COUNTY STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES

The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states of the United States for the level of local government below the state itself. Louisiana uses the term "parishes," 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.
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 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 three independent cities in other states (Baltimore, Maryland; Carson City, Nevada; and St. Louis, Missouri) are also not included in these lists.
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.

Contents
Twenty most populous counties in America
Twenty-five largest counties (or county equivalents) by land area
By size (square miles)
By population (as of 2000)
List of States by Average County Area
See also
Notes and references

Twenty most populous counties in America


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

The population is based on a 2004 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 name Population
1Los Angeles County, California9,937,739
2Cook County, Illinois5,327,777
3Harris County, Texas3,644,285
4Maricopa County, Arizona3,501,001
5Orange County, California2,987,591
6San Diego County, California2,931,714
7Kings County, New York2,475,290
8Miami-Dade County, Florida2,363,600
9Dallas County, Texas2,294,706
10Queens County, New York2,237,216
11Wayne County, Michigan2,061,162
12King County, Washington1,737,034
13San Bernardino County, California1,709,434
14Santa Clara County, California1,682,585
15Broward County, Florida1,623,018
16Riverside County, California1,545,387
17New York County, New York1,537,195
18Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania1,517,550
19Middlesex County, Massachusetts1,465,396
20Tarrant County, Texas1,446,219

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


Data presented below is based on U.S. Census department data from 2000.[1] Alaska's Unorganized Borough has been considered a county-equivalent; statistics for its individual census areas are not included.


Rank County name Land Area (sq.mi.) Population
1Unorganized Borough, Alaska330,074.9681,803
2North Slope Borough, Alaska88,817.127,385
3Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska35,898.347,208
4Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska24,681.5459,322
5Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska23,781.961,823
6San Bernardino County, California20,052.501,709,434
7Coconino County, Arizona18,617.42116,320
8Nye County, Nevada18,146.6632,485
9Elko County, Nevada17,179.0345,291
10Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska16,013.2649,691
11Mohave County, Arizona13,311.64155,032
12Denali Borough, Alaska12,749.651,893
13Apache County, Arizona11,204.8869,423
14Lincoln County, Nevada10,633.614,165
15Sweetwater County, Wyoming10,425.3037,613
16Inyo County, California10,203.1017,945
17Harney County, Oregon10,134.337,609
18Navajo County, Arizona9,953.1897,470
19Malheur County, Oregon9,887.0931,615
20Humboldt County, Nevada9,647.9116,106
21Maricopa County, Arizona9,203.143,072,149
22Pima County, Arizona9,186.27843,746
23Fremont County, Wyoming9,182.2735,804
24White Pine County, Nevada8,875.989,181
25Idaho County, Idaho8,484.8815,511

By size (square miles)


 
'Smallest'
'Largest'
All States Kalawao County, Hawaii (13) North Slope Borough, Alaska (94,763)
Alabama Etowah County, Alabama (535) Baldwin County, Alabama (1,596)
Alaska Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska (505) North Slope Borough, Alaska (94,763)
Arizona Santa Cruz County, Arizona (1,238) Coconino County, Arizona (18,617)
Arkansas Lafayette County, Arkansas (527) Union County, Arkansas (1,039)
California San Francisco, California (47) San Bernardino County, California (20,062)
Colorado Broomfield County, Colorado (27) Las Animas County, Colorado (4,772)
Connecticut Middlesex County, Connecticut (369) Litchfield County, Connecticut (920)
Delaware New Castle County, Delaware (426) Sussex County, Delaware (938)
Florida Union County, Florida (240) Collier County, Florida (2,025)
Georgia Clarke County, Georgia (121) Ware County, Georgia (903)
Hawaii Kalawao County, Hawaii (13) Hawaii County, Hawaii (4,028)
Idaho Payette County, Idaho (408) Idaho County, Idaho (8,485)
Illinois Putnam County, Illinois (160) McLean County, Illinois (1,184)
Indiana Ohio County, Indiana (87) Allen County, Indiana (657)
Iowa Dickinson County, Iowa (381) Kossuth County, Iowa (973)
Kansas Wyandotte County, Kansas (151) Butler County, Kansas (1,428)
Kentucky Robertson County, Kentucky (100) Pike County, Kentucky (788)
Louisiana West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana (204) Rapides Parish, Louisiana (1,323)
Maine Sagadahoc County, Maine (254) Aroostook County, Maine (6,672)
Maryland Calvert County, Maryland (215) Frederick County, Maryland (663)
Massachusetts Nantucket County, Massachusetts (48) Worcester County, Massachusetts (1,513)
Michigan Benzie County, Michigan (321) Marquette County, Michigan (1,821)
Minnesota Ramsey County, Minnesota (156) St. Louis County, Minnesota (6,225)
Mississippi Alcorn County, Mississippi (400) Yazoo County, Mississippi (919)
Missouri Worth County, Missouri (267) Texas County, Missouri (1,179)
Montana Silver Bow County, Montana (718) Beaverhead County, Montana (5,542)
Nebraska Sarpy County, Nebraska (241) Cherry County, Nebraska (5,961)
Nevada Storey County, Nevada (264) Nye County, Nevada (18,147)
New Hampshire Strafford County, New Hampshire (369) Coos County, New Hampshire (1,801)
New Jersey Hudson County, New Jersey (47) Burlington County, New Jersey (805)
New Mexico Los Alamos County, New Mexico (109) Catron County, New Mexico (6,928)
New York New York County, New York (22) St. Lawrence County, New York (2,686)
North Carolina Chowan County, North Carolina (173) Robeson County, North Carolina (949)
North Dakota Eddy County, North Dakota (630) McKenzie County, North Dakota (2,742)
Ohio Lake County, Ohio (229) Ashtabula County, Ohio (703)
Oklahoma Marshall County, Oklahoma (371) Osage County, Oklahoma (2,251)
Oregon Multnomah County, Oregon (435) Harney County, Oregon (10,134)
Pennsylvania Montour County, Pennsylvania (131) Lycoming County, Pennsylvania (1,235)
Rhode Island Bristol County, Rhode Island (25) Providence County, Rhode Island (413)
South Carolina McCormick County, South Carolina (360) Horry County, South Carolina (1,134)
South Dakota Clay County, South Dakota (412) Meade County, South Dakota (3,471)
Tennessee Trousdale County, Tennessee (114) Shelby County, Tennessee (755)
Texas Rockwall County, Texas (129) Brewster County, Texas (6,193)
Utah Davis County, Utah (305) San Juan County, Utah (7,821)
Vermont Grand Isle County, Vermont (83) Windsor County, Vermont (972)
Virginia Arlington County, Virginia (26) Pittsylvania County, Virginia (978)
Washington San Juan County, Washington (175) Okanogan County, Washington (5,268)
West Virginia Hancock County, West Virginia (83) Randolph County, West Virginia (1,040)
Wisconsin Ozaukee County, Wisconsin (232) Marathon County, Wisconsin (1,545)
Wyoming Hot Springs County, Wyoming (2,004) Sweetwater County, Wyoming (10,426)

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) Denver County, 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
District of Columbia (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 Nantucket County, 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 (sq.km.)
1Alaska24565.4463624.21
2Arizona7599.8719683.56
3Nevada6503.5916844.22
4Wyoming4252.9611015.11
5New Mexico3684.529542.85
6Utah2927.557582.32
7California2822.347309.84
8Oregon2732.817077.93
9Hawaii2732.757077.79
10Montana2625.756800.66
11Maine2211.565727.92
12Idaho1899.324919.21
13Washington1828.214735.03
14Colorado1626.474212.53
15North Dakota1333.963454.95
16Michigan1178.193051.51
17South Dakota1168.423026.20
18Texas1057.412738.67
19Minnesota999.302588.17
20Florida981.422541.86
21New Hampshire935.002421.64
22Wisconsin909.692356.10
23Oklahoma907.772351.10
24New York879.942279.02
25Nebraska831.762154.26
26Delaware829.672148.83
27Louisiana810.002097.89
28Kansas783.592029.49
29Alabama782.372026.34
30Massachusetts753.931952.67
31Arkansas709.051836.44
32South Carolina696.091802.86
33Connecticut692.881794.54
34Pennsylvania687.391780.33
35Vermont686.711778.58
36Missouri606.121569.85
37Mississippi590.611529.67
38Iowa568.401472.16
39Illinois567.781470.55
40North Carolina538.191393.91
41Maryland516.961338.92
42Ohio509.381319.28
43Tennessee443.611148.95
44West Virginia440.551141.01
45New Jersey415.291075.59
46Indiana395.851025.24
47Georgia373.74967.99
48Kentucky336.74872.16
49Virginia319.21826.75
50Rhode Island242.80628.85

See also



Local government in the United States

Notes and references


1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density for Counties: 2000


US Census Quick Facts

★ For a state map showing the counties, select in http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/ the state and select "view map"; select a county to obtain data about it.


Labor Statistics County Employment and Wages

★ For a table of counties of a state, with areas, populations, densities and more (using miles), select the state in [1].

Map of the US showing population density per county (pdf, see p.6)

★ 2002 Census of Governments; Volume 1, No. 1, Government Organization. U.S. Census Bureau. [2]. Page 8 shows a chart of counties by population and by state.

This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.

psst.. try this: add to faves