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The [[county|counties]] are used in 48 of the 50 states of the [[United States]] for the level of local government below the state itself. [[Louisiana]] uses [[parish]]es, and [[Alaska]] uses [[borough]]s. In several states in [[New England]], some or all counties within states have no governments of their own; the counties continue to exist as legal entities, however, and are used by states for some administrative functions and by the United States Census bureau for statistical analysis.
The [[County|counties]] are used in 48 of the 50 states of the [[United States]] for the level of local government below the state itself. [[Louisiana]] uses [[parish]]es, and [[Alaska]] uses [[borough]]s. In several states in [[New England]], some or all counties within states have no governments of their own; the counties continue to exist as legal entities, however, and are used by states for some administrative functions and by the United States Census bureau for statistical analysis. There are 3,143 [[County (United States)|counties]] & [[County-equivalent|county-equivalent]] administrative units in total.


Note that in [[Virginia]], any municipality that is incorporated as a ''city'' legally becomes [[independent city|independent]] of any county. The statistics below ''do not'' include Virginia independent cities. The only Virginia statistic affected is smallest county by area; if independent cities are included, [[Falls Church, Virginia|Falls Church]] becomes the smallest county in the state, and in fact the smallest county-level political subdivision in the United States, at 2.0 square miles (5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>). The three independent cities in other states ([[Baltimore, Maryland]]; [[Carson City, Nevada]]; and [[St. Louis, Missouri]]) are also not included in these lists.
There are 42 [[Independent city|independent cities]] in the United States. Note that in [[Virginia]], any municipality that is incorporated as a ''city'' legally becomes independent of any county. The statistics below ''do not'' include Virginia's 39 independent cities. The only Virginia statistic affected is smallest county by area; if independent cities are included, [[Falls Church, Virginia|Falls Church]] becomes the smallest county in the state, and in fact the smallest county-level political subdivision in the United States, at 2.0 square miles (5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>). The other three independent cities in other states ([[Baltimore, Maryland]]; [[Carson City, Nevada]]; and [[St. Louis, Missouri]]) are also not included in these lists. The [[District of Columbia]] is included.


Note also that in [[Alaska]], most of the land area of the state has no county-level government. Those parts of the state are divided by the [[United States Census Bureau]] into [[census area]]s, which are not the same as boroughs. The state's largest statistical division by area is the [[Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska|Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area]], which is larger than any of the state's boroughs. Although [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]] is called a municipality, it is considered a consolidated city and borough.
Note also that in [[Alaska]], most of the land area of the state has no county-level government. Those parts of the state are divided by the [[United States Census Bureau]] into [[census area]]s, which are not the same as boroughs. The state's largest statistical division by area is the [[Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska|Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area]], which is larger than any of the state's boroughs. Although [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]] is called a municipality, it is considered a consolidated city and borough.
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Although most U.S. counties were created during the 19th century, the most recent county in the United States is [[Broomfield County, Colorado|Broomfield County]] in Colorado, created in 2001.
Although most U.S. counties were created during the 19th century, the most recent county in the United States is [[Broomfield County, Colorado|Broomfield County]] in Colorado, created in 2001.


== List of [[County (United States)|counties]] & ''[[County-equivalent|county-equivalents]]'' (by number per political division) ==
== Number of Counties in Each State ==

This is a list of the number of counties (or county equivalents) per state.


*254{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Texas|Texas]]
*254{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Texas|Texas]]
*159{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
*159{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
*134{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Virginia|Virginia]]
*134{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Virginia|Virginia]] ''(including [[List of cities in Virginia|39]] [[Independent city#Virginia|independent cities]])''
*120{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Kentucky|Kentucky]]
*120{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Kentucky|Kentucky]]
*115{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Missouri|Missouri]]
*115{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Missouri|Missouri]] ''(including [[St. Louis, Missouri|1]] [[Independent city#Other states|independent city]])''
*105{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Kansas|Kansas]]
*105{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Kansas|Kansas]]
*102{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Illinois|Illinois]]
*102{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Illinois|Illinois]]
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*75{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Arkansas|Arkansas]]
*75{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Arkansas|Arkansas]]
*72{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Wisconsin|Wisconsin]]
*72{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Wisconsin|Wisconsin]]
⚫
*67{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]
⚫
*67{{ndash}} [[List of Florida counties|Florida]]
*67{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Alabama|Alabama]]
*67{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Alabama|Alabama]]
⚫
*67{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Florida|Florida]]
⚫
*67{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]
*66{{ndash}} [[List of counties in South Dakota|South Dakota]]
*66{{ndash}} [[List of counties in South Dakota|South Dakota]]
⚫
*64{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Louisiana|Louisiana]]
*64{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Colorado|Colorado]]
*64{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Colorado|Colorado]]
*''64{{ndash}} [[List of parishes in Louisiana|Louisiana]] (consisting in whole of [[Parish (administrative division)#State of Louisiana.2C United_States|parishes]])''
*62{{ndash}} [[List of counties in New York|New York]]
*62{{ndash}} [[List of counties in New York|New York]]
*58{{ndash}} [[List of counties in California|California]]
*58{{ndash}} [[List of counties in California|California]]
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*36{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Oregon|Oregon]]
*36{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Oregon|Oregon]]
*33{{ndash}} [[List of counties in New Mexico|New Mexico]]
*33{{ndash}} [[List of counties in New Mexico|New Mexico]]
*''29{{ndash}} [[List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska|Alaska]] (consisting of 18 organized [[Borough (United States)#Alaska|boroughs]] and, in its [[Unorganized Borough, Alaska|Unorganized Borough]], of 11 designated [[census area|census areas]])''
*29{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Utah|Utah]]
*29{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Utah|Utah]]
*27{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Alaska|Alaska]] - 16 organized boroughs and 11 designated census areas in the [[Unorganized Borough]]
*24{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Maryland|Maryland]] ''(including [[Baltimore, Maryland|1]] [[Independent city#Other states|independent city]])''
⚫
*24{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Maryland|Maryland]]
*23{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Wyoming|Wyoming]]
*23{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Wyoming|Wyoming]]
*21{{ndash}} [[List of counties in New Jersey|New Jersey]]
*21{{ndash}} [[List of counties in New Jersey|New Jersey]]
*17{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Nevada|Nevada]]
*17{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Nevada|Nevada]] ''(including [[Carson City, Nevada|1]] [[Independent city#Other states|independent city]])''
*16{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Maine|Maine]]
*16{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Maine|Maine]]
*15{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Arizona|Arizona]]
*15{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Arizona|Arizona]]
*14{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Vermont|Vermont]]
*14{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Massachusetts|Massachusetts]]
*14{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Massachusetts|Massachusetts]]
⚫
*14{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Vermont|Vermont]]
*10{{ndash}} [[List of counties in New Hampshire|New Hampshire]]
*10{{ndash}} [[List of counties in New Hampshire|New Hampshire]]
*8{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Connecticut|Connecticut]]
*8{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Connecticut|Connecticut]]
*5{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Rhode Island|Rhode Island]]
*5{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Hawaii|Hawaii]]
*5{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Hawaii|Hawaii]]
⚫
*5{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Rhode Island|Rhode Island]]
*3{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Delaware|Delaware]]
*3{{ndash}} [[List of counties in Delaware|Delaware]]
*''1{{ndash}} [[District Of Columbia|District Of Columbia]]'' <ref>
Appearently, D.C. forms not a county, but a county-equivalent - because in case of all "real" counties all over the country, the U.S. Census Bureau lists and calls them that way (e.g. "XYZ County"), according to [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/] / [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/11000.html] / [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/11/11001.html], there's nothing such like a "District of Columbia County"
</ref>

'''3143''' total (3007 [[County (United States)|counties]] & ''136 [[County-equivalent|county-equivalents]]'')


Average: 62
Total = 3140


== Twenty most populous counties in the United States ==
== Twenty most populous counties in the United States ==
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|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-CONTEXT=gct&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1_US9&-redoLog=false&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=&-format=US-25|US-25S&-_lang=en
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-CONTEXT=gct&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1_US9&-redoLog=false&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=&-format=US-25|US-25S&-_lang=en
|accessdate=2007-03-14}}</ref> Alaska's [[Unorganized Borough]] has been considered a county-equivalent; statistics for its individual census areas are not included.
|accessdate=2007-03-14}}</ref> Alaska's [[Unorganized Borough|Unorganized Borrough's]] [[census area|census areas]] have been considered county-equivalents; statistics for them are not included.
<br clear="all">
<br clear="all">
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.ecanned.com Labor Statistics] County Employment and Wages
*[http://www.ecanned.com Labor Statistics] County Employment and Wages

{{U.S. Counties}}
{{United States topics}}
{{Articles on second-level administrative divisions of North American countries}}


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Revision as of 01:39, 26 October 2009

The counties are used in 48 of the 50 states of the United States for the level of local government below the state itself. Louisiana uses parishes, and Alaska uses boroughs. In several states in New England, some or all counties within states have no governments of their own; the counties continue to exist as legal entities, however, and are used by states for some administrative functions and by the United States Census bureau for statistical analysis. There are 3,143 counties & county-equivalent administrative units in total.

There are 42 independent cities in the United States. Note that in Virginia, any municipality that is incorporated as a city legally becomes independent of any county. The statistics below do not include Virginia's 39 independent cities. The only Virginia statistic affected is smallest county by area; if independent cities are included, Falls Church becomes the smallest county in the state, and in fact the smallest county-level political subdivision in the United States, at 2.0 square miles (5 km2). The other three independent cities in other states (Baltimore, Maryland; Carson City, Nevada; and St. Louis, Missouri) are also not included in these lists. The District of Columbia is included.

Note also that in Alaska, most of the land area of the state has no county-level government. Those parts of the state are divided by the United States Census Bureau into census areas, which are not the same as boroughs. The state's largest statistical division by area is the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, which is larger than any of the state's boroughs. Although Anchorage is called a municipality, it is considered a consolidated city and borough.

Although most U.S. counties were created during the 19th century, the most recent county in the United States is Broomfield County in Colorado, created in 2001.

List of counties & county-equivalents (by number per political division)

3143 total (3007 counties & 136 county-equivalents)

Average: 62

Twenty most populous counties in the United States

Main article: List of the most populous counties in the United States

The population is based on a 2006 estimate. From the 2000 Census to the year 2004, all counties remained the same in ranking, while Dallas County overtook Queens County to rank ninth.

Rank County Population
1 Los Angeles County, California 9,948,081
2 Cook County, Illinois 5,288,655
3 Harris County, Texas 3,886,207
4 Maricopa County, Arizona 3,768,123
5 Orange County, California 3,002,048
6 San Diego County, California 2,941,454
7 Kings County, New York 2,508,820
8 Miami-Dade County, Florida 2,402,208
9 Dallas County, Texas 2,345,815
10 Queens County, New York 2,255,175
11 Riverside County, California 2,026,803
12 San Bernardino County, California 1,999,332
13 Wayne County, Michigan 1,946,419
14 King County, Washington 1,826,732
15 Broward County, Florida 1,787,636
16 Clark County, Nevada 1,777,539
17 Santa Clara County, California 1,731,281
18 Tarrant County, Texas 1,671,295
19 New York County, New York 1,611,581
20 Bexar County, Texas 1,555,592

Twenty-five largest counties (or county equivalents) by land area

Data presented below is based on U.S. Census department data from 2000.[2] Alaska's Unorganized Borrough's census areas have been considered county-equivalents; statistics for them are not included.

Rank County name Land Area (sq.mi.) Population
1 Unorganized Borough, Alaska 330,074.96 81,803
2 North Slope Borough, Alaska 88,817.12 7,385
3 Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska 35,898.34 7,208
4 Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska 24,681.54 59,322
5 Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska 23,781.96 1,823
6 San Bernardino County, California 20,052.50 1,709,434
7 Coconino County, Arizona 18,617.42 116,320
8 Nye County, Nevada 18,146.66 32,485
9 Elko County, Nevada 17,179.03 45,291
10 Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska 16,013.26 49,691
11 Mohave County, Arizona 13,311.64 155,032
12 Denali Borough, Alaska 12,749.65 1,893
13 Apache County, Arizona 11,204.88 69,423
14 Lincoln County, Nevada 10,633.61 4,165
15 Sweetwater County, Wyoming 10,425.30 37,613
16 Inyo County, California 10,203.10 17,945
17 Harney County, Oregon 10,134.33 7,609
18 Navajo County, Arizona 9,953.18 97,470
19 Malheur County, Oregon 9,887.09 31,615
20 Humboldt County, Nevada 9,647.91 16,106
21 Maricopa County, Arizona 9,203.14 3,072,149
22 Pima County, Arizona 9,186.27 843,746
23 Fremont County, Wyoming 9,182.27 35,804
24 White Pine County, Nevada 8,875.98 9,181
25 Idaho County, Idaho 8,484.88 15,511

By size (square miles)

 
Smallest
Largest
All States Arlington County, Virginia (26) North Slope Borough, Alaska (94,763)
Alabama Etowah County, Alabama (549) Baldwin County, Alabama (2,027)
Alaska Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska (888) North Slope Borough, Alaska (94,763)
Arizona Santa Cruz County, Arizona (1,238) Coconino County, Arizona (18,661)
Arkansas Lafayette County, Arkansas (545) Union County, Arkansas (1,055)
California City and County of San Francisco, California (232) San Bernardino County, California (20,105)
Colorado City and County of Broomfield, Colorado (28) Las Animas County, Colorado (4,775)
Connecticut Tolland County, Connecticut (417) Litchfield County, Connecticut (945)
Delaware New Castle County, Delaware (494) Sussex County, Delaware (1196)
Florida Union County, Florida (250) Monroe County, Florida (3,737)
Georgia Clarke County, Georgia (121) Ware County, Georgia (906)
Hawaii Kalawao County, Hawaii (52) Hawaii County, Hawaii (5,087)
Idaho Payette County, Idaho (410) Idaho County, Idaho (8,502)
Illinois Putnam County, Illinois (172) Cook County, Illinois (1,635)
Indiana Ohio County, Indiana (87) Allen County, Indiana (660)
Iowa Dickinson County, Iowa (399) Kossuth County, Iowa (974)
Kansas Wyandotte County, Kansas (156) Butler County, Kansas (1,446)
Kentucky Robertson County, Kentucky (100) Pike County, Kentucky (789)
Louisiana West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana (204) Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (2,429)
Maine Sagadahoc County, Maine (370) Aroostook County, Maine (6,829)
Maryland Howard County, Maryland (254) Dorchester County, Maryland (983)
Massachusetts Suffolk County, Massachusetts (120) Worcester County, Massachusetts (1,579)
Michigan Cass County, Michigan (508) Keweenaw County, Michigan (5,966)
Minnesota Ramsey County, Minnesota (170) St. Louis County, Minnesota (6,860)
Mississippi Alcorn County, Mississippi (401) Jackson County, Mississippi (1043)
Missouri Worth County, Missouri (267) Texas County, Missouri (1,179)
Montana Silver Bow County, Montana (719) Beaverhead County, Montana (5,572)
Nebraska Sarpy County, Nebraska (247) Cherry County, Nebraska (6,010)
Nevada Storey County, Nevada (264) Nye County, Nevada (18,159)
New Hampshire Strafford County, New Hampshire (384) Coos County, New Hampshire (1,831)
New Jersey Hudson County, New Jersey (62) Ocean County, New Jersey (916)
New Mexico Los Alamos County, New Mexico (109) Catron County, New Mexico (6,929)
New York New York County, New York (34) St. Lawrence County, New York (2,821)
North Carolina Clay County, North Carolina (220) Dare County, North Carolina (1,562)
North Dakota Eddy County, North Dakota (644) McKenzie County, North Dakota (2,861)
Ohio Carroll County, Ohio (399) Ashtabula County, Ohio (1,368)
Oklahoma Marshall County, Oklahoma (427) Osage County, Oklahoma (2,304)
Oregon Multnomah County, Oregon (466) Harney County, Oregon (10,226)
Pennsylvania Montour County, Pennsylvania (132) Erie County, Pennsylvania (1,558)
Rhode Island Bristol County, Rhode Island (45) Washington County, Rhode Island (563)
South Carolina Calhoun County, South Carolina (392) Charleston County, South Carolina (1,358)
South Dakota Clay County, South Dakota (417) Meade County, South Dakota (3,482)
Tennessee Trousdale County, Tennessee (117) Shelby County, Tennessee (784)
Texas Rockwall County, Texas (149) Brewster County, Texas (6,193)
Utah Morgan County, Utah (611) San Juan County, Utah (7,933)
Vermont Grand Isle County, Vermont (195) Windsor County, Vermont (976)
Virginia Arlington County, Virginia (26) Accomack County, Virginia (1,310)
Washington Wahkiakum County, Washington (287) Okanogan County, Washington (5,315)
West Virginia Hancock County, West Virginia (88) Randolph County, West Virginia (1,040)
Wisconsin Pepin County, Wisconsin (249) Door County, Wisconsin (2,370)
Wyoming Hot Springs County, Wyoming (2,006) Sweetwater County, Wyoming (10,491)

The North Slope Borough is the largest independently incorporated county. The Unorganized Borough is substantially larger, but is an extension of the State of Alaska government and not independently incorporated.[A]

By population (as of 2000)

 
Smallest
Largest
All States Loving County, Texas (67) Los Angeles County, California (9,519,338)
Alabama Greene County, Alabama (9,974) Jefferson County, Alabama (662,047)
Alaska Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska (808) Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska (260,283)
Arizona Greenlee County, Arizona (8,547) Maricopa County, Arizona (3,072,149)
Arkansas Calhoun County, Arkansas (5,744) Pulaski County, Arkansas (361,474)
California Alpine County, California (1,208) Los Angeles County, California (9,519,338)
Colorado San Juan County, Colorado (558) City and County of Denver, Colorado (554,636)
Connecticut Windham County, Connecticut (109,091) Fairfield County, Connecticut (882,567)
Delaware Kent County, Delaware (126,697) New Castle County, Delaware (500,265)
District of Columbia
Washington, D.C. (572,059)
Florida Liberty County, Florida (7,021) Miami-Dade County, Florida (2,253,362)
Georgia Taliaferro County, Georgia (2,077) Fulton County, Georgia (816,006)
Hawaii Kalawao County, Hawaii (147) City & County of Honolulu (876,156)
Idaho Camas County, Idaho (991) Ada County, Idaho (300,904)
Illinois Pope County, Illinois (4,413) Cook County, Illinois (5,376,741)
Indiana Ohio County, Indiana (5,623) Marion County, Indiana (860,454)
Iowa Adams County, Iowa (4,482) Polk County, Iowa (374,601)
Kansas Greeley County, Kansas (1,534) Johnson County, Kansas (451,086)
Kentucky Robertson County, Kentucky (2,266) Jefferson County, Kentucky (693,604)
Louisiana Tensas Parish, Louisiana (6,618) Orleans Parish, Louisiana (484,674)
Maine Piscataquis County, Maine (17,235) Cumberland County, Maine (265,612)
Maryland Kent County, Maryland (19,197) Montgomery County, Maryland (873,341)
Massachusetts Town and County of Nantucket, Massachusetts (9,520) Middlesex County, Massachusetts (1,465,396)
Michigan Keweenaw County, Michigan (2,301) Wayne County, Michigan (2,061,162)
Minnesota Traverse County, Minnesota (4,134) Hennepin County, Minnesota (1,116,200)
Mississippi Issaquena County, Mississippi (2,274) Hinds County, Mississippi (250,800)
Missouri Worth County, Missouri (2,382) St. Louis County, Missouri (1,016,315)
Montana Petroleum County, Montana (493) Yellowstone County, Montana (129,352)
Nebraska Arthur County, Nebraska (444) Douglas County, Nebraska (463,585)
Nevada Esmeralda County, Nevada (971) Clark County, Nevada (1,375,765)
New Hampshire Coos County, New Hampshire (33,111) Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (380,841)
New Jersey Salem County, New Jersey (65,285) Bergen County, New Jersey (884,118)
New Mexico Harding County, New Mexico (810) Bernalillo County, New Mexico (556,678)
New York Hamilton County, New York (5,379) Kings County, New York (2,465,326)
North Carolina Tyrrell County, North Carolina (4,149) Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (695,454 )
North Dakota Slope County, North Dakota (767) Cass County, North Dakota (123,138)
Ohio Vinton County, Ohio (12,806) Cuyahoga County, Ohio (1,393,978)
Oklahoma Cimarron County, Oklahoma (3,148) Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (660,448)
Oregon Wheeler County, Oregon (1,547) Multnomah County, Oregon (660,486)
Pennsylvania Forest County, Pennsylvania (4,946) Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (1,517,550)
Rhode Island Bristol County, Rhode Island (50,648) Providence County, Rhode Island (621,602)
South Carolina McCormick County, South Carolina (9,958) Greenville County, South Carolina (379,616)
South Dakota Jones County, South Dakota (1,193) Minnehaha County, South Dakota (148,281)
Tennessee Pickett County, Tennessee (4,945) Shelby County, Tennessee (897,472)
Texas Loving County, Texas (67) Harris County, Texas (3,400,578)
Utah Daggett County, Utah (921) Salt Lake County, Utah (978,701)
Vermont Essex County, Vermont (6,459) Chittenden County, Vermont (146,571)
Virginia Highland County, Virginia (2,536) Fairfax County, Virginia (969,749)
Washington Garfield County, Washington (2,397) King County, Washington (1,737,034)
West Virginia Wirt County, West Virginia (5,873) Kanawha County, West Virginia (200,073)
Wisconsin Menominee County, Wisconsin (4,562) Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (940,164)
Wyoming Niobrara County, Wyoming (2,407) Laramie County, Wyoming (81,607)

NOTE: Due to the recent events of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, East Baton Rouge Parish is the most populous parish in Louisiana.

List of States by Average County Area

Ranking of states based on the average area for all counties or equivalents in each state. Taken by dividing the state's total area by the number of counties in the state. See also List of U.S. states by area.


Rank State name Mean County Area (sq.mi.) Mean County Area (km2.)
1 Alaska 39015.71 101050.24
2 Arizona 7599.87 19683.56
3 Nevada 6503.59 16844.22
4 Wyoming 4252.96 11015.11
5 New Mexico 3684.52 9542.85
6 Utah 2927.55 7582.32
7 California 2822.34 7309.84
8 Oregon 2732.81 7077.93
9 Hawaii 2732.75 7077.79
10 Montana 2625.75 6800.66
11 Maine 2211.56 5727.92
12 Idaho 1899.32 4919.21
13 Washington 1828.21 4735.03
14 Colorado 1626.47 4212.53
15 North Dakota 1333.96 3454.95
16 Michigan 1178.19 3051.51
17 South Dakota 1168.42 3026.20
18 Texas 1057.41 2738.67
19 Minnesota 999.30 2588.17
20 Florida 981.42 2541.86
21 New Hampshire 935.40 2421.64
22 Wisconsin 909.69 2356.10
23 Oklahoma 907.77 2351.10
24 New York 879.94 2279.02
25 Nebraska 831.76 2154.26
26 Delaware 829.67 2148.83
27 Louisiana 810.00 2097.89
28 Kansas 783.59 2029.49
29 Alabama 782.37 2026.34
30 Massachusetts 753.93 1952.67
31 Arkansas 709.05 1836.44
32 South Carolina 696.09 1802.86
33 Connecticut 692.88 1794.54
34 Pennsylvania 687.39 1780.33
35 Vermont 686.71 1778.58
36 Missouri 606.12 1569.85
37 Mississippi 590.61 1529.67
38 Iowa 568.40 1472.16
39 Illinois 567.78 1470.55
40 North Carolina 538.19 1393.91
41 Maryland 516.96 1338.92
42 Ohio 509.38 1319.28
43 Tennessee 443.61 1148.95
44 West Virginia 440.55 1141.01
45 New Jersey 415.29 1075.59
46 Indiana 395.85 1025.24
47 Georgia 373.74 967.99
48 Kentucky 336.74 872.16
49 Virginia 319.21 826.75
50 Rhode Island 242.80 628.85

Fifty most densely populated counties (or county equivalents)

Data presented below is based on U.S. Census department data from 2000. Calculations are made by dividing the population by the land area. All county-equivalents are included. Of particular note are how many Virginia independent cities (IC) appear on the list.


Rank County name Pop/km2 Pop/mile2
1 New York County, New York (Manhattan Borough) 25,845.71 66,940.07
2 Kings County, New York (Brooklyn Borough) 13,481.39 34,916.64
3 Bronx County, New York (The Bronx Borough) 12,243.04 31,709.34
4 Queens County, New York (Queens Borough) 7,879.95 20,408.98
5 City and County of San Francisco, California 6,422.57 16,634.37
6 Hudson County, New Jersey 5,036.17 13,043.62
7 Suffolk County, Massachusetts 4,551.51 11,788.35
8 Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania 4,337.32 11,233.61
9 Washington, D.C. 3,597.09 9,316.43
10 City of Alexandria, Virginia 3,263.33 8,451.99
11 City of Baltimore, Maryland 3,111.36 8,058.40
12 Richmond County, New York (Staten Island Borough) 2,929.69 7,587.86
13 Arlington County, Virginia 2,827.54 7,323.30
14 Essex County, New Jersey 2,426.79 6,285.36
15 Cook County, Illinois 2,195.21 5,685.58
16 City of Saint Louis, Missouri 2,171.00 5,622.87
17 City of Falls Church, Virginia 2,017.69 5,225.79
18 Union County, New Jersey 1,953.30 5,059.01
19 Nassau County, New York 1,797.29 4,654.97
20 City of Charlottesville, Virginia 1,694.89 4,389.74
21 City of Norfolk, Virginia 1,684.47 4,362.76
22 City of Manassas Park, Virginia 1,594.23 4,129.03
23 Milwaukee County, Wisconsin 1,502.73 3,892.06
24 Bergen County, New Jersey 1,457.74 3,775.52
25 City and County of Denver, Colorado 1,396.45 3,616.78
26 Orange County, California 1,392.14 3,605.62
27 City of Manassas, Virginia 1,365.64 3,536.98
28 City of Fairfax, Virginia 1,315.41 3,406.91
29 Wayne County, Michigan 1,295.80 3,356.11
30 City of Richmond, Virginia 1,271.30 3,292.64
31 Pinellas County, Florida 1,271.04 3,291.99
32 Ramsey County, Minnesota 1,266.63 3,280.55
33 Cuyahoga County, Ohio 1,173.89 3,040.37
34 City of Portsmouth, Virginia 1,170.92 3,032.68
35 Delaware County, Pennsylvania 1,154.60 2,990.41
36 City of Hampton, Virginia 1,091.89 2,827.99
37 City of Lexington, Virginia 1,063.24 2,753.78
38 DuPage County, Illinois 1,046.44 2,710.27
39 Orleans Parish, Louisiana 1,036.43 2,684.34
40 Passaic County, New Jersey 1,019.06 2,639.34
41 City of Newport News, Virginia 1,018.48 2,637.85
42 City of Winchester, Virginia 975.55 2,526.66
43 Dallas County, Texas 973.99 2,522.63
44 DeKalb County, Georgia 958.56 2,482.67
45 Fairfax County, Virginia 947.80 2,454.78
46 Middlesex County, New Jersey 935.17 2,422.07
47 Los Angeles County, California 905.09 2,344.16
48 City of Harrisonburg, Virginia 889.73 2,304.38
49 Camden County, New Jersey 883.95 2,289.41
50 City of Colonial Heights, Virginia 872.70 2,260.28

Fifty least densely populated counties (or county equivalents)

Data presented below is based on U.S. Census department data from 2000. Calculations are made by dividing the population by the land area. All county-equivalents are included. The list is dominated by just a few states: Alaska, Montana, and Texas together comprise about two-thirds of the entries. Note that the Unorganized Borough, which comprises all Census Areas (non-governmental entities) of Alaska, is not included here as a unit, but would rank seventh at 0.0957/km2 (0.2478/mile2) if its component Census Areas were eliminated from the list.


Rank County name Pop/km2 Pop/mile2
1 Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska 0.0173 0.0449
2 Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska 0.0296 0.0767
3 North Slope Borough, Alaska 0.0321 0.0831
4 Loving County, Texas 0.0384 0.0995
5 Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska 0.0408 0.1056
6 Denali Borough, Alaska 0.0573 0.1485
7 Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska 0.0775 0.2008
8 Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska 0.0961 0.2488
9 Dillingham Census Area, Alaska 0.1018 0.2636
10 Esmeralda County, Nevada 0.1045 0.2706
11 Garfield County, Montana 0.1058 0.2740
12 Kenedy County, Texas 0.1097 0.2842
13 Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska 0.1147 0.2971
14 Petroleum County, Montana 0.1151 0.2981
15 Harding County, New Mexico 0.1471 0.3811
16 Aleutians East Borough, Alaska 0.1490 0.3859
17 King County, Texas 0.1507 0.3902
18 Lincoln County, Nevada 0.1512 0.3917
19 Bethel Census Area, Alaska 0.1521 0.3939
20 Eureka County, Nevada 0.1527 0.3954
21 Nome Census Area, Alaska 0.1544 0.3998
22 Carter County, Montana 0.1572 0.4072
23 Wade Hampton Census Area, Alaska 0.1578 0.4088
24 Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska 0.1680 0.4351
25 Terrell County, Texas 0.1770 0.4585
26 Harding County, South Dakota 0.1956 0.5066
27 Catron County, New Mexico 0.1975 0.5114
28 Powder River County, Montana 0.2176 0.5635
29 Clark County, Idaho 0.2236 0.5792
30 McPherson County, Nebraska 0.2396 0.6205
31 Arthur County, Nebraska 0.2396 0.6207
32 Slope County, North Dakota 0.2431 0.6298
33 Prairie County, Montana 0.2666 0.6904
34 Hinsdale County, Colorado 0.2729 0.7068
35 Sioux County, Nebraska 0.2756 0.7137
36 Hudspeth County, Texas 0.2825 0.7316
37 McCone County, Montana 0.2889 0.7481
38 Harney County, Oregon 0.2899 0.7508
39 McMullen County, Texas 0.2952 0.7646
40 Billings County, North Dakota 0.2978 0.7712
41 Culberson County, Texas 0.3013 0.7803
42 Meagher County, Montana 0.3119 0.8078
43 Borden County, Texas 0.3132 0.8111
44 Blaine County, Nebraska 0.3167 0.8203
45 Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area, Alaska 0.3232 0.8294
46 Treasure County, Montana 0.3396 0.8796
47 Custer County, Idaho 0.3404 0.8815
48 Golden Valley County, Montana 0.3423 0.8866
49 Phillips County, Montana 0.3456 0.8952
50 Wheeler County, Oregon 0.3483 0.9021

Least and most densely populated counties of each state

Data presented below is based on U.S. Census Bureau data from 2000. Calculations are made by dividing the population by the land area. Density is given both in population per km2 and per square mile. All county-equivalents are included.

County name coincidences: Garfield County is the least densely populated county in both Montana and Utah. Harding County is the least densely populated in both New Mexico and South Dakota. Jefferson County is the most densely populated in both Alabama and Kentucky.

If Census Areas of Alaska are omitted, Lake and Peninsula Borough becomes the least densely populated at 0.0296/km2 | 0.0767/sq mi.

 
Least densely populated
Most densely populated
All States Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska (0.0173/km2 | 0.0449/sq mi) New York County, New York (25,845.71/km2 | 66,940.07/sq mi)
Alabama Wilcox County (5.7276/km2 | 14.8343/sq mi) Jefferson County (229.75/km2 | 595.04/sq mi)
Alaska Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area (0.0173/km2 | 0.0449/sq mi) Anchorage Municipality (59.21/km2 | 153.36)
Arizona La Paz County (1.6916/km2 | 4.3812/sq mi) Maricopa County (128.8868/km2 | 333.82/sq mi)
Arkansas Calhoun County (3.5299/km2 | 9.1425/sq mi) Pulaski County (181.06/km2 | 468.95/sq mi)
California Alpine County (0.6315/km2 | 1.6355/sq mi) San Francisco County (6,422.57/km2 | 16,634.37/sq mi)
Colorado Hinsdale County (0.2729/km2 | 0.7068/sq mi) Denver County (1,396.45/km2 | 3,616.78/sq mi)
Connecticut Litchfield County (76.4686/km2 | 198.0527/sq mi) Fairfield County (544.52/km2 | 1,410.30/sq mi)
Delaware Sussex County (64.5049/km2 | 167.0668/sq mi) New Castle County (453.13/km2 | 1,173.60/sq mi)
District of Columbia
Washington, D.C. (3,597.09/km2 | 9,316.43/sq mi)
Florida Liberty County (3.2431/km2 | 8.3997/sq mi) Pinellas County (1,271.04/km2 | 3,291.99/sq mi)
Georgia Clinch County (3.2814/km2 | 8.4988/sq mi) DeKalb County (958.56/km2 | 2,482.67/sq mi)
Hawaii Kalawao County (4.2980/km2 | 11.1318/sq mi) Honolulu County (564.03/km2 | 1,460.83/sq mi)
Idaho Clark County (0.2236/km2 | 0.5792/sq mi) Ada County (110.12/km2 | 285.22/sq mi)
Illinois Pope County (4.5943/km2 | 11.8993/sq mi) Cook County (2,195.51/km2 | 5,685.58/sq mi)
Indiana Warren County (8.9086/km2 | 23.0732/sq mi) Marion County (838.42/km2 | 2,171.50/sq mi)
Iowa Ringgold County (3.9273/km2 | 10.1717/sq mi) Polk County (254.04/km2 | 657.95/sq mi)
Kansas Wallace County (0.7388/km2 | 1.9136/sq mi) Wyandotte County (402.66/km2 | 1,042.88/sq mi)
Kentucky Hickman County (8.3114/km2 | 21.5263/sq mi) Jefferson County (695.43/km2 | 1,801.16/sq mi)
Louisiana Cameron Parish (2.9380/km2 | 7.6095/sq mi) Orleans Parish (1,036.43/km2 | 2,684.34/sq mi)
Maine Piscataquis County (1.6778/km2 | 4.3454/sq mi) Cumberland County (122.74/km2 | 317.90/sq mi)
Maryland Garrett County (17.7846/km2 | 46.0618/sq mi) Baltimore (independent city) (3,111.36/km2 | 8,058.40/sq mi)
Massachusetts Franklin County (39.3429/km2 | 101.8976/sq mi) Suffolk County (4,551.51/km2 | 11,788.35/sq mi)
Michigan Keweenaw County (1.6423/km2 | 4.2534/sq mi) Wayne County (1,295.80/km2 | 3,356.11/sq mi)
Minnesota Lake of the Woods County (1.3465/km2 | 3.4873/sq mi) Ramsey County (1,266.63/km2 | 3,280.55/sq mi)
Mississippi Issaquena County (2.1256/km2 | 5.5052/sq mi) Harrison County (126.00/km2 | 326.35/sq mi)
Missouri Reynolds County (3.1837/km2 | 8.2458/sq mi) Saint Louis (independent city) (2,171.00/km2 | 5,622.87/sq mi)
Montana Garfield County (0.1058/km2 | 0.2740/sq mi) Yellowstone County (18.95/km2 | 49.09/sq mi)
Nebraska McPherson County (0.2396/km2 | 0.6205/sq mi) Douglas County (540.79/km2 | 1,400.65/sq mi)
Nevada Esmeralda County (0.1045/km2 | 0.2706/sq mi) Carson City (independent city) (141.28/km2 | 365.93/sq mi)
New Hampshire Coos County (7.1008/km2 | 18.3911/sq mi) Hillsborough County (167.79/km2 | 434.57/sq mi)
New Jersey Salem County (73.4597/km2 | 190.2599/sq mi) Hudson County (5,036.17/km2 | 13,043.62/sq mi)
New Mexico Harding County (0.1471/km2 | 0.3811/sq mi) Bernalillo County (184.33/km2 | 477.41/sq mi)
New York Hamilton County (1.2072/km2 | 3.1266/sq mi) New York County (25,845.71/km2 | 66,940.07/sq mi)
North Carolina Hyde County (3.6708/km2 | 9.5073/sq mi) Mecklenburg County (510.22/km2 | 1,321.47/sq mi)
North Dakota Slope County (0.2431/km2 | 0.6298/sq mi) Cass County (26.93/km2 | 69.76/sq mi)
Ohio Vinton County (11.9407/km2 | 30.9264/sq mi) Cuyahoga County (1,173.89/km2 | 3,040.37/sq mi)
Oklahoma Cimarron County (0.6624/km2 | 1.7155/sq mi) Tulsa County (381.36/km2 | 987.72/sq mi)
Oregon Harney County (0.2899/km2 | 0.7508/sq mi) Multnomah County (585.93/km2 | 1,517.55/sq mi)
Pennsylvania Forest County (4.4606/km2 | 11.5529/sq mi) Philadelphia County (4,337.32/km2 | 11,233.61/sq mi)
Rhode Island Washington County (143.3532/km2 | 371.2830/sq mi) Bristol County (792.22/km2 | 2,051.84/sq mi)
South Carolina Allendale County (10.6041/km2 | 27.4645/sq mi) Greenville County (185.51/km2 | 480.48/sq mi)
South Dakota Harding County (0.1956/km2 | 0.5066/sq mi) Minnehaha County (70.71/km2 | 183.14/sq mi)
Tennessee Perry County (7.1014/km2 | 18.3926/sq mi) Shelby County (459.25/km2 | 1,189.44/sq mi)
Texas Loving County (0.0384/km2 | 0.0995/sq mi) Dallas County (973.99/km2 | 2,522.63/sq mi)
Utah Garfield County (0.3533/km2 | 0.9151/sq mi) Salt Lake County (470.41/km2 | 1,218.35/sq mi)
Vermont Essex County (3.7490/km2 | 9.7099/sq mi) Chittenden County (104.99/km2 | 271.91/sq mi)
Virginia Highland County (2.3545/km2 | 6.0983/sq mi) Alexandria (independent city) (3,263.33/km2 | 8,451.99/sq mi)
Washington Ferry County (1.2718/km2 | 3.2940/sq mi) King County (315.46/km2 | 817.03/sq mi)
West Virginia Pocahontas County (3.7494/km2 | 9.7109/sq mi) Ohio County (172.46/km2 | 446.68/sq mi)
Wisconsin Iron County (3.4983/km2 | 9.0606/sq mi) Milwaukee County (1,502.73/km2 | 3,892.06/sq mi)
Wyoming Niobrara County (0.3539/km2 | 0.9167/sq mi) Laramie County (11.73/km2 | 30.38/sq mi)

See also

Notes

^ A: The Unorganized Borough, Alaska formed by the Borough Act of 1961 is a legal entity, run by the Alaska state government as an extension of State government,[3] it and the independently incorporated Unified, Home Rule, First Class and Second Class boroughs roughly correspond to parishes in Louisiana and to counties in the other 48 states.[4]

References

  1. ^ Appearently, D.C. forms not a county, but a county-equivalent - because in case of all "real" counties all over the country, the U.S. Census Bureau lists and calls them that way (e.g. "XYZ County"), according to [1] / [2] / [3], there's nothing such like a "District of Columbia County"
  2. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density for Counties: 2000". Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2007-03-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |US-25S&-_lang= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "Alaska Statutes Title 29 Chapter 03. The Unorganized Borough" (HTML). Local Government On-Line, Division of Community and Regional Affairs, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. August 18, 1998. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  4. ^ "Local Government in Alaska" (PDF). Local Boundary Commission, Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. February 2001. Retrieved 2008-07-17.

General References

External links

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