The top 13 most rural counties in Alabama + hidden gems they have to offer

Rural
Some of the prettiest spots in Alabama are the most unknown places. (Jacob Blakenship / The Bama Buzz)

Sweet Home Alabama is home to some of the best places and people. We have it all—from cities to lakes to the Gulf, our state is buzzing with fan-fav destinations. As a largely rural state, Alabama has some gorgeous places to visit far from the busy-ness of city streets. Keep reading to find out more about the most rural counties in Alabama and what spots you should visit.

What makes a county rural?

Before we reveal the Alabama counties that made the list, let’s look at how Stacker decided which ones have 100% rural land in the state by using data from the US Census Bureau. A rural county is made up of land that isn’t an urban area. Qualifications of an urban area include:

  • A densely settled area of census tracts or blocks
  • 2,500 people living in the county
  • 1,500 or more residents living in non-institutional buildings

Did your county make the list?

Now that we know why a county is named rural or not, here are the 13 Alabama counties that are 100% rural—that means there’s not a single urban area in the county:

  • Wilcox
  • Perry
  • Greene
  • Lowndes
  • Sumter
  • Choctaw
  • Washington
  • Coosa
  • Clay
  • Crenshaw
  • Pickens
  • Lamar
  • Cleburne

Did you know these counties have some amazing places to visit?

Flagg Mountain
Be sure to check out the incredible views and wildlife at Flagg Mountain. (The Bama Buzz)

With so few people, most Alabamians may not know a whole lot about what these places have to offer. Lucky you, we did some research and found some spots you need to check out in these rural counties:

We hope you’ll be inspired to get out of the hustle and bustle and experience these hidden gems in our great state.

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Selah Vetter
Selah Vetter
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