Most rural counties in New York
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in New York 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. Schenectady County
- Rural area: 70.4% (144 square miles)
- Urban area: 29.6% (61 square miles)
- Total land area: 205 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #2,991 nationwide
- Population density: 758.3 people / square mile (155,086 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #2,953 nationwide
#49. Onondaga County
- Rural area: 75.7% (589 square miles)
- Urban area: 24.3% (189 square miles)
- Total land area: 778 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,112 nationwide
- Population density: 593.0 people / square mile (461,591 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #2,923 nationwide
#48. Albany County
- Rural area: 76.6% (401 square miles)
- Urban area: 23.4% (122 square miles)
- Total land area: 523 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #1,996 nationwide
- Population density: 585.6 people / square mile (306,165 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #2,919 nationwide
#47. Orange County
- Rural area: 77.3% (627 square miles)
- Urban area: 22.8% (185 square miles)
- Total land area: 812 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #1,042 nationwide
- Population density: 470.7 people / square mile (382,077 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #2,866 nationwide
#46. Dutchess County
- Rural area: 78.0% (621 square miles)
- Urban area: 22.0% (175 square miles)
- Total land area: 796 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #1,076 nationwide
- Population density: 368.9 people / square mile (293,524 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #2,792 nationwide
#45. Niagara County
- Rural area: 82.1% (429 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.9% (94 square miles)
- Total land area: 522 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #1,997 nationwide
- Population density: 402.3 people / square mile (210,145 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #2,828 nationwide
#44. Saratoga County
- Rural area: 87.2% (706 square miles)
- Urban area: 12.8% (104 square miles)
- Total land area: 810 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,047 nationwide
- Population density: 283.1 people / square mile (229,313 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #2,715 nationwide
#43. Rensselaer County
- Rural area: 89.4% (584 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.6% (69 square miles)
- Total land area: 652 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,443 nationwide
- Population density: 243.7 people / square mile (159,013 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #2,663 nationwide
#42. Broome County
- Rural area: 90.6% (639 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.4% (67 square miles)
- Total land area: 706 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,310 nationwide
- Population density: 272.1 people / square mile (192,042 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #2,699 nationwide
#41. Chemung County
- Rural area: 91.0% (371 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.0% (37 square miles)
- Total land area: 407 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #2,484 nationwide
- Population density: 206.5 people / square mile (84,115 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #2,606 nationwide
#40. Ulster County
- Rural area: 92.6% (1,041 square miles)
- Urban area: 7.4% (83 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,124 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #560 nationwide
- Population density: 158.7 people / square mile (178,371 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #2,495 nationwide
#39. Oneida County
- Rural area: 92.7% (1,123 square miles)
- Urban area: 7.4% (89 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,212 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #506 nationwide
- Population density: 188.9 people / square mile (229,074 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #2,571 nationwide
#38. Ontario County
- Rural area: 93.9% (605 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.1% (40 square miles)
- Total land area: 644 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,477 nationwide
- Population density: 170.4 people / square mile (109,774 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #2,539 nationwide
#37. Tompkins County
- Rural area: 94.0% (446 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.0% (29 square miles)
- Total land area: 475 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #2,171 nationwide
- Population density: 215.4 people / square mile (102,237 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #2,617 nationwide
#36. Wayne County
- Rural area: 94.8% (572 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.2% (32 square miles)
- Total land area: 604 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,617 nationwide
- Population density: 149.2 people / square mile (90,103 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #2,475 nationwide
#35. Montgomery County
- Rural area: 96.0% (387 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.0% (16 square miles)
- Total land area: 403 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #2,510 nationwide
- Population density: 122.3 people / square mile (49,294 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #2,372 nationwide
#34. Chautauqua County
- Rural area: 96.4% (1,022 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.6% (38 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,060 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #612 nationwide
- Population density: 120.3 people / square mile (127,584 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #2,368 nationwide
#33. Warren County
- Rural area: 96.5% (837 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.5% (30 square miles)
- Total land area: 867 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #948 nationwide
- Population density: 74.0 people / square mile (64,187 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #2,028 nationwide
#32. Jefferson County
- Rural area: 96.6% (1,226 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.4% (43 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,269 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #476 nationwide
- Population density: 87.9 people / square mile (111,454 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #2,157 nationwide
#31. Livingston County
- Rural area: 96.8% (611 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.2% (20 square miles)
- Total land area: 632 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #1,519 nationwide
- Population density: 100.1 people / square mile (63,218 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #2,254 nationwide
#30. Oswego County
- Rural area: 97.0% (923 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.0% (29 square miles)
- Total land area: 952 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #739 nationwide
- Population density: 123.6 people / square mile (117,630 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #2,379 nationwide
#29. Fulton County
- Rural area: 97.1% (481 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.9% (14 square miles)
- Total land area: 495 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #2,102 nationwide
- Population density: 107.9 people / square mile (53,452 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #2,309 nationwide
#28. Seneca County
- Rural area: 97.4% (315 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.6% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 324 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #2,751 nationwide
- Population density: 105.9 people / square mile (34,295 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #2,298 nationwide
#27. Madison County
- Rural area: 97.4% (638 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.6% (17 square miles)
- Total land area: 655 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,440 nationwide
- Population density: 108.4 people / square mile (70,990 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #2,312 nationwide
#26. Clinton County
- Rural area: 97.5% (1,012 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.5% (26 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,038 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #636 nationwide
- Population density: 77.4 people / square mile (80,320 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #2,064 nationwide
#25. Tioga County
- Rural area: 97.6% (506 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.4% (13 square miles)
- Total land area: 519 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #2,012 nationwide
- Population density: 93.4 people / square mile (48,431 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #2,203 nationwide
#24. Genesee County
- Rural area: 97.6% (481 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.4% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 493 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #2,109 nationwide
- Population density: 116.8 people / square mile (57,554 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #2,355 nationwide
#23. Cayuga County
- Rural area: 97.9% (677 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.2% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 692 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,354 nationwide
- Population density: 111.3 people / square mile (76,958 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #2,327 nationwide
#22. Cortland County
- Rural area: 97.9% (488 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.1% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 499 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #2,089 nationwide
- Population density: 95.5 people / square mile (47,618 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #2,222 nationwide
#21. Orleans County
- Rural area: 97.9% (383 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.1% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 391 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #2,570 nationwide
- Population density: 103.8 people / square mile (40,624 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #2,281 nationwide
#20. Columbia County
- Rural area: 98.2% (624 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 635 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #1,507 nationwide
- Population density: 94.6 people / square mile (60,016 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #2,212 nationwide
#19. Steuben County
- Rural area: 98.5% (1,370 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.5% (21 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,391 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #435 nationwide
- Population density: 68.9 people / square mile (95,843 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #1,963 nationwide
#18. Sullivan County
- Rural area: 98.5% (954 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.5% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 968 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #724 nationwide
- Population density: 77.8 people / square mile (75,329 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #2,068 nationwide
#17. Cattaraugus County
- Rural area: 98.6% (1,290 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (19 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,308 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #457 nationwide
- Population density: 58.7 people / square mile (76,750 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #1,828 nationwide
#16. Greene County
- Rural area: 98.7% (639 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 647 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,462 nationwide
- Population density: 73.1 people / square mile (47,335 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #2,014 nationwide
#15. Washington County
- Rural area: 98.7% (821 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 831 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #1,012 nationwide
- Population density: 73.8 people / square mile (61,304 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #2,022 nationwide
#14. Herkimer County
- Rural area: 98.8% (1,394 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (17 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,411 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #425 nationwide
- Population density: 43.7 people / square mile (61,738 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #1,551 nationwide
#13. Yates County
- Rural area: 98.9% (334 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 338 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #2,717 nationwide
- Population density: 73.9 people / square mile (24,981 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #2,025 nationwide
#12. Wyoming County
- Rural area: 99.0% (586 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 593 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,649 nationwide
- Population density: 67.5 people / square mile (40,027 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #1,945 nationwide
#11. Otsego County
- Rural area: 99.0% (992 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,002 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #677 nationwide
- Population density: 59.5 people / square mile (59,593 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #1,842 nationwide
#10. Schuyler County
- Rural area: 99.2% (326 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 328 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #2,744 nationwide
- Population density: 54.4 people / square mile (17,845 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #1,765 nationwide
#9. St. Lawrence County
- Rural area: 99.3% (2,661 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (19 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,680 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #194 nationwide
- Population density: 40.4 people / square mile (108,352 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #1,480 nationwide
#8. Franklin County
- Rural area: 99.4% (1,619 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,629 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #372 nationwide
- Population density: 30.9 people / square mile (50,389 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #1,236 nationwide
#7. Allegany County
- Rural area: 99.5% (1,024 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,029 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #642 nationwide
- Population density: 45.0 people / square mile (46,304 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #1,579 nationwide
#6. Schoharie County
- Rural area: 99.5% (619 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 622 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,554 nationwide
- Population density: 50.2 people / square mile (31,189 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #1,696 nationwide
#5. Chenango County
- Rural area: 99.6% (890 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 894 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #878 nationwide
- Population density: 53.2 people / square mile (47,527 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #1,744 nationwide
#4. Delaware County
- Rural area: 99.6% (1,437 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,442 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #416 nationwide
- Population density: 31.0 people / square mile (44,676 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #1,237 nationwide
#3. Essex County
- Rural area: 99.7% (1,788 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,794 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #331 nationwide
- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (37,281 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #918 nationwide
#2. Lewis County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,273 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,275 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #473 nationwide
- Population density: 20.8 people / square mile (26,456 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #916 nationwide
#1. Hamilton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,717 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,717 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #347 nationwide
- Population density: 2.6 people / square mile (4,454 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #204 nationwide