If the hustle and bustle of modern life has you exhausted, look no further than this property for perfect peace and quiet.
Business Electric ranked the top 150 off-grid living counties across the nation based on a vote of 3,000 Americans.
The top spots span nearly every region of the country, but they all have two key characteristics in common: wilderness and isolation.
Here are the top 10 counties in the United States where you can find peace of mind.
1. Wasco County, Oregon
Wasco County, just a short distance from the bustling city of Portland, took the top spot for off-grid living.
According to census data, this sprawling county covers an area of 2,381 square miles but has a population of just 26,670 people, which means there are only roughly 11 people per square mile, making for a very quiet lifestyle.
Much of Wasco’s appeal lies in the vastness of the Northwest Wilderness. Mount Hood National Forest, which stretches across Wasco and several neighboring states, boasts a variety of attractions, including lakes, hiking trails and mountain biking trails.
However, it is important to note that Mount Hood is one of the most visited federal parks in the country.
2. Hot Springs County, Wyoming
1,000 miles away, Hot Springs County has a staggeringly small population of just 4,621, making it the second least populated county in the entire state.
The tiny community is further isolated by its terrain, being completely surrounded by mountains.
Its isolation is almost ironic, considering Hot Springs County was once the largest in the country. Now a ghost town with a few spooky buildings and a cemetery, Gebo was a mining town founded in 1907 and once had a population of 2,000.
However, today’s Hot Springs County residents have the privilege of enjoying the southern Big Horn Basin, Wind River Canyon, Shoshone National Forest and its namesake Hot Springs State Park, all within the sparsely populated county borders.
3. Meriwether County, Georgia
Ranking highest in the southeastern part of the country, Meriwether County is known for its expansive parks and lakes.
According to the county website, the community’s history dates back “to before recorded times, when Native Americans used the trails here as a trade route, the springs as a source of healing and the wilderness areas as a source of scenic beauty.”
According to census data, the county has a population of approximately 20,613 people in an area of 505 square miles.
4. Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Describing itself as a “perfect weekend getaway spot” and a “hunting and fishing haven,” Bienville Parish is renowned for its camping culture.
Lake Bistineau, Lake Kepler Creek, Mill Creek Reservoir, and Saline Lake are some of the most popular spots dotted with cabins and lodges tucked beneath remnants of hardwood forest.
The community is relatively small, with just 5,375 households living in the northwest part of the county.
Be prepared for crowds of onlookers, though, as this is where the infamous Bonnie and Clyde were shot.
5. Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County, Maine, has the largest population of any of the counties so far mentioned, with 50,477 people.
Somerset County has a total area of 4,094 square miles, of which about a quarter is covered by water.
This maritime community has numerous protected areas, making it a great place for hiking, hunting and fishing year-round and snowmobiling in the winter.
6 – 10
Already securing top-five status, the two states also made it into the back-end top 10 for off-grid residences in the United States.
Harney County, Oregon, known for its mountains and lava, dropped to eighth place, while Labang County, Georgia, covered in lakes, ranked 10th.
Litchfield County, Connecticut; Lake County, Michigan; and Pope County, Illinois also ranked sixth, seventh, and ninth.
All counties except Litchfield County had populations under 17,000.
