Most densely populated counties
Population per square mile of land, using the latest Census Bureau estimate and Gazetteer land area. Small urban counties and independent cities lead because a large population shares little land.
Ranks 3201–3222
Vintage 2025 population estimates · 2026 Gazetteer land area · 3,222 county equivalents · page 33 of 33
What this part of the ranking shows
This page runs from McPherson County, Nebraska at 0.43 people per mi² to Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska at 0.034 people per mi². The 22 entries represent 6 state-level jurisdictions. Alaska has the most entries on this page (11).
Rank numbers continue across pages and describe the full selected ranking. They are not state ranks. Start at rank 1 for the leading entries, or open a county profile for its state rank and median comparisons.
| Rank | County / equivalent | State | Population | Per mi² | Land mi² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3201 | McPherson County | Nebraska | 369 | 0.43 | 859.3 |
| 3202 | Nome Census Area | Alaska | 9,830 | 0.43 | 22,969.9 |
| 3203 | Carter County | Montana | 1,383 | 0.41 | 3,340.5 |
| 3204 | Lincoln County | Nevada | 4,320 | 0.41 | 10,633.4 |
| 3205 | Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | Alaska | 2,271 | 0.35 | 6,560 |
| 3206 | Petroleum County | Montana | 548 | 0.33 | 1,655.6 |
| 3207 | Terrell County | Texas | 702 | 0.3 | 2,358 |
| 3208 | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | Alaska | 7,270 | 0.29 | 24,839.3 |
| 3209 | Harding County | New Mexico | 617 | 0.29 | 2,125.5 |
| 3210 | Garfield County | Montana | 1,148 | 0.25 | 4,676.6 |
| 3211 | Dillingham Census Area | Alaska | 4,483 | 0.24 | 18,355.9 |
| 3212 | Kenedy County | Texas | 319 | 0.22 | 1,458.6 |
| 3213 | King County | Texas | 192 | 0.21 | 910.9 |
| 3214 | Esmeralda County | Nevada | 729 | 0.2 | 3,581.9 |
| 3215 | Northwest Arctic Borough | Alaska | 7,095 | 0.2 | 35,672.3 |
| 3216 | Denali Borough | Alaska | 1,616 | 0.13 | 12,641.2 |
| 3217 | North Slope Borough | Alaska | 10,582 | 0.12 | 88,797.6 |
| 3218 | Copper River Census Area | Alaska | 2,666 | 0.11 | 24,646.1 |
| 3219 | Yakutat City and Borough | Alaska | 672 | 0.088 | 7,638.2 |
| 3220 | Loving County | Texas | 52 | 0.078 | 668.8 |
| 3221 | Lake and Peninsula Borough | Alaska | 1,357 | 0.057 | 23,896.5 |
| 3222 | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | Alaska | 5,028 | 0.034 | 145,767.5 |
Read the differences behind ranks 3201–3222
The median density among these 22 entries is 0.23 people per mi². The first and last entries span 0.39 people per square mile. This median describes the entries on this page, not the full national dataset. Pagination is a browsing boundary, not a distinct geographic region.
Adjacent ranks can differ by a handful of residents or by many thousands. Open a county profile for its population trend since 2020, land area, and state comparisons.
Where the entries on this page are located
- Alaska11 entries · 50% of this page
- Texas4 entries · 18.2% of this page
- Montana3 entries · 13.6% of this page
- Nevada2 entries · 9.1% of this page
- Nebraska1 entry · 4.5% of this page
- New Mexico1 entry · 4.5% of this page
These counts describe representation in this slice of the ranking. They do not measure a state’s share of national land or population. Compare the first and last county equivalents on this page to inspect land, water, and total area separately.
Read the geographic explanation behind this ranking, or return to the ranking overview for the national distribution and guidance on selecting a measurement.
Population rankings use Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates; density rankings divide them by original ALAND square meters. Land rankings use original ALAND square meters; total-area rankings use ALAND + AWATER. Exact ties use ascending GEOID. Displayed square-mile values are rounded. Read the methodology.