What are the most rural counties in Kentucky?
A surprising number of U.S. counties have 100% rural land  702 counties, in fact. Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Kentucky 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: Highest-rated specialty museums in Kentucky, according to Tripadvisor  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #50. Lawrence County   Rural area: 99.4% (413 square miles)   Urban area: 0.6% (3 square miles)   Total land area: 416 square miles   #29 largest county in state, #2,431 nationwide   Population density: 37.7 people / square mile (15,671 residents)   #29 lowest density county in state, #1,410 nationwide  FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore // Wikimedia Commons  #49. Fleming County   Rural area: 99.4% (347 square miles)   Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)   Total land area: 349 square miles   #45 largest county in state, #2,682 nationwide   Population density: 41.6 people / square mile (14,513 residents)   #40 lowest density county in state, #1,509 nationwide  Ryan Emmick // Wikimedia Commons  #48. Hancock County   Rural area: 99.5% (187 square miles)   Urban area: 0.6% (1 square miles)   Total land area: 188 square miles   #108 largest county in state, #3,014 nationwide   Population density: 46.5 people / square mile (8,720 residents)   #47 lowest density county in state, #1,617 nationwide  Dcoetzee // Wikimedia Commons  #47. Trigg County   Rural area: 99.5% (439 square miles)   Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)   Total land area: 441 square miles   #21 largest county in state, #2,301 nationwide   Population density: 32.7 people / square mile (14,449 residents)   #19 lowest density county in state, #1,288 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #46. Trimble County   Rural area: 99.5% (151 square miles)   Urban area: 0.5% (1 square miles)   Total land area: 152 square miles   #116 largest county in state, #3,056 nationwide   Population density: 56.4 people / square mile (8,558 residents)   #59 lowest density county in state, #1,797 nationwide  You may also like: Fastest-growing counties in Kentucky  JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons  #45. Hart County   Rural area: 99.5% (410 square miles)   Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)   Total land area: 412 square miles   #30 largest county in state, #2,453 nationwide   Population density: 45.4 people / square mile (18,729 residents)   #46 lowest density county in state, #1,591 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #44. Crittenden County   Rural area: 99.5% (358 square miles)   Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)   Total land area: 360 square miles   #41 largest county in state, #2,654 nationwide   Population density: 25.0 people / square mile (9,000 residents)   #5 lowest density county in state, #1,063 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #43. Breathitt County   Rural area: 99.6% (490 square miles)   Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)   Total land area: 492 square miles   #12 largest county in state, #2,111 nationwide   Population density: 26.4 people / square mile (12,977 residents)   #8 lowest density county in state, #1,106 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #42. Livingston County   Rural area: 99.8% (312 square miles)   Urban area: 0.2% (1 square miles)   Total land area: 313 square miles   #58 largest county in state, #2,777 nationwide   Population density: 29.5 people / square mile (9,235 residents)   #10 lowest density county in state, #1,195 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #41. Spencer County   Rural area: 100.0% (187 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 187 square miles   #110 largest county in state, #3,016 nationwide   Population density: 100.1 people / square mile (18,680 residents)   #92 lowest density county in state, #2,251 nationwide  You may also like: Highest-earning counties in Kentucky  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #40. Gallatin County   Rural area: 100.0% (101 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 101 square miles   #119 largest county in state, #3,086 nationwide   Population density: 86.3 people / square mile (8,737 residents)   #81 lowest density county in state, #2,144 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #39. Russell County   Rural area: 100.0% (254 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 254 square miles   #80 largest county in state, #2,899 nationwide   Population density: 70.1 people / square mile (17,778 residents)   #69 lowest density county in state, #1,981 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #38. Letcher County   Rural area: 100.0% (338 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 338 square miles   #53 largest county in state, #2,717 nationwide   Population density: 66.0 people / square mile (22,295 residents)   #63 lowest density county in state, #1,924 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #37. Henry County   Rural area: 100.0% (286 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 286 square miles   #69 largest county in state, #2,826 nationwide   Population density: 55.6 people / square mile (15,911 residents)   #56 lowest density county in state, #1,783 nationwide  W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons  #36. Pendleton County   Rural area: 100.0% (277 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 277 square miles   #75 largest county in state, #2,852 nationwide   Population density: 52.6 people / square mile (14,572 residents)   #52 lowest density county in state, #1,732 nationwide  You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Kentucky  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #35. Clinton County   Rural area: 100.0% (197 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 197 square miles   #104 largest county in state, #2,999 nationwide   Population density: 51.7 people / square mile (10,193 residents)   #51 lowest density county in state, #1,720 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #34. Martin County   Rural area: 100.0% (230 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 230 square miles   #93 largest county in state, #2,951 nationwide   Population density: 50.7 people / square mile (11,648 residents)   #50 lowest density county in state, #1,705 nationwide  W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons  #33. Bath County   Rural area: 100.0% (279 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 279 square miles   #74 largest county in state, #2,851 nationwide   Population density: 44.3 people / square mile (12,355 residents)   #44 lowest density county in state, #1,560 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #32. Knott County   Rural area: 100.0% (352 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 352 square miles   #43 largest county in state, #2,676 nationwide   Population density: 43.4 people / square mile (15,260 residents)   #43 lowest density county in state, #1,543 nationwide  Kybluegrass // Wikimedia Commons  #31. McCreary County   Rural area: 100.0% (427 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 427 square miles   #26 largest county in state, #2,377 nationwide   Population density: 40.9 people / square mile (17,465 residents)   #38 lowest density county in state, #1,492 nationwide  You may also like: Counties with the most college graduates in Kentucky  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #30. Magoffin County   Rural area: 100.0% (308 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 308 square miles   #59 largest county in state, #2,789 nationwide   Population density: 40.5 people / square mile (12,491 residents)   #37 lowest density county in state, #1,481 nationwide  Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons  #29. Washington County   Rural area: 100.0% (297 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 297 square miles   #65 largest county in state, #2,811 nationwide   Population density: 40.4 people / square mile (12,023 residents)   #36 lowest density county in state, #1,478 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #28. Bracken County   Rural area: 100.0% (206 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 206 square miles   #98 largest county in state, #2,988 nationwide   Population density: 40.4 people / square mile (8,305 residents)   #35 lowest density county in state, #1,477 nationwide  Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) // Wikimedia Commons  #27. Edmonson County   Rural area: 100.0% (303 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 303 square miles   #63 largest county in state, #2,803 nationwide   Population density: 40.1 people / square mile (12,138 residents)   #34 lowest density county in state, #1,469 nationwide  Bedford // Wikimedia Commons  #26. Webster County   Rural area: 100.0% (332 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 332 square miles   #55 largest county in state, #2,732 nationwide   Population density: 39.4 people / square mile (13,068 residents)   #33 lowest density county in state, #1,460 nationwide  You may also like: Best counties to raise a family in Kentucky  W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons  #25. Jackson County   Rural area: 100.0% (345 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 345 square miles   #46 largest county in state, #2,690 nationwide   Population density: 38.7 people / square mile (13,369 residents)   #32 lowest density county in state, #1,444 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #24. Lyon County   Rural area: 100.0% (214 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 214 square miles   #95 largest county in state, #2,975 nationwide   Population density: 38.7 people / square mile (8,271 residents)   #31 lowest density county in state, #1,441 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #23. Green County   Rural area: 100.0% (286 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 286 square miles   #70 largest county in state, #2,827 nationwide   Population density: 38.4 people / square mile (10,979 residents)   #30 lowest density county in state, #1,435 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #22. McLean County   Rural area: 100.0% (252 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 252 square miles   #82 largest county in state, #2,902 nationwide   Population density: 36.8 people / square mile (9,283 residents)   #27 lowest density county in state, #1,391 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #21. Nicholas County   Rural area: 100.0% (195 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 195 square miles   #105 largest county in state, #3,003 nationwide   Population density: 36.6 people / square mile (7,153 residents)   #26 lowest density county in state, #1,385 nationwide  You may also like: Highest-rated Class of 2021 football recruits from Kentucky  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #20. Casey County   Rural area: 100.0% (444 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 444 square miles   #20 largest county in state, #2,289 nationwide   Population density: 35.8 people / square mile (15,885 residents)   #25 lowest density county in state, #1,362 nationwide  Hunter Hawley // Wikimedia Commons  #19. Breckinridge County   Rural area: 100.0% (567 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 567 square miles   #6 largest county in state, #1,806 nationwide   Population density: 35.6 people / square mile (20,176 residents)   #24 lowest density county in state, #1,351 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #18. Morgan County   Rural area: 100.0% (381 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 381 square miles   #37 largest county in state, #2,596 nationwide   Population density: 34.9 people / square mile (13,288 residents)   #23 lowest density county in state, #1,335 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #17. Metcalfe County   Rural area: 100.0% (290 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 290 square miles   #68 largest county in state, #2,824 nationwide   Population density: 34.6 people / square mile (10,036 residents)   #22 lowest density county in state, #1,330 nationwide  W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons  #16. Lee County   Rural area: 100.0% (209 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 209 square miles   #96 largest county in state, #2,985 nationwide   Population density: 32.9 people / square mile (6,881 residents)   #21 lowest density county in state, #1,292 nationwide  You may also like: Best places to retire in Kentucky  Acdixon // Wikimedia Commons  #15. Todd County   Rural area: 100.0% (374 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 374 square miles   #40 largest county in state, #2,619 nationwide   Population density: 32.9 people / square mile (12,316 residents)   #20 lowest density county in state, #1,291 nationwide  Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons  #14. Ballard County   Rural area: 100.0% (247 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 247 square miles   #86 largest county in state, #2,920 nationwide   Population density: 32.6 people / square mile (8,032 residents)   #18 lowest density county in state, #1,286 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #13. Wolfe County   Rural area: 100.0% (222 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 222 square miles   #94 largest county in state, #2,965 nationwide   Population density: 32.4 people / square mile (7,207 residents)   #17 lowest density county in state, #1,280 nationwide  Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons  #12. Monroe County   Rural area: 100.0% (329 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 329 square miles   #56 largest county in state, #2,737 nationwide   Population density: 32.3 people / square mile (10,627 residents)   #16 lowest density county in state, #1,277 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #11. Elliott County   Rural area: 100.0% (234 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 234 square miles   #90 largest county in state, #2,938 nationwide   Population density: 32.1 people / square mile (7,510 residents)   #15 lowest density county in state, #1,274 nationwide  You may also like: Highest-rated things to do in Kentucky, according to Tripadvisor  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #10. Menifee County   Rural area: 100.0% (204 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 204 square miles   #100 largest county in state, #2,991 nationwide   Population density: 31.6 people / square mile (6,443 residents)   #14 lowest density county in state, #1,262 nationwide  W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons  #9. Owen County   Rural area: 100.0% (351 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 351 square miles   #44 largest county in state, #2,677 nationwide   Population density: 30.7 people / square mile (10,796 residents)   #13 lowest density county in state, #1,229 nationwide  Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons  #8. Butler County   Rural area: 100.0% (426 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 426 square miles   #27 largest county in state, #2,383 nationwide   Population density: 30.0 people / square mile (12,764 residents)   #12 lowest density county in state, #1,207 nationwide  C. Bedford Crenshaw // Wikimedia Commons  #7. Lewis County   Rural area: 100.0% (483 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 483 square miles   #14 largest county in state, #2,146 nationwide   Population density: 27.8 people / square mile (13,417 residents)   #9 lowest density county in state, #1,146 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #6. Leslie County   Rural area: 100.0% (401 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 401 square miles   #33 largest county in state, #2,520 nationwide   Population density: 25.7 people / square mile (10,283 residents)   #7 lowest density county in state, #1,089 nationwide  You may also like: Where people in Kentucky are moving to most  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #5. Carlisle County   Rural area: 100.0% (189 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 189 square miles   #106 largest county in state, #3,012 nationwide   Population density: 25.3 people / square mile (4,784 residents)   #6 lowest density county in state, #1,074 nationwide  JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons  #4. Owsley County   Rural area: 100.0% (197 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 197 square miles   #102 largest county in state, #2,997 nationwide   Population density: 22.5 people / square mile (4,442 residents)   #4 lowest density county in state, #976 nationwide  Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons  #3. Cumberland County   Rural area: 100.0% (305 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 305 square miles   #62 largest county in state, #2,799 nationwide   Population density: 21.9 people / square mile (6,697 residents)   #3 lowest density county in state, #955 nationwide  W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons  #2. Robertson County   Rural area: 100.0% (100 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 100 square miles   #120 largest county in state, #3,087 nationwide   Population density: 21.2 people / square mile (2,123 residents)   #2 lowest density county in state, #934 nationwide  Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons  #1. Hickman County   Rural area: 100.0% (242 square miles)   Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)   Total land area: 242 square miles   #88 largest county in state, #2,924 nationwide   Population density: 18.6 people / square mile (4,510 residents)   #1 lowest density county in state, #842 nationwide  You may also like: Counties with the most super commuters in Kentucky