Most rural counties in West Virginia
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. compiled a list of the most rural counties in West 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.
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#55. Berkeley County
- Rural area: 78.5% (252 square miles)
- Urban area: 21.5% (69 square miles)
- Total land area: 321 square miles
--- #41 largest county in state, #2,757 nationwide
- Population density: 366.2 people / square mile (117,615 residents)
--- #54 lowest density county in state, #2,788 nationwide
#54. Ohio County
- Rural area: 78.9% (84 square miles)
- Urban area: 21.1% (22 square miles)
- Total land area: 106 square miles
--- #53 largest county in state, #3,082 nationwide
- Population density: 395.7 people / square mile (41,875 residents)
--- #55 lowest density county in state, #2,821 nationwide
#53. Hancock County
- Rural area: 80.7% (67 square miles)
- Urban area: 19.3% (16 square miles)
- Total land area: 83 square miles
--- #55 largest county in state, #3,092 nationwide
- Population density: 352.5 people / square mile (29,118 residents)
--- #53 lowest density county in state, #2,777 nationwide
#52. Cabell County
- Rural area: 86.2% (242 square miles)
- Urban area: 13.8% (39 square miles)
- Total land area: 281 square miles
--- #45 largest county in state, #2,844 nationwide
- Population density: 332.1 people / square mile (93,328 residents)
--- #52 lowest density county in state, #2,761 nationwide
#51. Brooke County
- Rural area: 88.1% (79 square miles)
- Urban area: 11.9% (11 square miles)
- Total land area: 89 square miles
--- #54 largest county in state, #3,089 nationwide
- Population density: 248.4 people / square mile (22,162 residents)
--- #49 lowest density county in state, #2,671 nationwide
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#50. Wood County
- Rural area: 88.2% (323 square miles)
- Urban area: 11.8% (43 square miles)
- Total land area: 366 square miles
--- #31 largest county in state, #2,640 nationwide
- Population density: 230.4 people / square mile (84,387 residents)
--- #48 lowest density county in state, #2,639 nationwide
#49. Jefferson County
- Rural area: 88.9% (186 square miles)
- Urban area: 11.1% (23 square miles)
- Total land area: 210 square miles
--- #50 largest county in state, #2,984 nationwide
- Population density: 271.5 people / square mile (56,922 residents)
--- #50 lowest density county in state, #2,697 nationwide
#48. Monongalia County
- Rural area: 89.6% (323 square miles)
- Urban area: 10.4% (37 square miles)
- Total land area: 360 square miles
--- #33 largest county in state, #2,653 nationwide
- Population density: 294.9 people / square mile (106,196 residents)
--- #51 lowest density county in state, #2,728 nationwide
#47. Kanawha County
- Rural area: 90.3% (814 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.7% (88 square miles)
- Total land area: 902 square miles
--- #4 largest county in state, #845 nationwide
- Population density: 200.8 people / square mile (181,014 residents)
--- #47 lowest density county in state, #2,598 nationwide
#46. Harrison County
- Rural area: 90.8% (378 square miles)
- Urban area: 9.2% (38 square miles)
- Total land area: 416 square miles
--- #29 largest county in state, #2,430 nationwide
- Population density: 162.5 people / square mile (67,620 residents)
--- #44 lowest density county in state, #2,515 nationwide
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#45. Marion County
- Rural area: 91.6% (283 square miles)
- Urban area: 8.4% (26 square miles)
- Total land area: 309 square miles
--- #43 largest county in state, #2,789 nationwide
- Population density: 182.1 people / square mile (56,233 residents)
--- #46 lowest density county in state, #2,561 nationwide
#44. Raleigh County
- Rural area: 91.9% (557 square miles)
- Urban area: 8.1% (49 square miles)
- Total land area: 605 square miles
--- #10 largest county in state, #1,607 nationwide
- Population density: 123.0 people / square mile (74,452 residents)
--- #42 lowest density county in state, #2,376 nationwide
#43. Mercer County
- Rural area: 92.4% (387 square miles)
- Urban area: 7.6% (32 square miles)
- Total land area: 419 square miles
--- #27 largest county in state, #2,415 nationwide
- Population density: 141.7 people / square mile (59,370 residents)
--- #43 lowest density county in state, #2,446 nationwide
#42. Putnam County
- Rural area: 92.7% (321 square miles)
- Urban area: 7.3% (25 square miles)
- Total land area: 346 square miles
--- #36 largest county in state, #2,690 nationwide
- Population density: 163.8 people / square mile (56,604 residents)
--- #45 lowest density county in state, #2,521 nationwide
#41. Wayne County
- Rural area: 96.9% (490 square miles)
- Urban area: 3.1% (16 square miles)
- Total land area: 506 square miles
--- #15 largest county in state, #2,052 nationwide
- Population density: 79.0 people / square mile (39,952 residents)
--- #38 lowest density county in state, #2,087 nationwide
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#40. Taylor County
- Rural area: 97.3% (168 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.7% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 173 square miles
--- #51 largest county in state, #3,037 nationwide
- Population density: 97.3 people / square mile (16,817 residents)
--- #40 lowest density county in state, #2,237 nationwide
#39. Marshall County
- Rural area: 97.6% (298 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.4% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 305 square miles
--- #44 largest county in state, #2,798 nationwide
- Population density: 101.2 people / square mile (30,900 residents)
--- #41 lowest density county in state, #2,260 nationwide
#38. Fayette County
- Rural area: 97.9% (648 square miles)
- Urban area: 2.1% (14 square miles)
- Total land area: 662 square miles
--- #6 largest county in state, #1,420 nationwide
- Population density: 65.1 people / square mile (43,087 residents)
--- #34 lowest density county in state, #1,913 nationwide
#37. Logan County
- Rural area: 98.2% (446 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.8% (8 square miles)
- Total land area: 454 square miles
--- #22 largest county in state, #2,257 nationwide
- Population density: 71.8 people / square mile (32,593 residents)
--- #36 lowest density county in state, #2,000 nationwide
#36. Upshur County
- Rural area: 98.3% (348 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 355 square miles
--- #35 largest county in state, #2,673 nationwide
- Population density: 68.9 people / square mile (24,451 residents)
--- #35 lowest density county in state, #1,964 nationwide
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#35. Mineral County
- Rural area: 98.3% (322 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.7% (5 square miles)
- Total land area: 328 square miles
--- #40 largest county in state, #2,745 nationwide
- Population density: 82.5 people / square mile (27,047 residents)
--- #39 lowest density county in state, #2,116 nationwide
#34. Mason County
- Rural area: 98.5% (424 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.5% (7 square miles)
- Total land area: 431 square miles
--- #25 largest county in state, #2,358 nationwide
- Population density: 62.0 people / square mile (26,700 residents)
--- #32 lowest density county in state, #1,866 nationwide
#33. Pleasants County
- Rural area: 98.7% (128 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 130 square miles
--- #52 largest county in state, #3,072 nationwide
- Population density: 57.3 people / square mile (7,457 residents)
--- #31 lowest density county in state, #1,809 nationwide
#32. Jackson County
- Rural area: 98.8% (459 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.3% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 464 square miles
--- #21 largest county in state, #2,213 nationwide
- Population density: 62.0 people / square mile (28,793 residents)
--- #33 lowest density county in state, #1,868 nationwide
#31. Wetzel County
- Rural area: 99.0% (355 square miles)
- Urban area: 1.0% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 358 square miles
--- #34 largest county in state, #2,661 nationwide
- Population density: 42.7 people / square mile (15,291 residents)
--- #25 lowest density county in state, #1,531 nationwide
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#30. Greenbrier County
- Rural area: 99.1% (1,011 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.9% (9 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,020 square miles
--- #2 largest county in state, #652 nationwide
- Population density: 34.2 people / square mile (34,893 residents)
--- #19 lowest density county in state, #1,323 nationwide
#29. Boone County
- Rural area: 99.2% (497 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.8% (4 square miles)
- Total land area: 502 square miles
--- #16 largest county in state, #2,073 nationwide
- Population density: 43.7 people / square mile (21,897 residents)
--- #26 lowest density county in state, #1,550 nationwide
#28. Lewis County
- Rural area: 99.3% (382 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 385 square miles
--- #30 largest county in state, #2,585 nationwide
- Population density: 41.6 people / square mile (16,024 residents)
--- #23 lowest density county in state, #1,510 nationwide
#27. Randolph County
- Rural area: 99.4% (1,034 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.6% (6 square miles)
- Total land area: 1,040 square miles
--- #1 largest county in state, #633 nationwide
- Population density: 27.7 people / square mile (28,763 residents)
--- #14 lowest density county in state, #1,142 nationwide
#26. Summers County
- Rural area: 99.5% (359 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 360 square miles
--- #32 largest county in state, #2,652 nationwide
- Population density: 35.3 people / square mile (12,710 residents)
--- #20 lowest density county in state, #1,346 nationwide
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#25. Barbour County
- Rural area: 99.5% (339 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 341 square miles
--- #38 largest county in state, #2,705 nationwide
- Population density: 48.5 people / square mile (16,543 residents)
--- #28 lowest density county in state, #1,662 nationwide
#24. Gilmer County
- Rural area: 99.5% (337 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 339 square miles
--- #39 largest county in state, #2,716 nationwide
- Population density: 23.5 people / square mile (7,970 residents)
--- #6 lowest density county in state, #1,023 nationwide
#23. Nicholas County
- Rural area: 99.5% (644 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.5% (3 square miles)
- Total land area: 647 square miles
--- #8 largest county in state, #1,465 nationwide
- Population density: 38.4 people / square mile (24,857 residents)
--- #22 lowest density county in state, #1,436 nationwide
#22. Roane County
- Rural area: 99.6% (482 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 484 square miles
--- #18 largest county in state, #2,143 nationwide
- Population density: 28.6 people / square mile (13,831 residents)
--- #16 lowest density county in state, #1,172 nationwide
#21. Preston County
- Rural area: 99.6% (646 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 649 square miles
--- #7 largest county in state, #1,453 nationwide
- Population density: 51.8 people / square mile (33,610 residents)
--- #29 lowest density county in state, #1,721 nationwide
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#20. Mingo County
- Rural area: 99.7% (422 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 423 square miles
--- #26 largest county in state, #2,396 nationwide
- Population density: 56.3 people / square mile (23,808 residents)
--- #30 lowest density county in state, #1,798 nationwide
#19. Wyoming County
- Rural area: 99.7% (498 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 499 square miles
--- #17 largest county in state, #2,083 nationwide
- Population density: 41.8 people / square mile (20,890 residents)
--- #24 lowest density county in state, #1,515 nationwide
#18. Hardy County
- Rural area: 99.7% (581 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 582 square miles
--- #11 largest county in state, #1,690 nationwide
- Population density: 23.7 people / square mile (13,789 residents)
--- #7 lowest density county in state, #1,027 nationwide
#17. McDowell County
- Rural area: 99.7% (532 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (2 square miles)
- Total land area: 533 square miles
--- #13 largest county in state, #1,955 nationwide
- Population density: 33.9 people / square mile (18,083 residents)
--- #17 lowest density county in state, #1,314 nationwide
#16. Grant County
- Rural area: 99.7% (476 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 477 square miles
--- #19 largest county in state, #2,164 nationwide
- Population density: 24.2 people / square mile (11,565 residents)
--- #8 lowest density county in state, #1,044 nationwide
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#15. Monroe County
- Rural area: 99.8% (472 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)
- Total land area: 473 square miles
--- #20 largest county in state, #2,182 nationwide
- Population density: 28.2 people / square mile (13,344 residents)
--- #15 lowest density county in state, #1,162 nationwide
#14. Tyler County
- Rural area: 99.9% (256 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.1% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 256 square miles
--- #47 largest county in state, #2,895 nationwide
- Population density: 34.1 people / square mile (8,736 residents)
--- #18 lowest density county in state, #1,320 nationwide
#13. Morgan County
- Rural area: 100.0% (229 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 229 square miles
--- #49 largest county in state, #2,956 nationwide
- Population density: 77.7 people / square mile (17,800 residents)
--- #37 lowest density county in state, #2,066 nationwide
#12. Lincoln County
- Rural area: 100.0% (437 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 437 square miles
--- #24 largest county in state, #2,319 nationwide
- Population density: 47.2 people / square mile (20,617 residents)
--- #27 lowest density county in state, #1,631 nationwide
#11. Hampshire County
- Rural area: 100.0% (640 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 640 square miles
--- #9 largest county in state, #1,485 nationwide
- Population density: 36.4 people / square mile (23,304 residents)
--- #21 lowest density county in state, #1,381 nationwide
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#10. Braxton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (511 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 511 square miles
--- #14 largest county in state, #2,038 nationwide
- Population density: 27.5 people / square mile (14,032 residents)
--- #13 lowest density county in state, #1,133 nationwide
#9. Doddridge County
- Rural area: 100.0% (320 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 320 square miles
--- #42 largest county in state, #2,763 nationwide
- Population density: 26.6 people / square mile (8,499 residents)
--- #12 lowest density county in state, #1,112 nationwide
#8. Calhoun County
- Rural area: 100.0% (279 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 279 square miles
--- #46 largest county in state, #2,849 nationwide
- Population density: 25.7 people / square mile (7,185 residents)
--- #11 lowest density county in state, #1,090 nationwide
#7. Clay County
- Rural area: 100.0% (342 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 342 square miles
--- #37 largest county in state, #2,703 nationwide
- Population density: 25.2 people / square mile (8,599 residents)
--- #10 lowest density county in state, #1,076 nationwide
#6. Wirt County
- Rural area: 100.0% (233 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 233 square miles
--- #48 largest county in state, #2,945 nationwide
- Population density: 24.8 people / square mile (5,764 residents)
--- #9 lowest density county in state, #1,058 nationwide
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#5. Ritchie County
- Rural area: 100.0% (452 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 452 square miles
--- #23 largest county in state, #2,264 nationwide
- Population density: 21.6 people / square mile (9,747 residents)
--- #5 lowest density county in state, #943 nationwide
#4. Tucker County
- Rural area: 100.0% (419 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 419 square miles
--- #28 largest county in state, #2,417 nationwide
- Population density: 16.6 people / square mile (6,943 residents)
--- #4 lowest density county in state, #788 nationwide
#3. Webster County
- Rural area: 100.0% (553 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 553 square miles
--- #12 largest county in state, #1,882 nationwide
- Population density: 15.0 people / square mile (8,289 residents)
--- #3 lowest density county in state, #738 nationwide
#2. Pendleton County
- Rural area: 100.0% (696 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 696 square miles
--- #5 largest county in state, #1,337 nationwide
- Population density: 10.0 people / square mile (6,968 residents)
--- #2 lowest density county in state, #577 nationwide
#1. Pocahontas County
- Rural area: 100.0% (940 square miles)
- Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
- Total land area: 940 square miles
--- #3 largest county in state, #755 nationwide
- Population density: 8.9 people / square mile (8,382 residents)
--- #1 lowest density county in state, #533 nationwide