This is a list of the 100 largest counties in the United States by area. The list is based upon the total area of a county, both land and water surface, reported by the United States Census Bureau during the 2000 Census. Alaska and Louisiana are not divided into counties.
A different ranking becomes apparent when comparing county areas by land area alone as opposed to total area. Some counties, such as Keweenaw and Alger Counties in Michigan, include significant amounts of water in their total area and would not appear on a list that considered land area alone. This list also includes the four counties that would be included when water area is not included.
Nine US states are smaller than San Bernardino County, California, and two states, Rhode Island and Delaware are smaller than the smallest counties on this list.
List of largest counties
Rank | County | State | County seat | Total area | Land area |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Bernardino County | California | San Bernardino | 20,105.32 sq mi (52,072.5 km) | 20,052.5 sq mi (51,936 km) |
2 | Coconino County | Arizona | Flagstaff | 18,661.21 sq mi (48,332.3 km) | 18,617.42 sq mi (48,218.9 km) |
3 | Nye County | Nevada | Tonopah | 18,158.73 sq mi (47,030.9 km) | 18,146.66 sq mi (46,999.6 km) |
4 | Elko County | Nevada | Elko | 17,202.94 sq mi (44,555.4 km) | 17,179.03 sq mi (44,493.5 km) |
5 | Mohave County | Arizona | Kingman | 13,469.71 sq mi (34,886.4 km) | 13,311.64 sq mi (34,477.0 km) |
6 | Apache County | Arizona | St. Johns | 11,218.42 sq mi (29,055.6 km) | 11,204.88 sq mi (29,020.5 km) |
7 | Lincoln County | Nevada | Pioche | 10,636.77 sq mi (27,549.1 km) | 10,633.61 sq mi (27,540.9 km) |
8 | Sweetwater County | Wyoming | Green River | 10,491.17 sq mi (27,172.0 km) | 10,425.3 sq mi (27,001 km) |
9 | Inyo County | California | Independence | 10,226.98 sq mi (26,487.8 km) | 10,203.1 sq mi (26,426 km) |
10 | Harney County | Oregon | Burns | 10,226.49 sq mi (26,486.5 km) | 10,134.33 sq mi (26,247.8 km) |
11 | Navajo County | Arizona | Holbrook | 9,959.49 sq mi (25,795.0 km) | 9,953.18 sq mi (25,778.6 km) |
12 | Malheur County | Oregon | Vale | 9,929.99 sq mi (25,718.6 km) | 9,887.09 sq mi (25,607.4 km) |
13 | Humboldt County | Nevada | Winnemucca | 9,657.87 sq mi (25,013.8 km) | 9,647.91 sq mi (24,988.0 km) |
14 | Fremont County | Wyoming | Lander | 9,265.8 sq mi (23,998 km) | 9,182.27 sq mi (23,782.0 km) |
15 | Maricopa County | Arizona | Phoenix | 9,224.27 sq mi (23,890.7 km) | 9,203.14 sq mi (23,836.0 km) |
16 | Pima County | Arizona | Tucson | 9,188.83 sq mi (23,799.0 km) | 9,186.27 sq mi (23,792.3 km) |
17 | White Pine County | Nevada | Ely | 8,896.6 sq mi (23,042 km) | 8,875.98 sq mi (22,988.7 km) |
18 | Idaho County | Idaho | Grangeville | 8,502.48 sq mi (22,021.3 km) | 8,484.88 sq mi (21,975.7 km) |
19 | Lake County | Oregon | Lakeview | 8,358.47 sq mi (21,648.3 km) | 8,135.75 sq mi (21,071.5 km) |
20 | Kern County | California | Bakersfield | 8,161.42 sq mi (21,138.0 km) | 8,140.96 sq mi (21,085.0 km) |
21 | Yavapai County | Arizona | Prescott | 8,127.78 sq mi (21,050.9 km) | 8,123.3 sq mi (21,039 km) |
22 | Clark County | Nevada | Las Vegas | 8,090.66 sq mi (20,954.7 km) | 7,910.34 sq mi (20,487.7 km) |
23 | Carbon County | Wyoming | Rawlins | 7,964.03 sq mi (20,626.7 km) | 7,896.14 sq mi (20,450.9 km) |
24 | San Juan County | Utah | Monticello | 7,933.09 sq mi (20,546.6 km) | 7,820.18 sq mi (20,254.2 km) |
25 | Owyhee County | Idaho | Murphy | 7,696.71 sq mi (19,934.4 km) | 7,677.98 sq mi (19,885.9 km) |
26 | Riverside County | California | Riverside | 7,303.13 sq mi (18,915.0 km) | 7,207.37 sq mi (18,667.0 km) |
27 | Tooele County | Utah | Tooele | 7,287.12 sq mi (18,873.6 km) | 6,930.35 sq mi (17,949.5 km) |
28 | Park County | Wyoming | Cody | 6,968.51 sq mi (18,048.4 km) | 6,942.39 sq mi (17,980.7 km) |
29 | Catron County | New Mexico | Reserve | 6,929.03 sq mi (17,946.1 km) | 6,927.81 sq mi (17,942.9 km) |
30 | St. Louis County | Minnesota | Duluth | 6,859.91 sq mi (17,767.1 km) | 6,225.16 sq mi (16,123.1 km) |
31 | Aroostook County | Maine | Houlton | 6,828.79 sq mi (17,686.5 km) | 6,671.54 sq mi (17,279.2 km) |
32 | Millard County | Utah | Fillmore | 6,828.01 sq mi (17,684.5 km) | 6,589.13 sq mi (17,065.8 km) |
33 | Box Elder County | Utah | Brigham City | 6,729.03 sq mi (17,428.1 km) | 5,723.34 sq mi (14,823.4 km) |
34 | Socorro County | New Mexico | Socorro | 6,648.71 sq mi (17,220.1 km) | 6,646.4 sq mi (17,214 km) |
35 | Otero County | New Mexico | Alamogordo | 6,627.43 sq mi (17,165.0 km) | 6,626.5 sq mi (17,163 km) |
36 | Washoe County | Nevada | Reno | 6,551.32 sq mi (16,967.8 km) | 6,342.27 sq mi (16,426.4 km) |
37 | Siskiyou County | California | Yreka | 6,347.46 sq mi (16,439.8 km) | 6,286.78 sq mi (16,282.7 km) |
38 | Cochise County | Arizona | Bisbee | 6,218.77 sq mi (16,106.5 km) | 6,169.45 sq mi (15,978.8 km) |
39 | Brewster County | Texas | Alpine | 6,192.78 sq mi (16,039.2 km) | 6,192.61 sq mi (16,038.8 km) |
40 | Klamath County | Oregon | Klamath Falls | 6,135.75 sq mi (15,891.5 km) | 5,944.19 sq mi (15,395.4 km) |
41 | Chaves County | New Mexico | Roswell | 6,075.07 sq mi (15,734.4 km) | 6,070.86 sq mi (15,723.5 km) |
42 | Pershing County | Nevada | Lovelock | 6,067.55 sq mi (15,714.9 km) | 6,036.56 sq mi (15,634.6 km) |
43 | Fresno County | California | Fresno | 6,017.42 sq mi (15,585.0 km) | 5,962.73 sq mi (15,443.4 km) |
44 | Cherry County | Nebraska | Valentine | 6,009.54 sq mi (15,564.6 km) | 5,960.52 sq mi (15,437.7 km) |
45 | Keweenaw County | Michigan | Eagle River | 5,965.96 sq mi (15,451.8 km) | 540.97 sq mi (1,401.1 km) |
46 | Rio Arriba County | New Mexico | Tierra Amarilla | 5,896.1 sq mi (15,271 km) | 5,857.63 sq mi (15,171.2 km) |
47 | Beaverhead County | Montana | Dillon | 5,572.04 sq mi (14,431.5 km) | 5,542.31 sq mi (14,354.5 km) |
48 | San Juan County | New Mexico | Aztec | 5,538.36 sq mi (14,344.3 km) | 5,514.02 sq mi (14,281.2 km) |
49 | Lander County | Nevada | Battle Mountain | 5,519.47 sq mi (14,295.4 km) | 5,493.63 sq mi (14,228.4 km) |
50 | Yuma County | Arizona | Yuma | 5,518.96 sq mi (14,294.0 km) | 5,514.09 sq mi (14,281.4 km) |
51 | McKinley County | New Mexico | Gallup | 5,455.22 sq mi (14,129.0 km) | 5,448.72 sq mi (14,112.1 km) |
52 | Natrona County | Wyoming | Casper | 5,375.72 sq mi (13,923.1 km) | 5,339.88 sq mi (13,830.2 km) |
53 | Pinal County | Arizona | Florence | 5,374.09 sq mi (13,918.8 km) | 5,369.59 sq mi (13,907.2 km) |
54 | Okanogan County | Washington | Okanogan | 5,315.16 sq mi (13,766.2 km) | 5,268.07 sq mi (13,644.2 km) |
55 | Flathead County | Montana | Kalispell | 5,256.45 sq mi (13,614.1 km) | 5,098.34 sq mi (13,204.6 km) |
56 | Phillips County | Montana | Malta | 5,212.17 sq mi (13,499.5 km) | 5,139.57 sq mi (13,311.4 km) |
57 | Garfield County | Utah | Panguitch | 5,208.2 sq mi (13,489 km) | 5,174.22 sq mi (13,401.2 km) |
58 | Douglas County | Oregon | Roseburg | 5,133.83 sq mi (13,296.6 km) | 5,036.62 sq mi (13,044.8 km) |
59 | Hawaii County | Hawaii | Hilo | 5,086.7 sq mi (13,174 km) | 4,028.02 sq mi (10,432.5 km) |
60 | Valley County | Montana | Glasgow | 5,061.98 sq mi (13,110.5 km) | 4,921 sq mi (12,750 km) |
61 | Alger County | Michigan | Munising | 5,049.08 sq mi (13,077.1 km) | 917.83 sq mi (2,377.2 km) |
62 | Rosebud County | Montana | Forsyth | 5,026.94 sq mi (13,019.7 km) | 5,012.37 sq mi (12,982.0 km) |
63 | Churchill County | Nevada | Fallon | 5,023.38 sq mi (13,010.5 km) | 4,929.08 sq mi (12,766.3 km) |
64 | Big Horn County | Montana | Hardin | 5,014.65 sq mi (12,987.9 km) | 4,994.81 sq mi (12,936.5 km) |
65 | Custer County | Idaho | Challis | 4,936.79 sq mi (12,786.2 km) | 4,925.45 sq mi (12,756.9 km) |
66 | Sublette County | Wyoming | Pinedale | 4,935.66 sq mi (12,783.3 km) | 4,882.57 sq mi (12,645.8 km) |
67 | Garfield County | Montana | Jordan | 4,847.54 sq mi (12,555.1 km) | 4,668.06 sq mi (12,090.2 km) |
68 | Tulare County | California | Visalia | 4,839.09 sq mi (12,533.2 km) | 4,823.97 sq mi (12,494.0 km) |
69 | Lincoln County | New Mexico | Carrizozo | 4,831.25 sq mi (12,512.9 km) | 4,830.97 sq mi (12,512.2 km) |
70 | Campbell County | Wyoming | Gillette | 4,807.25 sq mi (12,450.7 km) | 4,803.13 sq mi (12,440.0 km) |
71 | Gila County | Arizona | Globe | 4,795.74 sq mi (12,420.9 km) | 4,767.7 sq mi (12,348 km) |
72 | Las Animas County | Colorado | Trinidad | 4,775.42 sq mi (12,368.3 km) | 4,772.63 sq mi (12,361.1 km) |
73 | Pecos County | Texas | Fort Stockton | 4,764.73 sq mi (12,340.6 km) | 4,763.66 sq mi (12,337.8 km) |
74 | Los Angeles County | California | Los Angeles | 4,752.32 sq mi (12,308.5 km) | 4,060.87 sq mi (10,517.6 km) |
75 | Moffat County | Colorado | Craig | 4,750.94 sq mi (12,304.9 km) | 4,742.25 sq mi (12,282.4 km) |
76 | San Miguel County | New Mexico | Las Vegas | 4,735.63 sq mi (12,265.2 km) | 4,717.04 sq mi (12,217.1 km) |
77 | Lane County | Oregon | Eugene | 4,721.79 sq mi (12,229.4 km) | 4,554 sq mi (11,790 km) |
78 | Lassen County | California | Susanville | 4,720.37 sq mi (12,225.7 km) | 4,557.27 sq mi (11,803.3 km) |
79 | Graham County | Arizona | Safford | 4,641.14 sq mi (12,020.5 km) | 4,629.32 sq mi (11,989.9 km) |
80 | Hudspeth County | Texas | Sierra Blanca | 4,571.93 sq mi (11,841.2 km) | 4,571 sq mi (11,840 km) |
81 | Lemhi County | Idaho | Salmon | 4,569.5 sq mi (11,835 km) | 4,564.16 sq mi (11,821.1 km) |
82 | Cibola County | New Mexico | Grants | 4,541.71 sq mi (11,763.0 km) | 4,539.21 sq mi (11,756.5 km) |
83 | Grant County | Oregon | Canyon City | 4,529.32 sq mi (11,730.9 km) | 4,528.6 sq mi (11,729 km) |
84 | San Diego County | California | San Diego | 4,525.52 sq mi (11,721.0 km) | 4,199.89 sq mi (10,877.7 km) |
85 | La Paz County | Arizona | Parker | 4,513.36 sq mi (11,689.5 km) | 4,499.95 sq mi (11,654.8 km) |
86 | Uintah County | Utah | Vernal | 4,498.98 sq mi (11,652.3 km) | 4,477.07 sq mi (11,595.6 km) |
87 | Imperial County | California | El Centro | 4,481.73 sq mi (11,607.6 km) | 4,174.73 sq mi (10,812.5 km) |
88 | Emery County | Utah | Castle Dale | 4,461.54 sq mi (11,555.3 km) | 4,451.85 sq mi (11,530.2 km) |
89 | Lea County | New Mexico | Lovington | 4,394.02 sq mi (11,380.5 km) | 4,392.96 sq mi (11,377.7 km) |
90 | Piscataquis County | Maine | Dover-Foxcroft | 4,377.36 sq mi (11,337.3 km) | 3,966.22 sq mi (10,272.5 km) |
91 | Fergus County | Montana | Lewistown | 4,350.36 sq mi (11,267.4 km) | 4,339.17 sq mi (11,238.4 km) |
92 | Yakima County | Washington | Yakima | 4,311.61 sq mi (11,167.0 km) | 4,296.23 sq mi (11,127.2 km) |
93 | Albany County | Wyoming | Laramie | 4,308.79 sq mi (11,159.7 km) | 4,272.75 sq mi (11,066.4 km) |
94 | Converse County | Wyoming | Douglas | 4,265.1 sq mi (11,047 km) | 4,254.72 sq mi (11,019.7 km) |
95 | Blaine County | Montana | Chinook | 4,238.92 sq mi (10,978.8 km) | 4,226.18 sq mi (10,945.8 km) |
96 | Sierra County | New Mexico | Truth or Consequences | 4,236.3 sq mi (10,972 km) | 4,180.23 sq mi (10,826.7 km) |
97 | Teton County | Wyoming | Jackson | 4,221.8 sq mi (10,934 km) | 4,007.76 sq mi (10,380.1 km) |
98 | Modoc County | California | Alturas | 4,203.37 sq mi (10,886.7 km) | 3,944.1 sq mi (10,215 km) |
99 | Eddy County | New Mexico | Carlsbad | 4,197.57 sq mi (10,871.7 km) | 4,182.02 sq mi (10,831.4 km) |
100 | Eureka County | Nevada | Eureka | 4,179.96 sq mi (10,826.0 km) | 4,175.68 sq mi (10,815.0 km) |
101 (94) | Johnson County | Wyoming | Buffalo | 4,174.71 sq mi (10,812.4 km) | 4,166.28 sq mi (10,790.6 km) |
102 (100) | Kane County | Utah | Kanab | 4,108.42 sq mi (10,640.8 km) | 3,991.96 sq mi (10,339.1 km) |
104 (95) | Lincoln County | Wyoming | Kemmerer | 4,089.01 sq mi (10,590.5 km) | 4,069.09 sq mi (10,538.9 km) |
106 (99) | Orange County | California | Santa Ana | 4,021.56 sq mi (10,415.8 km) | 3,992.45 sq mi (10,340.4 km) |
Notes
- ^ The figure shown in parentheses indicates the rank this county would have when considering land area only.
Alaskan boroughs and census areas
Unlike most states, Alaska is divided into boroughs and census areas that serve as county-equivalents for the Census Bureau. If included with the remainder of the counties and county-equivalent areas in the United States, Alaska's boroughs and census areas would occupy the largest 11. Below is a list of these boroughs and census areas that would rank in the top 100 if included in the above list.
The Unorganized Borough, in which all of the census areas are located, is not considered a county-equivalent area and is not included in this list. With an area of 323,440 sq mi (837,700 km), it would easily top the list, outranking every state in the country (except Alaska).
The rankings in the below list reflect the rank each borough or census area would have if included with all counties and county-equivalent areas in the United States (up to #11).
Rank | Borough/Census Area | Total area | Land area |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 147,842.51 sq mi (382,910.3 km) | 145,899.69 sq mi (377,878.5 km) |
2 | North Slope Borough | 94,762.64 sq mi (245,434.1 km) | 88,817.12 sq mi (230,035.3 km) |
3 | Bethel Census Area | 45,508.46 sq mi (117,866.4 km) | 40,633.31 sq mi (105,239.8 km) |
4 | Northwest Arctic Borough | 40,762 sq mi (105,570 km) | 35,898.34 sq mi (92,976.3 km) |
5 | Lake and Peninsula Borough | 30,906.96 sq mi (80,048.7 km) | 23,781.96 sq mi (61,595.0 km) |
6 | Nome Census Area | 28,283.33 sq mi (73,253.5 km) | 23,000.91 sq mi (59,572.1 km) |
7 | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 25,259.79 sq mi (65,422.6 km) | 24,681.54 sq mi (63,924.9 km) |
8 | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 25,061.19 sq mi (64,908.2 km) | 24,814.86 sq mi (64,270.2 km) |
9 | Kenai Peninsula Borough | 24,754.6 sq mi (64,114 km) | 16,013.26 sq mi (41,474.2 km) |
10 | Copper River Census Area | 24,692 sq mi (63,950 km) | 24,692 sq mi (63,950 km) |
11 | Dillingham Census Area | 20,928.41 sq mi (54,204.3 km) | 18,674.78 sq mi (48,367.5 km) |
12 | Kusilvak Census Area | 19,669.24 sq mi (50,943.1 km) | 17,193.5 sq mi (44,531 km) |
13 | Aleutians East Borough | 15,011.6 sq mi (38,880 km) | 6,988.14 sq mi (18,099.2 km) |
14 | Aleutians West Census Area | 14,116.51 sq mi (36,561.6 km) | 4,396.77 sq mi (11,387.6 km) |
15 | Denali Borough | 12,774.53 sq mi (33,085.9 km) | 12,749.65 sq mi (33,021.4 km) |
16 | Kodiak Island Borough | 12,023.67 sq mi (31,141.2 km) | 6,559.85 sq mi (16,989.9 km) |
17 | Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | 10,914 sq mi (28,270 km) | 7,525 sq mi (19,490 km) |
18 | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 7,683 sq mi (19,900 km) | 3,923 sq mi (10,160 km) |
19 | Chugach Census Area | 9,530 sq mi (24,700 km) | 9,530 sq mi (24,700 km) |
20 | Yakutat City and Borough | 9,459.28 sq mi (24,499.4 km) | 7,650.46 sq mi (19,814.6 km) |
21 | Fairbanks North Star Borough | 7,444.02 sq mi (19,279.9 km) | 7,366.24 sq mi (19,078.5 km) |
22 | Sitka City and Borough | 4,811.53 sq mi (12,461.8 km) | 2,873.98 sq mi (7,443.6 km) |
23 | Petersburg Borough | 3,829 sq mi (9,920 km) | 3,829 sq mi (9,920 km) |
24 | Wrangell City and Borough | 3,476.61 sq mi (9,004.4 km) | 2,555.99 sq mi (6,620.0 km) |
See also
References
- "United States -- County by State, and for Puerto Rico". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
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