 nationwide
#21. Sweet Grass County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,855 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,855 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #313 nationwide
- Population density: 2.0 people / square mile (3,676 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #153 nationwide
#20. Granite County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,727 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,727 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #346 nationwide
- Population density: 1.9 people / square mile (3,325 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #146 nationwide
#19. Fallon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,621 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,621 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #375 nationwide
- Population density: 1.8 people / square mile (2,975 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #143 nationwide
#18. Rosebud County
- Rural area: 100.0% (5,010 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 5,010 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #77 nationwide
- Population density: 1.8 people / square mile (9,065 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #140 nationwide
#17. Liberty County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,430 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,430 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #420 nationwide
- Population density: 1.7 people / square mile (2,455 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #129 nationwide
#16. Blaine County
- Rural area: 100.0% (4,228 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,228 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #109 nationwide
- Population density: 1.6 people / square mile (6,698 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #120 nationwide
#15. Wheatland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,423 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,423 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #424 nationwide
- Population density: 1.5 people / square mile (2,138 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #111 nationwide
#14. Chouteau County
- Rural area: 100.0% (3,972 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,972 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #122 nationwide
- Population density: 1.4 people / square mile (5,731 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #105 nationwide
#13. Daniels County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,426 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,426 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #422 nationwide
- Population density: 1.2 people / square mile (1,705 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #87 nationwide
#13. Wibaux County
- Rural area: 100.0% (889 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 889 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #893 nationwide
- Population density: 1.2 people / square mile (1,037 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #84 nationwide
#11. Judith Basin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,870 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,870 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #308 nationwide
- Population density: 1.1 people / square mile (1,968 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #74 nationwide
#10. Phillips County
- Rural area: 100.0% (5,140 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 5,140 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #74 nationwide
- Population density: 0.8 people / square mile (4,032 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #48 nationwide
#9. Meagher County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,392 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,392 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #229 nationwide
- Population density: 0.8 people / square mile (1,795 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #45 nationwide
#8. Golden Valley County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,175 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,175 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #522 nationwide
- Population density: 0.7 people / square mile (814 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #41 nationwide
#7. McCone County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,643 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,643 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #199 nationwide
- Population density: 0.7 people / square mile (1,826 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #40 nationwide
#6. Prairie County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,737 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,737 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #343 nationwide
- Population density: 0.7 people / square mile (1,162 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #38 nationwide
#5. Treasure County
- Rural area: 100.0% (977 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 977 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #708 nationwide
- Population density: 0.6 people / square mile (614 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #34 nationwide
#4. Powder River County
- Rural area: 100.0% (3,297 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,297 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #154 nationwide
- Population density: 0.5 people / square mile (1,634 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #28 nationwide
#3. Carter County
- Rural area: 100.0% (3,341 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,341 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #151 nationwide
- Population density: 0.4 people / square mile (1,305 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #19 nationwide
#2. Petroleum County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,655 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,655 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #366 nationwide
- Population density: 0.3 people / square mile (464 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #14 nationwide
#1. Garfield County
- Rural area: 100.0% (4,675 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,675 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #92 nationwide
- Population density: 0.2 people / square mile (1,051 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #10 nationwide