What are Colorados most rural counties?
DENVER (STACKER)  A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land-702, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Colorado using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 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 2019 5-year population estimates. According to the Census Bureau, rural land encompasses any land that isnt 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. You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Colorado  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #50. Eagle County   Rural area: 98.8% (1,664 square miles)   Urban area: 1.2% (21 square miles)   Total land area: 1,685 square miles   #27 largest county in state, #357 nationwide   Population density: 32.5 people / square mile (54,681 residents)   #48 lowest density county in state, #1,281 nationwide  Credit: David Shankbone // Wikimedia Commons  #49. Teller County   Rural area: 98.8% (550 square miles)   Urban area: 1.2% (7 square miles)   Total land area: 557 square miles   #56 largest county in state, #1,864 nationwide   Population density: 44.0 people / square mile (24,524 residents)   #51 lowest density county in state, #1,555 nationwide  Credit: Milan Suvajac // Wikimedia Commons  #48. Alamosa County   Rural area: 99.0% (715 square miles)   Urban area: 1.0% (7 square miles)   Total land area: 723 square miles   #53 largest county in state, #1,231 nationwide   Population density: 22.3 people / square mile (16,107 residents)   #44 lowest density county in state, #972 nationwide  Credit: Daniel Schwen // Wikimedia Commons  #47. Lake County   Rural area: 99.1% (374 square miles)   Urban area: 0.9% (3 square miles)   Total land area: 377 square miles   #61 largest county in state, #2,611 nationwide   Population density: 20.6 people / square mile (7,751 residents)   #42 lowest density county in state, #910 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #46. Chaffee County   Rural area: 99.1% (1,005 square miles)   Urban area: 0.9% (9 square miles)   Total land area: 1,013 square miles   #43 largest county in state, #661 nationwide   Population density: 19.3 people / square mile (19,557 residents)   #40 lowest density county in state, #862 nationwide  You may also like: Recipes from Colorado  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #45. Montrose County   Rural area: 99.2% (2,223 square miles)   Urban area: 0.8% (18 square miles)   Total land area: 2,241 square miles   #16 largest county in state, #248 nationwide   Population density: 18.6 people / square mile (41,686 residents)   #39 lowest density county in state, #839 nationwide  Credit: Originalgum // Wikimedia Commons  #44. Delta County   Rural area: 99.2% (1,133 square miles)   Urban area: 0.8% (9 square miles)   Total land area: 1,142 square miles   #40 largest county in state, #542 nationwide   Population density: 26.8 people / square mile (30,565 residents)   #46 lowest density county in state, #1,117 nationwide  Credit: Canva  #43. La Plata County   Rural area: 99.3% (1,681 square miles)   Urban area: 0.7% (11 square miles)   Total land area: 1,692 square miles   #26 largest county in state, #356 nationwide   Population density: 32.9 people / square mile (55,617 residents)   #49 lowest density county in state, #1,289 nationwide  Credit: GSpics // Wikimedia Commons  #42. Garfield County   Rural area: 99.4% (2,930 square miles)   Urban area: 0.6% (18 square miles)   Total land area: 2,948 square miles   #8 largest county in state, #176 nationwide   Population density: 20.0 people / square mile (59,055 residents)   #41 lowest density county in state, #896 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #41. Morgan County   Rural area: 99.4% (1,273 square miles)   Urban area: 0.6% (7 square miles)   Total land area: 1,280 square miles   #36 largest county in state, #469 nationwide   Population density: 22.3 people / square mile (28,517 residents)   #43 lowest density county in state, #971 nationwide  You may also like: Best places to retire in Colorado  Credit: Canva  #40. Pitkin County   Rural area: 99.4% (965 square miles)   Urban area: 0.6% (6 square miles)   Total land area: 971 square miles   #44 largest county in state, #718 nationwide   Population density: 18.5 people / square mile (17,926 residents)   #38 lowest density county in state, #834 nationwide  Credit: Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons  #39. Otero County   Rural area: 99.6% (1,256 square miles)   Urban area: 0.4% (6 square miles)   Total land area: 1,262 square miles   #37 largest county in state, #477 nationwide   Population density: 14.5 people / square mile (18,282 residents)   #37 lowest density county in state, #723 nationwide  Credit: Milan Suvajac // Wikimedia Commons  #38. Archuleta County   Rural area: 99.6% (1,345 square miles)   Urban area: 0.4% (5 square miles)   Total land area: 1,350 square miles   #33 largest county in state, #443 nationwide   Population density: 9.8 people / square mile (13,253 residents)   #31 lowest density county in state, #571 nationwide  Credti: Acutemi // Wikimedia Commons  #37. Logan County   Rural area: 99.7% (1,832 square miles)   Urban area: 0.4% (6 square miles)   Total land area: 1,839 square miles   #23 largest county in state, #318 nationwide   Population density: 12.2 people / square mile (22,380 residents)   #33 lowest density county in state, #641 nationwide  Credit: Canva  #36. Routt County   Rural area: 99.7% (2,354 square miles)   Urban area: 0.4% (8 square miles)   Total land area: 2,362 square miles   #15 largest county in state, #234 nationwide   Population density: 10.6 people / square mile (25,072 residents)   #32 lowest density county in state, #595 nationwide  You may also like: Counties with the oldest homes in Colorado  Credit: Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons  #35. Prowers County   Rural area: 99.7% (1,634 square miles)   Urban area: 0.3% (5 square miles)   Total land area: 1,638 square miles   #28 largest county in state, #368 nationwide   Population density: 7.3 people / square mile (12,022 residents)   #27 lowest density county in state, #463 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #34. Rio Grande County   Rural area: 99.8% (910 square miles)   Urban area: 0.2% (2 square miles)   Total land area: 912 square miles   #45 largest county in state, #816 nationwide   Population density: 12.4 people / square mile (11,305 residents)   #34 lowest density county in state, #647 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #33. Montezuma County   Rural area: 99.8% (2,026 square miles)   Urban area: 0.2% (4 square miles)   Total land area: 2,030 square miles   #20 largest county in state, #280 nationwide   Population density: 12.8 people / square mile (26,031 residents)   #35 lowest density county in state, #664 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #32. Grand County   Rural area: 99.9% (1,844 square miles)   Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)   Total land area: 1,846 square miles   #22 largest county in state, #315 nationwide   Population density: 8.3 people / square mile (15,303 residents)   #29 lowest density county in state, #507 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #31. Las Animas County   Rural area: 99.9% (4,767 square miles)   Urban area: 0.1% (6 square miles)   Total land area: 4,773 square miles   #1 largest county in state, #86 nationwide   Population density: 3.0 people / square mile (14,266 residents)   #14 lowest density county in state, #234 nationwide  You may also like: Where people in Colorado are moving to most  Credit: RandieCraft // Wikimedia Commons  #30. Moffat County   Rural area: 99.9% (4,738 square miles)   Urban area: 0.1% (6 square miles)   Total land area: 4,743 square miles   #2 largest county in state, #89 nationwide   Population density: 2.8 people / square mile (13,127 residents)   #13 lowest density county in state, #219 nationwide  Credit: The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company // Wikimedia Commons  #29. Gunnison County   Rural area: 99.9% (3,236 square miles)   Urban area: 0.1% (3 square miles)   Total land area: 3,239 square miles   #5 largest county in state, #158 nationwide   Population density: 5.2 people / square mile (16,802 residents)   #21 lowest density county in state, #374 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #28. Huerfano County   Rural area: 99.9% (1,589 square miles)   Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)   Total land area: 1,591 square miles   #30 largest county in state, #378 nationwide   Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (6,679 residents)   #18 lowest density county in state, #321 nationwide  Credit: Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons  #27. Bent County   Rural area: 99.9% (1,511 square miles)   Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)   Total land area: 1,513 square miles   #32 largest county in state, #392 nationwide   Population density: 3.8 people / square mile (5,787 residents)   #17 lowest density county in state, #292 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #26. Kit Carson County   Rural area: 99.9% (2,159 square miles)   Urban area: 0.1% (1 square miles)   Total land area: 2,161 square miles   #18 largest county in state, #257 nationwide   Population density: 3.4 people / square mile (7,447 residents)   #16 lowest density county in state, #266 nationwide  You may also like: Highest-earning counties in Colorado  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #25. Yuma County   Rural area: 99.9% (2,363 square miles)   Urban area: 0.1% (2 square miles)   Total land area: 2,364 square miles   #14 largest county in state, #233 nationwide   Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (10,003 residents)   #19 lowest density county in state, #327 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #24. Gilpin County   Rural area: 100.0% (150 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 150 square miles   #63 largest county in state, #3,061 nationwide   Population density: 40.1 people / square mile (6,018 residents)   #50 lowest density county in state, #1,472 nationwide  Credit: Dsdugan // Wikimedia Commons  #23. Clear Creek County   Rural area: 100.0% (395 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 395 square miles   #59 largest county in state, #2,547 nationwide   Population density: 24.0 people / square mile (9,495 residents)   #45 lowest density county in state, #1,039 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #22. Elbert County   Rural area: 100.0% (1,851 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 1,851 square miles   #21 largest county in state, #313 nationwide   Population density: 13.9 people / square mile (25,717 residents)   #36 lowest density county in state, #704 nationwide  Credit: Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons  #21. Ouray County   Rural area: 100.0% (542 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 542 square miles   #58 largest county in state, #1,928 nationwide   Population density: 8.9 people / square mile (4,796 residents)   #30 lowest density county in state, #531 nationwide  You may also like: Highest-rated Class of 2021 football recruits from Colorado  Credit: Thomson200 // Wikimedia Commons  #20. Park County   Rural area: 100.0% (2,194 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 2,194 square miles   #17 largest county in state, #256 nationwide   Population density: 8.1 people / square mile (17,867 residents)   #28 lowest density county in state, #502 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #19. Crowley County   Rural area: 100.0% (787 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 787 square miles   #49 largest county in state, #1,095 nationwide   Population density: 7.3 people / square mile (5,754 residents)   #26 lowest density county in state, #461 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #18. Custer County   Rural area: 100.0% (739 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 739 square miles   #51 largest county in state, #1,195 nationwide   Population density: 6.5 people / square mile (4,776 residents)   #25 lowest density county in state, #431 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #17. Conejos County   Rural area: 100.0% (1,287 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 1,287 square miles   #34 largest county in state, #464 nationwide   Population density: 6.3 people / square mile (8,128 residents)   #24 lowest density county in state, #426 nationwide  Credit: JERREYE AND ROYKLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons  #16. San Miguel County   Rural area: 100.0% (1,287 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 1,287 square miles   #35 largest county in state, #465 nationwide   Population density: 6.3 people / square mile (8,049 residents)   #23 lowest density county in state, #423 nationwide  You may also like: Counties with the worst commutes in Colorado  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #15. Phillips County   Rural area: 100.0% (688 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 688 square miles   #54 largest county in state, #1,362 nationwide   Population density: 6.2 people / square mile (4,290 residents)   #22 lowest density county in state, #422 nationwide  Credit: Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons  #14. Sedgwick County   Rural area: 100.0% (548 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 548 square miles   #57 largest county in state, #1,904 nationwide   Population density: 4.2 people / square mile (2,322 residents)   #20 lowest density county in state, #330 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #13. Costilla County   Rural area: 100.0% (1,227 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 1,227 square miles   #38 largest county in state, #499 nationwide   Population density: 3.1 people / square mile (3,745 residents)   #15 lowest density county in state, #239 nationwide  Credit: Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons  #12. Lincoln County   Rural area: 100.0% (2,578 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 2,578 square miles   #10 largest county in state, #207 nationwide   Population density: 2.2 people / square mile (5,585 residents)   #12 lowest density county in state, #165 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #11. Saguache County   Rural area: 100.0% (3,169 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 3,169 square miles   #7 largest county in state, #162 nationwide   Population density: 2.1 people / square mile (6,592 residents)   #11 lowest density county in state, #162 nationwide  You may also like: Highest-rated things to do in Colorado, according to Tripadvisor  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #10. Rio Blanco County   Rural area: 100.0% (3,221 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 3,221 square miles   #6 largest county in state, #159 nationwide   Population density: 2.0 people / square mile (6,384 residents)   #10 lowest density county in state, #152 nationwide  Credit: Jeffrey Beall // Wikimedia Commons  #9. Washington County   Rural area: 100.0% (2,518 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 2,518 square miles   #12 largest county in state, #216 nationwide   Population density: 1.9 people / square mile (4,868 residents)   #9 lowest density county in state, #146 nationwide  Credit: Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons  #8. Dolores County   Rural area: 100.0% (1,067 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 1,067 square miles   #42 largest county in state, #604 nationwide   Population density: 1.7 people / square mile (1,857 residents)   #8 lowest density county in state, #130 nationwide  Credit: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons  #7. San Juan County   Rural area: 100.0% (387 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 387 square miles   #60 largest county in state, #2,575 nationwide   Population density: 1.5 people / square mile (589 residents)   #7 lowest density county in state, #110 nationwide  Credit: Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons  #6. Baca County   Rural area: 100.0% (2,555 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 2,555 square miles   #11 largest county in state, #212 nationwide   Population density: 1.4 people / square mile (3,561 residents)   #6 lowest density county in state, #97 nationwide  You may also like: Counties with the most super commuters in Colorado  Credit: Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons  #5. Cheyenne County   Rural area: 100.0% (1,778 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 1,778 square miles   #24 largest county in state, #333 nationwide   Population density: 1.1 people / square mile (2,026 residents)   #5 lowest density county in state, #83 nationwide  Credit: Canva  #4. Mineral County   Rural area: 100.0% (876 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 876 square miles   #46 largest county in state, #922 nationwide   Population density: 0.9 people / square mile (824 residents)   #4 lowest density county in state, #60 nationwide  Credit: Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons  #3. Kiowa County   Rural area: 100.0% (1,768 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 1,768 square miles   #25 largest county in state, #335 nationwide   Population density: 0.8 people / square mile (1,489 residents)   #3 lowest density county in state, #51 nationwide  Credit: Wusel007 // Wikimedia Commons  #2. Jackson County   Rural area: 100.0% (1,614 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 1,614 square miles   #29 largest county in state, #375 nationwide   Population density: 0.8 people / square mile (1,261 residents)   #2 lowest density county in state, #45 nationwide  Credit: Canva  #1. Hinsdale County   Rural area: 100.0% (1,117 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 1,117 square miles   #41 largest county in state, #564 nationwide   Population density: 0.8 people / square mile (857 residents)   #1 lowest density county in state, #44 nationwide  You may also like: Fastest-growing counties in Colorado