The 20 most rural counties in Ohio
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Landwise, Ohio is a predominately a rural state. All but five counties have more than 50% of their area classified as rural, and 65 counties have more than 90% considered rural.
But which counties are the most rural in the state?
Stacker compiled a list of the most rural counties in Ohio using U.S. Census Bureau data. The 2010 Census defines rural areas as any incorporated place or census designated place with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants located outside of urban areas with a population of 50,000 or more.
In the event of a tie, Stacker then ranked counties by residents per square mile according to the 2019 five-year population estimates.
On the other side, Cuyahoga (9.1% rural) is the only county in the state with less than 20% rural areas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
No. 20. Henry County
Rural area: 98.7% (411 square miles)
Urban area: 1.3% (5 square miles)
Total land area: 416 square miles
Population density: 65.4 people per square mile (27,208 residents)
No. 19. Darke County
Rural area: 98.7% (591 square miles)
Urban area: 1.3% (8 square miles)
Total land area: 598 square miles, No. 9 largest county in the state
Population density: 86.1 people per square mile (51,513 residents)
No. 18. Hardin County
Rural area: 98.8% (465 square miles)
Urban area: 1.2% (6 square miles)
Total land area: 470 square miles
Population density: 66.8 people per square mile (31,425 residents)
No. 17. Coshocton County
Rural area: 98.8% (557 square miles)
Urban area: 1.2% (7 square miles)
Total land area: 564 square miles
Population density: 64.9 people per square mile (36,585 residents)
No. 16. Wyandot County
Rural area: 98.9% (402 square miles)
Urban area: 1.1% (5 square miles)
Total land area: 407 square miles
Population density: 54.1 people per square mile (22,000 residents), No. 9 lowest density county in the state
No. 15. Gallia County
Rural area: 98.9% (461 square miles)
Urban area: 1.1% (5 square miles)
Total land area: 467 square miles
Population density: 64.5 people per square mile (30,088 residents)
No. 14. Perry County
Rural area: 98.9% (404 square miles)
Urban area: 1.1% (4 square miles)
Total land area: 408 square miles
Population density: 88.3 people per square mile (36,022 residents)
No. 13. Highland County
Rural area: 98.9% (547 square miles)
Urban area: 1.1% (6 square miles)
Total land area: 553 square miles
Population density: 77.8 people per square mile (43,016 residents)
No. 12. Putnam County
Rural area: 99.0% (478 square miles)
Urban area: 1.0% (5 square miles)
Total land area: 483 square miles
Population density: 70.3 people per square mile (33,911 residents)
No. 11. Hocking County
Rural area: 99.0% (417 square miles)
Urban area: 1.0% (4 square miles)
Total land area: 421 square miles
Population density: 67.4 people per square mile (28,390 residents)
No. 10. Meigs County
Rural area: 99.3% (427 square miles)
Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
Total land area: 430 square miles
Population density: 53.7 people per square mile (23,078 residents), No. 8 lowest density county in the state
No. 9. Noble County
Rural area: 99.3% (395 square miles)
Urban area: 0.7% (3 square miles)
Total land area: 398 square miles
Population density: 36.2 people per square mile (14,416 residents), No. 4 lowest density county in the state
No. 8. Morrow County
Rural area: 99.4% (404 square miles)
Urban area: 0.6% (2 square miles)
Total land area: 406 square miles
Population density: 86.3 people per square mile (35,043 residents)
No. 7. Paulding County
Rural area: 99.6% (415 square miles)
Urban area: 0.5% (2 square miles)
Total land area: 416 square miles
Population density: 45.2 people per square mile (18,809 residents), No. 6 lowest density county in the state
No. 6. Harrison County
Rural area: 99.6% (401 square miles)
Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
Total land area: 402 square miles
Population density: 37.8 people per square mile (15,211 residents), No. 5 lowest density county in the state
No. 5. Holmes County
Rural area: 99.6% (421 square miles)
Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
Total land area: 423 square miles
Population density: 103.9 people per square mile (43,901 residents)
No. 4. Adams County
Rural area: 99.6% (582 square miles)
Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
Total land area: 584 square miles, No. 10 largest county in the state
Population density: 47.6 people per square mile (27,776 residents), No. 7 lowest density county in the state
No. 3. Morgan County
Rural area: 99.6% (415 square miles)
Urban area: 0.4% (2 square miles)
Total land area: 416 square miles
Population density: 35.2 people per square mile (14,640 residents), No. 3 lowest density county in the state
No. 2. Monroe County
Rural area: 99.8% (455 square miles)
Urban area: 0.3% (1 square miles)
Total land area: 456 square miles
Population density: 30.6 people per square mile (13,942 residents), No. 1 lowest density county in the state
No. 1. Vinton County
Rural area: 100% (412 square miles)
Urban area: 0.0% (0 square miles)
Total land area: 412 square miles
Population density: 31.7 people per square mile (13,083 residents), No. 2 lowest density county in the state
Read More: The 20 most rural counties in Ohio