Most rural counties in South Dakota
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in South Dakota 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. Walworth County
- Rural area: 99.8% (707 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 709 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #1,299 nationwide
- Population density: 7.7 people / square mile (5,431 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #480 nationwide
#49. Stanley County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,443 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,444 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #415 nationwide
- Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (3,058 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #163 nationwide
#48. Butte County
- Rural area: 99.9% (2,247 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,250 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #247 nationwide
- Population density: 4.6 people / square mile (10,295 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #353 nationwide
#47. Fall River County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,738 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,740 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #341 nationwide
- Population density: 3.9 people / square mile (6,721 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #297 nationwide
#46. Tripp County
- Rural area: 99.9% (1,611 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,612 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #377 nationwide
- Population density: 3.4 people / square mile (5,448 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #265 nationwide
#45. Oglala Lakota County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,093 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,094 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #269 nationwide
- Population density: 6.8 people / square mile (14,277 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #444 nationwide
#44. Ziebach County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,961 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,961 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #292 nationwide
- Population density: 1.4 people / square mile (2,767 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #102 nationwide
#43. Dewey County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,302 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,302 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #242 nationwide
- Population density: 2.5 people / square mile (5,841 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #198 nationwide
#42. Turner County
- Rural area: 100.0% (617 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 617 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #1,570 nationwide
- Population density: 13.5 people / square mile (8,325 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #692 nationwide
#41. Moody County
- Rural area: 100.0% (519 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 519 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,008 nationwide
- Population density: 12.5 people / square mile (6,508 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #657 nationwide
#40. Bon Homme County
- Rural area: 100.0% (564 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 564 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #1,830 nationwide
- Population density: 12.3 people / square mile (6,914 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #644 nationwide
#39. Hamlin County
- Rural area: 100.0% (507 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 507 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,046 nationwide
- Population density: 12.0 people / square mile (6,104 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #638 nationwide
#38. McCook County
- Rural area: 100.0% (574 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 574 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #1,736 nationwide
- Population density: 9.7 people / square mile (5,543 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #564 nationwide
#37. Roberts County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,101 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,101 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #576 nationwide
- Population density: 9.4 people / square mile (10,310 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #552 nationwide
#36. Hutchinson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (813 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 813 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #1,040 nationwide
- Population density: 9.0 people / square mile (7,308 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #534 nationwide
#35. Charles Mix County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,097 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,097 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #583 nationwide
- Population density: 8.5 people / square mile (9,324 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #517 nationwide
#34. Hanson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (435 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 435 square miles
--- #64 largest county in state, #2,336 nationwide
- Population density: 7.9 people / square mile (3,423 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #485 nationwide
#33. Todd County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,389 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,389 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #439 nationwide
- Population density: 7.4 people / square mile (10,308 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #469 nationwide
#32. Deuel County
- Rural area: 100.0% (623 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 623 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #1,550 nationwide
- Population density: 6.9 people / square mile (4,309 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #450 nationwide
#31. Douglas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 432 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,349 nationwide
- Population density: 6.7 people / square mile (2,913 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #442 nationwide
#30. Brule County
- Rural area: 100.0% (817 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 817 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #1,035 nationwide
- Population density: 6.4 people / square mile (5,233 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #430 nationwide
#29. Kingsbury County
- Rural area: 100.0% (832 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 832 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #1,010 nationwide
- Population density: 5.9 people / square mile (4,936 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #408 nationwide
#28. Marshall County
- Rural area: 100.0% (838 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 838 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #997 nationwide
- Population density: 5.8 people / square mile (4,881 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #400 nationwide
#27. Custer County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,557 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,557 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #388 nationwide
- Population density: 5.7 people / square mile (8,826 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #395 nationwide
#26. Day County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,028 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,028 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #644 nationwide
- Population density: 5.3 people / square mile (5,452 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #384 nationwide
#25. Spink County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,504 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,504 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #396 nationwide
- Population density: 4.3 people / square mile (6,438 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #336 nationwide
#24. Buffalo County
- Rural area: 100.0% (471 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 471 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,188 nationwide
- Population density: 4.3 people / square mile (2,005 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #331 nationwide
#23. Sanborn County
- Rural area: 100.0% (569 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 569 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #1,788 nationwide
- Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (2,372 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #323 nationwide
#22. Gregory County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,015 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,015 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #659 nationwide
- Population density: 4.1 people / square mile (4,193 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #319 nationwide
#21. Aurora County
- Rural area: 100.0% (708 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 708 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #1,300 nationwide
- Population density: 3.9 people / square mile (2,757 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #302 nationwide
#20. Miner County
- Rural area: 100.0% (570 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 570 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #1,777 nationwide
- Population density: 3.9 people / square mile (2,213 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #299 nationwide
#19. Clark County
- Rural area: 100.0% (958 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 958 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #733 nationwide
- Population density: 3.9 people / square mile (3,715 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #298 nationwide
#18. Jerauld County
- Rural area: 100.0% (526 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 526 square miles
--- #57 largest county in state, #1,989 nationwide
- Population density: 3.8 people / square mile (2,009 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #294 nationwide
#17. Edmunds County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,126 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,126 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #557 nationwide
- Population density: 3.4 people / square mile (3,876 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #269 nationwide
#16. Bennett County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,185 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,185 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #516 nationwide
- Population density: 2.9 people / square mile (3,430 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #228 nationwide
#15. Potter County
- Rural area: 100.0% (861 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 861 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #964 nationwide
- Population density: 2.7 people / square mile (2,311 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #214 nationwide
#14. Faulk County
- Rural area: 100.0% (982 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 982 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #703 nationwide
- Population density: 2.4 people / square mile (2,315 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #187 nationwide
#13. Lyman County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,642 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,642 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #367 nationwide
- Population density: 2.3 people / square mile (3,831 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #184 nationwide
#12. Hand County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,437 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,437 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #417 nationwide
- Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (3,064 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #166 nationwide
#11. McPherson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,137 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,137 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #547 nationwide
- Population density: 2.0 people / square mile (2,316 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #157 nationwide
#10. Campbell County
- Rural area: 100.0% (734 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 734 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #1,207 nationwide
- Population density: 2.0 people / square mile (1,458 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #154 nationwide
#9. Jackson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,864 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,864 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #311 nationwide
- Population density: 1.8 people / square mile (3,296 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #136 nationwide
#8. Hyde County
- Rural area: 100.0% (861 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 861 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #965 nationwide
- Population density: 1.7 people / square mile (1,446 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #126 nationwide
#7. Corson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,470 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,470 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #220 nationwide
- Population density: 1.7 people / square mile (4,106 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #124 nationwide
#6. Mellette County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,307 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,307 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #458 nationwide
- Population density: 1.6 people / square mile (2,065 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #118 nationwide
#5. Sully County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,007 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,007 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #672 nationwide
- Population density: 1.3 people / square mile (1,278 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #94 nationwide
#4. Haakon County
- Rural area: 100.0% (1,811 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,811 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #325 nationwide
- Population density: 1.1 people / square mile (1,935 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #75 nationwide
#3. Perkins County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,870 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,870 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #181 nationwide
- Population density: 1.0 people / square mile (2,996 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #73 nationwide
#2. Jones County
- Rural area: 100.0% (970 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 970 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #721 nationwide
- Population density: 0.9 people / square mile (873 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #59 nationwide
#1. Harding County
- Rural area: 100.0% (2,671 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 2,671 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #196 nationwide
- Population density: 0.4 people / square mile (1,178 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #22 nationwide
