With more than 32 million small businesses in 2021 — about 8% of them founded in any given year — the United States has a vibrant business startup culture. Even though nearly half of these new-business entrants will not last beyond five years, a slightly higher number of new enterprises replace the ones that close every year.
Startups tend to be small businesses, which create 66% of new jobs and comprise 44% of U.S. gross domestic product, according to the Small Business Administration. As much as large and established publicly traded companies play an important role in the U.S. economy, small businesses make up the backbone of the economy. (There are also government-run companies – these are 14 big businesses run by the U.S. government.)
These businesses include small hotels and family-run restaurants, trucking firms and real estate agencies, manufacturers with small numbers of employees, and independent contractors who incorporate and work for themselves. (Eventually some startups grow enough to go public. These are the biggest IPO runups of the last 50 years.)
A good measure of an area’s new-business activity is the number of new-business applications. It is not a perfect measure, as these applications do not always lead to new businesses. Nevertheless, it offers an apples-to-apples comparison of entrepreneurial efforts between cities, counties, or states.
To identify the 50 counties with the most business applications in 2020, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Business Formation Statistics from the U.S Census Bureau. All county and county equivalents, including independent cities, were considered. Counties and county equivalents were ranked on new business applications submitted in 2020 per 1,000 people. State and local population figures are five year estimates from the Census’s 2019 American Community Survey.
The median number of new-business applications among the top 50 U.S. counties based on startup activity in 2020 was 29.4 applications per 1,000 residents. Out of these 50 counties, 13 are in Georgia, with a median of 33.8 applications per 1,000 residents. Mississippi comes in second with eight counties on the list. Notably absent are the two most populous U.S. states, California and Texas.
Click here to see counties where the most people applied to start a business
50. Quitman County, Mississippi
> Applications for new business in 2020: 24.63 per 1,000 people (177 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +149.3%
> Population: 7,187
> Largest place in county: Marks
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49. Monroe County, Florida
> Applications for new business in 2020: 24.68 per 1,000 people (1,871 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +5.5%
> Population: 75,798
> Largest place in county: Key West
Source: VisionsbyAtlee / iStock via Getty Images
48. Osceola County, Florida
> Applications for new business in 2020: 25.18 per 1,000 people (8,862 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +36.1%
> Population: 351,955
> Largest place in county: Kissimmee
Source: milehightraveler / iStock via Getty Images
47. Denver County, Colorado
> Applications for new business in 2020: 25.18 per 1,000 people (17,768 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +12.9%
> Population: 705,576
> Largest place in county: Denver
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
46. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
> Applications for new business in 2020: 25.19 per 1,000 people (27,064 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +38.5%
> Population: 1,074,475
> Largest place in county: Charlotte
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
45. Bibb County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 25.20 per 1,000 people (3,860 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +86.1%
> Population: 153,200
> Largest place in county: Macon
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44. Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi
> Applications for new business in 2020: 25.31 per 1,000 people (287 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +165.7%
> Population: 11,339
> Largest place in county: Prentiss
Source: MicheleVacchiano / Getty Images
43. Lincoln County, Wyoming
> Applications for new business in 2020: 25.53 per 1,000 people (492 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +7.0%
> Population: 19,274
> Largest place in county: Kemmerer
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
42. East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
> Applications for new business in 2020: 25.56 per 1,000 people (11,341 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +58.3%
> Population: 443,763
> Largest place in parish: Baton Rouge
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Source: CRobertson / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
41. Claiborne County, Mississippi
> Applications for new business in 2020: 25.86 per 1,000 people (235 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +201.3%
> Population: 9,089
> Largest place in county: Port Gibson
40. Spalding County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 25.86 per 1,000 people (1,689 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +138.2%
> Population: 65,306
> Largest place in county: Griffin
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
39. Perry County, Alabama
> Applications for new business in 2020: 26.04 per 1,000 people (242 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +278.1%
> Population: 9,293
> Largest place in county: Marion
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38. Madison County, Mississippi
> Applications for new business in 2020: 26.16 per 1,000 people (2,735 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +33.8%
> Population: 104,562
> Largest place in county: Madison
37. Dougherty County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 26.20 per 1,000 people (2,350 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +115.4%
> Population: 89,703
> Largest place in county: Albany
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Source: CRobertson / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
36. Humphreys County, Mississippi
> Applications for new business in 2020: 26.34 per 1,000 people (221 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +130.2%
> Population: 8,389
> Largest place in county: Belzoni
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
35. Jefferson County, Mississippi
> Applications for new business in 2020: 26.99 per 1,000 people (195 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +129.4%
> Population: 7,225
> Largest place in county: Fayette
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34. Prince George’s County, Maryland
> Applications for new business in 2020: 27.10 per 1,000 people (24,623 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +45.7%
> Population: 908,670
> Largest place in county: Bowie
Source: LCBallard / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
33. Walton County, Florida
> Applications for new business in 2020: 27.37 per 1,000 people (1,868 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +9.0%
> Population: 68,262
> Largest place in county: Miramar Beach
Source: SEASTOCK / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
32. San Miguel County, Colorado
> Applications for new business in 2020: 27.58 per 1,000 people (222 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +24.7%
> Population: 8,049
> Largest place in county: Telluride
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31. New York County, New York
> Applications for new business in 2020: 28.05 per 1,000 people (45,783 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: -1.7%
> Population: 1,631,993
> Largest place in county: New York
Source: Orietta Gaspari / iStock via Getty Images
30. Palm Beach County, Florida
> Applications for new business in 2020: 28.13 per 1,000 people (41,209 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +24.9%
> Population: 1,465,027
> Largest place in county: West Palm Beach
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29. St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
> Applications for new business in 2020: 28.31 per 1,000 people (1,224 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +108.5%
> Population: 43,242
> Largest place in parish: Laplace
Source: pabradyphoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
28. Hinds County, Mississippi
> Applications for new business in 2020: 28.82 per 1,000 people (6,883 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +70.8%
> Population: 238,797
> Largest place in county: Jackson
Source: OlegAlbinsky / E+ via Getty Images
27. Nantucket County, Massachusetts
> Applications for new business in 2020: 29.28 per 1,000 people (327 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +7.9%
> Population: 11,168
> Largest place in county: Nantucket
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26. Fayette County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 29.40 per 1,000 people (3,302 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +50.8%
> Population: 112,303
> Largest place in county: Peachtree City
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
25. Summit County, Utah
> Applications for new business in 2020: 29.41 per 1,000 people (1,209 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +9.7%
> Population: 41,103
> Largest place in county: Park City
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24. Orange County, Florida
> Applications for new business in 2020: 29.67 per 1,000 people (40,053 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +31.2%
> Population: 1,349,746
> Largest place in county: Orlando
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
23. Noxubee County, Mississippi
> Applications for new business in 2020: 30.09 per 1,000 people (322 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +212.6%
> Population: 10,700
> Largest place in county: Macon
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
22. Orleans Parish, Louisiana
> Applications for new business in 2020: 31.71 per 1,000 people (12,393 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +58.5%
> Population: 390,845
> Largest place in parish: New Orleans
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21. Cobb County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 31.87 per 1,000 people (23,941 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +47.1%
> Population: 751,218
> Largest place in county: Marietta
20. Gwinnett County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 32.02 per 1,000 people (29,296 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +43.1%
> Population: 915,046
> Largest place in county: Lawrenceville
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19. Slope County, North Dakota
> Applications for new business in 2020: 32.35 per 1,000 people (24 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: N/A
> Population: 742
> Largest place in county: Marmarth
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18. New Castle County, Delaware
> Applications for new business in 2020: 33.11 per 1,000 people (18,414 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +19.4%
> Population: 556,165
> Largest place in county: Wilmington
Source: Jonathan Ross / iStock via Getty Images
17. Pitkin County, Colorado
> Applications for new business in 2020: 33.53 per 1,000 people (601 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +21.7%
> Population: 17,926
> Largest place in county: Aspen
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Source: Courtesy of City of Covington, GA - Government via Facebook
16. Newton County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 33.81 per 1,000 people (3,654 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +91.7%
> Population: 108,079
> Largest place in county: Covington
Source: Norm Lane / iStock via Getty Images
15. Sublette County, Wyoming
> Applications for new business in 2020: 34.51 per 1,000 people (341 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +88.4%
> Population: 9,880
> Largest place in county: Pinedale
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14. Broward County, Florida
> Applications for new business in 2020: 36.24 per 1,000 people (69,815 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +35.3%
> Population: 1,926,205
> Largest place in county: Fort Lauderdale
Source: JeffGoulden / iStock via Getty Images
13. San Juan County, Colorado
> Applications for new business in 2020: 39.05 per 1,000 people (23 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: -8.0%
> Population: 589
> Largest place in county: Silverton
12. Douglas County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 39.50 per 1,000 people (5,661 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +84.6%
> Population: 143,316
> Largest place in county: Douglasville
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
11. Miami-Dade County, Florida
> Applications for new business in 2020: 39.57 per 1,000 people (106,810 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +24.3%
> Population: 2,699,428
> Largest place in county: Miami
10. DeKalb County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 41.96 per 1,000 people (31,442 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +70.1%
> Population: 749,323
> Largest place in county: North Atlanta
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
9. Henry County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 42.43 per 1,000 people (9,562 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +74.8%
> Population: 225,356
> Largest place in county: Stockbridge
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8. Laramie County, Wyoming
> Applications for new business in 2020: 45.80 per 1,000 people (4,503 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +21.3%
> Population: 98,320
> Largest place in county: Cheyenne
7. Johnson County, Wyoming
> Applications for new business in 2020: 45.95 per 1,000 people (390 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: -12.6%
> Population: 8,487
> Largest place in county: Buffalo
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6. Kent County, Delaware
> Applications for new business in 2020: 46.89 per 1,000 people (8,285 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +26.4%
> Population: 176,699
> Largest place in county: Dover
5. Rockdale County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 47.16 per 1,000 people (4,231 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +73.8%
> Population: 89,717
> Largest place in county: Conyers
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4. Fulton County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 50.12 per 1,000 people (51,935 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +54.9%
> Population: 1,036,200
> Largest place in county: Atlanta
3. Clayton County, Georgia
> Applications for new business in 2020: 51.96 per 1,000 people (14,733 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +102.7%
> Population: 283,538
> Largest place in county: Forest Park
Source: JeffGoulden / iStock via Getty Images
2. Teton County, Wyoming
> Applications for new business in 2020: 62.63 per 1,000 people (1,458 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: -5.0%
> Population: 23,280
> Largest place in county: Jackson
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1. Sheridan County, Wyoming
> Applications for new business in 2020: 398.91 per 1,000 people (12,023 total)
> 1-yr. change in applications: +51.9%
> Population: 30,140
> Largest place in county: Sheridan
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