Most rural counties in Virginia
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in Virginia 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. Page County
- Rural area: 98.8% (307 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 311 square miles
--- #67 largest county in state, #2,783 nationwide
- Population density: 76.8 people / square mile (23,862 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #2,058 nationwide
#49. Clarke County
- Rural area: 98.9% (174 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 176 square miles
--- #91 largest county in state, #3,033 nationwide
- Population density: 82.3 people / square mile (14,498 residents)
--- #58 lowest density county in state, #2,114 nationwide
#48. Franklin County
- Rural area: 98.9% (683 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 690 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #1,357 nationwide
- Population density: 81.4 people / square mile (56,231 residents)
--- #56 lowest density county in state, #2,108 nationwide
#47. Essex County
- Rural area: 98.9% (254 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.1% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 257 square miles
--- #78 largest county in state, #2,892 nationwide
- Population density: 42.6 people / square mile (10,960 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,530 nationwide
#46. Mecklenburg County
- Rural area: 99.0% (619 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 625 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #1,541 nationwide
- Population density: 49.1 people / square mile (30,726 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,678 nationwide
#45. Caroline County
- Rural area: 99.1% (523 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 528 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #1,984 nationwide
- Population density: 58.0 people / square mile (30,581 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #1,817 nationwide
#44. Scott County
- Rural area: 99.1% (531 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 536 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #1,950 nationwide
- Population density: 40.6 people / square mile (21,761 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,486 nationwide
#43. Halifax County
- Rural area: 99.2% (811 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 818 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #1,033 nationwide
- Population density: 41.9 people / square mile (34,295 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,517 nationwide
#42. Westmoreland County
- Rural area: 99.2% (228 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 229 square miles
--- #82 largest county in state, #2,954 nationwide
- Population density: 77.9 people / square mile (17,873 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #2,071 nationwide
#41. King William County
- Rural area: 99.3% (272 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 274 square miles
--- #73 largest county in state, #2,857 nationwide
- Population density: 62.0 people / square mile (16,985 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #1,867 nationwide
#40. Russell County
- Rural area: 99.4% (471 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 474 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #2,176 nationwide
- Population density: 56.9 people / square mile (26,937 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #1,801 nationwide
#39. Rockbridge County
- Rural area: 99.4% (594 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 598 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #1,637 nationwide
- Population density: 38.0 people / square mile (22,728 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,425 nationwide
#38. Greensville County
- Rural area: 99.5% (294 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 295 square miles
--- #69 largest county in state, #2,817 nationwide
- Population density: 38.6 people / square mile (11,403 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,441 nationwide
#37. Brunswick County
- Rural area: 99.5% (563 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 566 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #1,810 nationwide
- Population density: 28.9 people / square mile (16,336 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #1,181 nationwide
#36. Goochland County
- Rural area: 99.7% (281 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 281 square miles
--- #71 largest county in state, #2,843 nationwide
- Population density: 83.4 people / square mile (23,472 residents)
--- #59 lowest density county in state, #2,126 nationwide
#35. Carroll County
- Rural area: 99.8% (474 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 475 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #2,170 nationwide
- Population density: 63.0 people / square mile (29,911 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #1,887 nationwide
#34. Southampton County
- Rural area: 99.9% (599 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 599 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #1,629 nationwide
- Population density: 29.8 people / square mile (17,829 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #1,205 nationwide
#33. Cumberland County
- Rural area: 99.9% (297 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 297 square miles
--- #68 largest county in state, #2,811 nationwide
- Population density: 33.2 people / square mile (9,869 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #1,300 nationwide
#32. Powhatan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (260 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 260 square miles
--- #77 largest county in state, #2,885 nationwide
- Population density: 112.4 people / square mile (29,253 residents)
--- #72 lowest density county in state, #2,338 nationwide
#31. Lee County
- Rural area: 100.0% (435 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 436 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #2,326 nationwide
- Population density: 54.5 people / square mile (23,723 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,769 nationwide
#30. Grayson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (442 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 442 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #2,299 nationwide
- Population density: 35.4 people / square mile (15,651 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,348 nationwide
#29. New Kent County
- Rural area: 100.0% (210 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 210 square miles
--- #86 largest county in state, #2,983 nationwide
- Population density: 106.4 people / square mile (22,310 residents)
--- #67 lowest density county in state, #2,299 nationwide
#28. Mathews County
- Rural area: 100.0% (86 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 86 square miles
--- #97 largest county in state, #3,091 nationwide
- Population density: 101.9 people / square mile (8,760 residents)
--- #65 lowest density county in state, #2,266 nationwide
#27. Middlesex County
- Rural area: 100.0% (130 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 130 square miles
--- #95 largest county in state, #3,070 nationwide
- Population density: 81.7 people / square mile (10,642 residents)
--- #57 lowest density county in state, #2,110 nationwide
#26. Lancaster County
- Rural area: 100.0% (133 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 133 square miles
--- #94 largest county in state, #3,069 nationwide
- Population density: 80.2 people / square mile (10,686 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #2,096 nationwide
#25. Louisa County
- Rural area: 100.0% (496 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 496 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #2,098 nationwide
- Population density: 73.9 people / square mile (36,654 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #2,024 nationwide
#24. Accomack County
- Rural area: 100.0% (449 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 449 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #2,273 nationwide
- Population density: 72.4 people / square mile (32,560 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #2,005 nationwide
#23. Northumberland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (191 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 191 square miles
--- #88 largest county in state, #3,011 nationwide
- Population density: 63.5 people / square mile (12,151 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #1,894 nationwide
#22. Northampton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (212 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 212 square miles
--- #85 largest county in state, #2,980 nationwide
- Population density: 55.9 people / square mile (11,826 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #1,789 nationwide
#21. Appomattox County
- Rural area: 100.0% (333 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 333 square miles
--- #59 largest county in state, #2,731 nationwide
- Population density: 47.4 people / square mile (15,814 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,636 nationwide
#20. Richmond County
- Rural area: 100.0% (191 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 191 square miles
--- #87 largest county in state, #3,010 nationwide
- Population density: 46.7 people / square mile (8,951 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,624 nationwide
#19. Dickenson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (331 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 331 square miles
--- #60 largest county in state, #2,736 nationwide
- Population density: 43.9 people / square mile (14,524 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,554 nationwide
#18. Buchanan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (503 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 503 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #2,068 nationwide
- Population density: 42.5 people / square mile (21,374 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,527 nationwide
#17. Floyd County
- Rural area: 100.0% (380 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 380 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #2,600 nationwide
- Population density: 41.4 people / square mile (15,766 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,507 nationwide
#16. Madison County
- Rural area: 100.0% (321 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 321 square miles
--- #62 largest county in state, #2,758 nationwide
- Population density: 41.2 people / square mile (13,208 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,502 nationwide
#15. Charles City County
- Rural area: 100.0% (183 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 183 square miles
--- #89 largest county in state, #3,027 nationwide
- Population density: 38.1 people / square mile (6,965 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,427 nationwide
#14. Patrick County
- Rural area: 100.0% (483 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 483 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #2,145 nationwide
- Population density: 36.6 people / square mile (17,660 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,385 nationwide
#13. Amelia County
- Rural area: 100.0% (355 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 355 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #2,672 nationwide
- Population density: 36.5 people / square mile (12,970 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,384 nationwide
#12. Nelson County
- Rural area: 100.0% (471 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 471 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #2,189 nationwide
- Population density: 31.5 people / square mile (14,812 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #1,256 nationwide
#11. Buckingham County
- Rural area: 100.0% (580 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 580 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #1,702 nationwide
- Population density: 29.5 people / square mile (17,087 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #1,196 nationwide
#10. Lunenburg County
- Rural area: 100.0% (432 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 432 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #2,352 nationwide
- Population density: 28.5 people / square mile (12,294 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #1,169 nationwide
#9. Rappahannock County
- Rural area: 100.0% (266 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 266 square miles
--- #75 largest county in state, #2,870 nationwide
- Population density: 27.6 people / square mile (7,360 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #1,141 nationwide
#8. Charlotte County
- Rural area: 100.0% (475 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 475 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #2,169 nationwide
- Population density: 25.1 people / square mile (11,953 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #1,075 nationwide
#7. Surry County
- Rural area: 100.0% (279 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 279 square miles
--- #72 largest county in state, #2,851 nationwide
- Population density: 23.2 people / square mile (6,459 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #1,012 nationwide
#6. Sussex County
- Rural area: 100.0% (490 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 490 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #2,124 nationwide
- Population density: 22.9 people / square mile (11,202 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #996 nationwide
#5. King and Queen County
- Rural area: 100.0% (315 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 315 square miles
--- #65 largest county in state, #2,773 nationwide
- Population density: 22.2 people / square mile (7,011 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #970 nationwide
#4. Bland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (358 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 358 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #2,662 nationwide
- Population density: 17.7 people / square mile (6,334 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #819 nationwide
#3. Craig County
- Rural area: 100.0% (330 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 330 square miles
--- #61 largest county in state, #2,737 nationwide
- Population density: 15.5 people / square mile (5,103 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #754 nationwide
#2. Bath County
- Rural area: 100.0% (529 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 529 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #1,979 nationwide
- Population density: 8.0 people / square mile (4,248 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #498 nationwide
#1. Highland County
- Rural area: 100.0% (415 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 415 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #2,434 nationwide
- Population density: 5.3 people / square mile (2,202 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #383 nationwide