Most rural counties in Oregon

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July 25, 2022
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Most rural counties in Oregon

A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Oregon 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.

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#36. Multnomah County

- Rural area: 61.9% (267 square miles)
- Urban area: 38.1% (164 square miles)
- Total land area: 431 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #2,354 nationwide

- Population density: 1,877.8 people / square mile (809,869 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #3,070 nationwide

#35. Washington County

- Rural area: 82.6% (598 square miles)
- Urban area: 17.4% (126 square miles)
- Total land area: 724 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,228 nationwide

- Population density: 822.6 people / square mile (595,761 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #2,969 nationwide

#34. Marion County

- Rural area: 92.3% (1,092 square miles)
- Urban area: 7.7% (91 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,182 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #518 nationwide

- Population density: 290.7 people / square mile (343,742 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #2,721 nationwide

#33. Clackamas County

- Rural area: 93.2% (1,743 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.8% (128 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,870 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #307 nationwide

- Population density: 221.9 people / square mile (415,084 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #2,625 nationwide

#32. Yamhill County

- Rural area: 95.6% (684 square miles)
- Urban area: 4.4% (31 square miles)
- Total land area: 716 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,267 nationwide

- Population density: 148.2 people / square mile (106,087 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #2,470 nationwide

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#31. Benton County

- Rural area: 96.2% (650 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.8% (26 square miles)
- Total land area: 676 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,389 nationwide

- Population density: 136.4 people / square mile (92,168 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #2,423 nationwide

#30. Jackson County

- Rural area: 97.5% (2,713 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.6% (71 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,784 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #186 nationwide

- Population density: 78.6 people / square mile (218,781 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #2,081 nationwide

#29. Polk County

- Rural area: 97.5% (722 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.5% (19 square miles)
- Total land area: 741 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,192 nationwide

- Population density: 114.4 people / square mile (84,730 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #2,345 nationwide

#28. Lane County

- Rural area: 97.6% (4,442 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.4% (111 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,553 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #96 nationwide

- Population density: 83.0 people / square mile (377,749 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #2,122 nationwide

#27. Columbia County

- Rural area: 97.7% (642 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.3% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 657 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,429 nationwide

- Population density: 79.3 people / square mile (52,117 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #2,092 nationwide

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#26. Lincoln County

- Rural area: 98.0% (960 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.1% (20 square miles)
- Total land area: 980 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #704 nationwide

- Population density: 50.4 people / square mile (49,336 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,701 nationwide

#25. Deschutes County

- Rural area: 98.1% (2,961 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.9% (57 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,018 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #172 nationwide

- Population density: 63.5 people / square mile (191,749 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,895 nationwide

#24. Clatsop County

- Rural area: 98.3% (815 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (14 square miles)
- Total land area: 829 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #1,016 nationwide

- Population density: 47.8 people / square mile (39,656 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,648 nationwide

#23. Linn County

- Rural area: 98.4% (2,254 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.6% (36 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,290 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #244 nationwide

- Population density: 55.5 people / square mile (127,216 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,784 nationwide

#22. Josephine County

- Rural area: 98.6% (1,616 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (23 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,640 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #368 nationwide

- Population density: 53.1 people / square mile (87,097 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,742 nationwide

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#21. Coos County

- Rural area: 98.6% (1,574 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (22 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,596 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #378 nationwide

- Population density: 40.2 people / square mile (64,175 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,474 nationwide

#20. Hood River County

- Rural area: 98.6% (515 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 522 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #2,000 nationwide

- Population density: 44.6 people / square mile (23,270 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,566 nationwide

#19. Umatilla County

- Rural area: 99.1% (3,185 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (30 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,216 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #161 nationwide

- Population density: 24.0 people / square mile (77,319 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,041 nationwide

#18. Douglas County

- Rural area: 99.4% (5,006 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (30 square miles)
- Total land area: 5,036 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #76 nationwide

- Population density: 21.8 people / square mile (110,015 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #958 nationwide

#17. Curry County

- Rural area: 99.4% (1,618 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,627 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #373 nationwide

- Population density: 14.1 people / square mile (22,889 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #712 nationwide

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#16. Tillamook County

- Rural area: 99.6% (1,098 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,103 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #574 nationwide

- Population density: 24.3 people / square mile (26,782 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,046 nationwide

#15. Wasco County

- Rural area: 99.6% (2,372 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,382 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #232 nationwide

- Population density: 11.0 people / square mile (26,274 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #607 nationwide

#14. Klamath County

- Rural area: 99.6% (5,919 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (22 square miles)
- Total land area: 5,941 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #62 nationwide

- Population density: 11.4 people / square mile (67,606 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #617 nationwide

#13. Jefferson County

- Rural area: 99.7% (1,775 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,781 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #333 nationwide

- Population density: 13.5 people / square mile (24,048 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #693 nationwide

#12. Union County

- Rural area: 99.7% (2,031 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,037 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #279 nationwide

- Population density: 13.0 people / square mile (26,502 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #675 nationwide

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#11. Morrow County

- Rural area: 99.8% (2,027 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,032 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #280 nationwide

- Population density: 5.6 people / square mile (11,425 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #393 nationwide

#10. Crook County

- Rural area: 99.8% (2,973 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,979 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #174 nationwide

- Population density: 8.0 people / square mile (23,733 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #488 nationwide

#9. Baker County

- Rural area: 99.8% (3,063 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,068 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #169 nationwide

- Population density: 5.2 people / square mile (16,090 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #378 nationwide

#8. Malheur County

- Rural area: 99.9% (9,879 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 9,888 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #25 nationwide

- Population density: 3.1 people / square mile (30,632 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #245 nationwide

#7. Lake County

- Rural area: 100.0% (8,138 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 8,139 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #33 nationwide

- Population density: 1.0 people / square mile (7,896 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #63 nationwide

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#6. Harney County

- Rural area: 100.0% (10,131 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 10,133 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #23 nationwide

- Population density: 0.7 people / square mile (7,310 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #43 nationwide

#5. Wallowa County

- Rural area: 100.0% (3,146 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 3,146 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #164 nationwide

- Population density: 2.2 people / square mile (7,065 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #177 nationwide

#4. Sherman County

- Rural area: 100.0% (824 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 824 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #1,025 nationwide

- Population density: 2.0 people / square mile (1,686 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #159 nationwide

#3. Grant County

- Rural area: 100.0% (4,529 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 4,529 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #99 nationwide

- Population density: 1.6 people / square mile (7,174 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #119 nationwide

#2. Gilliam County

- Rural area: 100.0% (1,205 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,205 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #509 nationwide

- Population density: 1.6 people / square mile (1,896 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #117 nationwide

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#1. Wheeler County

- Rural area: 100.0% (1,715 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,715 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #348 nationwide

- Population density: 0.8 people / square mile (1,417 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #51 nationwide

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