Most rural counties in Pennsylvania

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July 25, 2022
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Most rural counties in Pennsylvania

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

- Rural area: 84.5% (306 square miles)
- Urban area: 15.5% (56 square miles)
- Total land area: 362 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,647 nationwide

- Population density: 388.1 people / square mile (140,410 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #2,812 nationwide

#49. Luzerne County

- Rural area: 85.8% (764 square miles)
- Urban area: 14.2% (127 square miles)
- Total land area: 890 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #890 nationwide

- Population density: 356.7 people / square mile (317,547 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #2,784 nationwide

#48. Erie County

- Rural area: 87.9% (703 square miles)
- Urban area: 12.1% (97 square miles)
- Total land area: 799 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #1,068 nationwide

- Population density: 340.4 people / square mile (272,046 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #2,772 nationwide

#47. Washington County

- Rural area: 88.2% (756 square miles)
- Urban area: 11.8% (101 square miles)
- Total land area: 857 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #971 nationwide

- Population density: 241.6 people / square mile (207,081 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #2,662 nationwide

#46. Butler County

- Rural area: 89.2% (703 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.8% (85 square miles)
- Total land area: 789 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #1,092 nationwide

- Population density: 238.1 people / square mile (187,798 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #2,655 nationwide

#45. Blair County

- Rural area: 90.4% (475 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.6% (51 square miles)
- Total land area: 526 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #1,990 nationwide

- Population density: 233.0 people / square mile (122,495 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #2,644 nationwide

#44. Lawrence County

- Rural area: 90.6% (324 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.5% (34 square miles)
- Total land area: 358 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,660 nationwide

- Population density: 240.5 people / square mile (86,148 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #2,660 nationwide

#43. Cambria County

- Rural area: 90.8% (625 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.2% (63 square miles)
- Total land area: 688 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #1,362 nationwide

- Population density: 191.2 people / square mile (131,611 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #2,581 nationwide

#42. Franklin County

- Rural area: 91.6% (707 square miles)
- Urban area: 8.4% (65 square miles)
- Total land area: 772 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #1,124 nationwide

- Population density: 200.7 people / square mile (154,954 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #2,597 nationwide

#41. Schuylkill County

- Rural area: 93.3% (726 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.7% (53 square miles)
- Total land area: 779 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #1,109 nationwide

- Population density: 182.3 people / square mile (141,935 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #2,562 nationwide

#40. Fayette County

- Rural area: 93.3% (738 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.7% (53 square miles)
- Total land area: 790 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #1,090 nationwide

- Population density: 164.9 people / square mile (130,329 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #2,524 nationwide

#39. Adams County

- Rural area: 93.9% (487 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.1% (32 square miles)
- Total land area: 519 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #2,011 nationwide

- Population density: 197.9 people / square mile (102,627 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #2,592 nationwide

#38. Mercer County

- Rural area: 94.0% (632 square miles)
- Urban area: 6.0% (41 square miles)
- Total land area: 673 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #1,399 nationwide

- Population density: 164.3 people / square mile (110,519 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #2,522 nationwide

#37. Carbon County

- Rural area: 94.4% (360 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.6% (21 square miles)
- Total land area: 381 square miles
--- #58 largest county in state, #2,595 nationwide

- Population density: 167.7 people / square mile (63,964 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #2,533 nationwide

#36. Northumberland County

- Rural area: 94.6% (434 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.4% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 458 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #2,235 nationwide

- Population density: 199.0 people / square mile (91,234 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #2,595 nationwide

#35. Columbia County

- Rural area: 94.8% (458 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.2% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 483 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #2,144 nationwide

- Population density: 135.4 people / square mile (65,390 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #2,418 nationwide

#34. Union County

- Rural area: 94.8% (300 square miles)
- Urban area: 5.2% (16 square miles)
- Total land area: 316 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #2,770 nationwide

- Population density: 141.9 people / square mile (44,831 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #2,447 nationwide

#33. Mifflin County

- Rural area: 96.2% (396 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.8% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 411 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #2,460 nationwide

- Population density: 112.3 people / square mile (46,179 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #2,337 nationwide

#32. Centre County

- Rural area: 96.4% (1,070 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.6% (40 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,110 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #569 nationwide

- Population density: 146.2 people / square mile (162,264 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #2,466 nationwide

#31. Snyder County

- Rural area: 96.6% (317 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.4% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 329 square miles
--- #63 largest county in state, #2,741 nationwide

- Population density: 123.1 people / square mile (40,452 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #2,377 nationwide

#30. Pike County

- Rural area: 96.6% (527 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.4% (18 square miles)
- Total land area: 545 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #1,913 nationwide

- Population density: 102.1 people / square mile (55,660 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #2,270 nationwide

#29. Montour County

- Rural area: 96.7% (126 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.3% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 130 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #3,071 nationwide

- Population density: 139.6 people / square mile (18,178 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #2,437 nationwide

#28. Lycoming County

- Rural area: 96.9% (1,190 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.2% (39 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,229 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #499 nationwide

- Population density: 92.8 people / square mile (114,014 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #2,199 nationwide

#27. Venango County

- Rural area: 97.7% (659 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.3% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 674 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #1,395 nationwide

- Population density: 76.2 people / square mile (51,355 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #2,052 nationwide

#26. Crawford County

- Rural area: 97.8% (990 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.2% (22 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,012 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #665 nationwide

- Population density: 84.0 people / square mile (85,074 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #2,131 nationwide

#25. Indiana County

- Rural area: 97.9% (810 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.1% (17 square miles)
- Total land area: 827 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #1,020 nationwide

- Population density: 102.1 people / square mile (84,463 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #2,269 nationwide

#24. Clearfield County

- Rural area: 98.0% (1,122 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.0% (23 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,145 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #541 nationwide

- Population density: 69.4 people / square mile (79,466 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,971 nationwide

#23. Jefferson County

- Rural area: 98.2% (641 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (12 square miles)
- Total land area: 652 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #1,444 nationwide

- Population density: 66.8 people / square mile (43,570 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,935 nationwide

#22. Armstrong County

- Rural area: 98.3% (642 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 653 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #1,442 nationwide

- Population density: 100.1 people / square mile (65,356 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #2,253 nationwide

#21. Clinton County

- Rural area: 98.3% (873 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 888 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #897 nationwide

- Population density: 43.4 people / square mile (38,549 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #1,546 nationwide

#20. Somerset County

- Rural area: 98.6% (1,059 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.4% (15 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,074 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #597 nationwide

- Population density: 68.7 people / square mile (73,844 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,959 nationwide

#19. Warren County

- Rural area: 98.7% (873 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 884 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #903 nationwide

- Population density: 44.6 people / square mile (39,466 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #1,568 nationwide

#18. Greene County

- Rural area: 98.8% (569 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 576 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,720 nationwide

- Population density: 63.3 people / square mile (36,484 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #1,890 nationwide

#17. Elk County

- Rural area: 98.8% (817 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.2% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 827 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #1,018 nationwide

- Population density: 36.4 people / square mile (30,077 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #1,379 nationwide

#16. Clarion County

- Rural area: 98.9% (594 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 601 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,624 nationwide

- Population density: 64.3 people / square mile (38,633 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,905 nationwide

#15. Juniata County

- Rural area: 98.9% (387 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 391 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #2,569 nationwide

- Population density: 63.0 people / square mile (24,657 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #1,886 nationwide

#14. Wyoming County

- Rural area: 98.9% (393 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 397 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #2,539 nationwide

- Population density: 68.2 people / square mile (27,078 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,949 nationwide

#13. Bradford County

- Rural area: 99.2% (1,138 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (10 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,147 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #538 nationwide

- Population density: 52.9 people / square mile (60,721 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #1,737 nationwide

#12. McKean County

- Rural area: 99.3% (973 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 979 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #705 nationwide

- Population density: 41.9 people / square mile (41,021 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #1,516 nationwide

#11. Huntingdon County

- Rural area: 99.4% (869 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 875 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #928 nationwide

- Population density: 51.6 people / square mile (45,145 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #1,719 nationwide

#10. Wayne County

- Rural area: 99.4% (721 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 726 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #1,224 nationwide

- Population density: 70.7 people / square mile (51,268 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,985 nationwide

#9. Bedford County

- Rural area: 99.5% (1,007 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,012 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #666 nationwide

- Population density: 47.6 people / square mile (48,154 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #1,639 nationwide

#8. Perry County

- Rural area: 99.5% (549 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 551 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #1,895 nationwide

- Population density: 83.7 people / square mile (46,133 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #2,130 nationwide

#7. Susquehanna County

- Rural area: 99.6% (820 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 823 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #1,026 nationwide

- Population density: 49.3 people / square mile (40,604 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #1,680 nationwide

#6. Cameron County

- Rural area: 99.7% (395 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 396 square miles
--- #56 largest county in state, #2,543 nationwide

- Population density: 11.4 people / square mile (4,512 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #618 nationwide

#5. Tioga County

- Rural area: 99.8% (1,132 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,134 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #553 nationwide

- Population density: 35.9 people / square mile (40,759 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #1,366 nationwide

#4. Fulton County

- Rural area: 100.0% (438 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 438 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #2,312 nationwide

- Population density: 33.1 people / square mile (14,492 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #1,297 nationwide

#3. Forest County

- Rural area: 100.0% (427 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 427 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #2,377 nationwide

- Population density: 16.8 people / square mile (7,190 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #794 nationwide

#2. Potter County

- Rural area: 100.0% (1,081 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,081 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #589 nationwide

- Population density: 15.4 people / square mile (16,685 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #752 nationwide

#1. Sullivan County

- Rural area: 100.0% (450 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 450 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #2,271 nationwide

- Population density: 13.4 people / square mile (6,038 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #688 nationwide

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