Up against a recruitment crunch, the United States military is struggling to fill its ranks. Last year, the U.S. Army enlisted 15,000 fewer new troops than the 65,000 it had budgeted for. Due to a tight labor market and a shrinking group of younger Americans interested in a career in the armed services, the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy faced similar challenges.Â
Despite these challenges, the United States military remains among the largest in the world. According to the Defense Department, there were nearly 1.2 million active-duty military personnel stationed in the U.S. in 2021 – not including more than 770,000 men and women in the National Guard and Reserve forces. (These are the 25 countries where the most people serve in the military.)Â
Every state in the country is home to some number of active-duty troops, but numbers vary across the country, from fewer than 200 in some states, to well over 100,000 in others. Members of the armed services also tend to be concentrated within a given state at the local level.Â
Using data from the DOD report Defense Spending By State Fiscal Year 2021, 24/7 Wall St. identified the county in each state with the most military personnel. In each state, we listed the county or county equivalent – such as independent cities, boroughs in Alaska, or parishes in Louisiana – home to the most active duty military troops, excluding reservists, the National Guard, and civilian Defense Department employees.Â
There is at least one county or county equivalent in each state that is home to nearly a quarter of all troops in the state as a whole. In 15 states, a single county has over 80% of the state’s total active-duty military residents.Â
The concentration of American military members in specific localities across the country is largely attributable to the presence of a major military installation. The Fort Campbell Army base, for example, is one of the largest military bases in the country. Because part of Fort Campbell is located in Christian County, Kentucky, the county is home to 82% of all active-duty service members in the state. (These are the states with the most military personnel.)Â
Click here to see which county in every state has the most military personnel.Â
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Alabama
> County with the most military personnel: Dale County
> County seat: Ozark, AL
> Active-duty service members in county: 3,663 (47.2% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker); Army
[in-text-ad]
Source: John Pennell / iStock via Getty Images
Alaska
> Borough with the most military personnel: Anchorage Borough
> Borough seat: Anchorage, AK
> Active-duty service members in borough: 9,808 (51.8% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in borough: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; Air Force
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Arizona
> County with the most military personnel: Pima County
> County seat: Tucson, AZ
> Active-duty service members in county: 6,299 (33.2% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Davis-Monthan AFB; Air Force
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Arkansas
> County with the most military personnel: Pulaski County
> County seat: Little Rock, AR
> Active-duty service members in county: 3,678 (96.5% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Little Rock AFB; Air Force
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
California
> County with the most military personnel: San Diego County
> County seat: San Diego, CA
> Active-duty service members in county: 81,174 (51.6% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Camp Pendleton; Marine Corps
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado
> County with the most military personnel: El Paso County
> County seat: Colorado Springs, CO
> Active-duty service members in county: 34,419 (91.4% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Carson; Army
[in-text-ad]
Connecticut
> County with the most military personnel: New London County
> County seat: New London, CT
> Active-duty service members in county: 4,451 (69.7% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Naval Submarine Base New London; Navy
Source: benkrut / iStock via Getty Images
Delaware
> County with the most military personnel: Kent County
> County seat: Dover, DE
> Active-duty service members in county: 3,567 (98.5% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Dover AFB; Air Force
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Florida
> County with the most military personnel: Okaloosa County
> County seat: Crestview, FL
> Active-duty service members in county: 18,720 (29.2% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Hurlburt Field; Air Force
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Georgia
> County with the most military personnel: Muscogee County
> County seat: Columbus, GA
> Active-duty service members in county: 22,233 (32.1% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning); Army
Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images
Hawaii
> County with the most military personnel: Honolulu County
> County seat: Honolulu, HI
> Active-duty service members in county: 34,740 (85.8% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; Navy
[in-text-ad]
Idaho
> County with the most military personnel: Elmore County
> County seat: Mountain Home, ID
> Active-duty service members in county: 3,455 (95.9% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Mountain Home AFB; Air Force
Source: patty_c / iStock via Getty Images
Illinois
> County with the most military personnel: Lake County
> County seat: Waukegan, IL
> Active-duty service members in county: 15,816 (73.5% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Naval Station Great Lakes; Navy
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Indiana
> County with the most military personnel: Marion County
> County seat: Indianapolis, IN
> Active-duty service members in county: 337 (32.8% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Indianapolis 38 ID; Army Guard
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: dangarneau / iStock via Getty Images
Iowa
> County with the most military personnel: Polk County
> County seat: Des Moines, IA
> Active-duty service members in county: 102 (44.2% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Camp Dodge Johnston TS; Army Guard
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas
> County with the most military personnel: Geary County
> County seat: Junction City, KS
> Active-duty service members in county: 15,287 (70.6% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Riley; Army
[in-text-ad]
Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images
Kentucky
> County with the most military personnel: Christian County
> County seat: Hopkinsville, KY
> Active-duty service members in county: 28,724 (82.0% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Campbell North; Army
24/7 Wall St.Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana
> Parish with the most military personnel: Vernon Parish
> Parish seat: Leesville, LA
> Active-duty service members in Parish: 7,860 (54.8% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in Parish: Fort Polk; Army
Maine
> County with the most military personnel: Sagadahoc County
> County seat: Bath, ME
> Active-duty service members in county: 83 (41.3% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: N/A
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: usnavy / Flickr
Maryland
> County with the most military personnel: Anne Arundel County
> County seat: Annapolis, MD
> Active-duty service members in county: 13,258 (45.4% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort George G. Meade; Army
Massachusetts
> County with the most military personnel: Middlesex County
> County seat: Lowell, MA
> Active-duty service members in county: 1,217 (57.8% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Hanscom AFB; Air Force
[in-text-ad]
Source: Brian Sevald / iStock via Getty Images
Michigan
> County with the most military personnel: Macomb County
> County seat: Mount Clemens, MI
> Active-duty service members in county: 231 (24.0% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Detroit Arsenal; Army
Source: Davel5957 / E+ via Getty Images
Minnesota
> County with the most military personnel: Hennepin County
> County seat: Minneapolis, MN
> Active-duty service members in county: 353 (68.3% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station; Air Force Reserve
Source: dszc / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi
> County with the most military personnel: Harrison County
> County seat: Biloxi, MS
> Active-duty service members in county: 7,932 (69.5% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Keesler AFB; Air Force
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Missouri
> County with the most military personnel: Pulaski County
> County seat: Waynesville, MO
> Active-duty service members in county: 10,480 (67.4% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Leonard Wood; Army
Source: leezsnow / iStock via Getty Images
Montana
> County with the most military personnel: Cascade County
> County seat: Great Falls, MT
> Active-duty service members in county: 3,243 (96.7% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Malmstrom AFB; Air Force
[in-text-ad]
Source: Courtesy of City of Papillion - Municipal Government via Facebook
Nebraska
> County with the most military personnel: Sarpy County
> County seat: Papillion, NE
> Active-duty service members in county: 6,172 (97.6% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Offutt AFB; Air Force
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Nevada
> County with the most military personnel: Clark County
> County seat: Las Vegas, NV
> Active-duty service members in county: 11,035 (89.4% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Nellis AFB; Air Force
New Hampshire
> County with the most military personnel: Rockingham County
> County seat: Brentwood, NH
> Active-duty service members in county: 302 (25.8% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; Navy
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
New Jersey
> County with the most military personnel: Burlington County
> County seat: Mount Holly, NJ
> Active-duty service members in county: 5,545 (85.9% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: McGuire AFB; Air Force
New Mexico
> County with the most military personnel: Curry County
> County seat: Clovis, NM
> Active-duty service members in county: 4,742 (37.5% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Cannon AFB; Air Force
[in-text-ad]
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
New York
> County with the most military personnel: Jefferson County
> County seat: Watertown, NY
> Active-duty service members in county: 15,657 (80.3% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Drum; Army
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
North Carolina
> County with the most military personnel: Cumberland County
> County seat: Fayetteville, NC
> Active-duty service members in county: 48,406 (48.8% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg); Army
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
North Dakota
> County with the most military personnel: Ward County
> County seat: Minot, ND
> Active-duty service members in county: 5,705 (76.1% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Minot AFB; Air Force
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: StanRohrer / iStock via Getty Images
Ohio
> County with the most military personnel: Greene County
> County seat: Xenia, OH
> Active-duty service members in county: 5,385 (82.4% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Wright-Patterson AFB; Air Force
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Oklahoma
> County with the most military personnel: Comanche County
> County seat: Lawton, OK
> Active-duty service members in county: 12,203 (57.0% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Sill; Army
[in-text-ad]
Source: jbentley09 / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon
> County with the most military personnel: Multnomah County
> County seat: Portland, OR
> Active-duty service members in county: 266 (30.3% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: N/A
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Pennsylvania
> County with the most military personnel: Cumberland County
> County seat: Carlisle, PA
> Active-duty service members in county: 629 (28.6% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Carlisle Barracks; Army
Rhode Island
> County with the most military personnel: Newport County
> County seat: Newport, RI
> Active-duty service members in county: 2,538 (77.9% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Naval Station Newport; Navy
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: VisionsbyAtlee / iStock via Getty Images
South Carolina
> County with the most military personnel: Beaufort County
> County seat: Beaufort, SC
> Active-duty service members in county: 10,478 (28.0% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Marine Corps Rectuit Depot Parris Island; Marine Corps
Source: gnagel / iStock via Getty Images
South Dakota
> County with the most military personnel: Meade County
> County seat: Sturgis, SD
> Active-duty service members in county: 3,296 (94.5% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Ellsworth AFB; Air Force
[in-text-ad]
Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee
> County with the most military personnel: Shelby County
> County seat: Memphis, TN
> Active-duty service members in county: 1,476 (63.0% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Naval Support Activity Mid-South; Navy
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Texas
> County with the most military personnel: Bell County
> County seat: Belton, TX
> Active-duty service members in county: 33,766 (28.9% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood); Army
Source: Wirestock / iStock via Getty Images
Utah
> County with the most military personnel: Davis County
> County seat: Farmington, UT
> Active-duty service members in county: 4,288 (92.5% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Hill AFB; Air Force
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Vermont
> County with the most military personnel: Chittenden County
> County seat: Burlington, VT
> Active-duty service members in county: 84 (66.1% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Burlington IAP; Air Force
Source: ferrantraite / E+ via Getty Images
Virginia
> County with the most military personnel: Norfolk City (independent city)
> County seat: N/A
> Active-duty service members in city: 49,686 (39.3% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in city: Naval Station Norfolk; Navy
[in-text-ad]
Source: gmc3101 / iStock via Getty Images
Washington
> County with the most military personnel: Pierce County
> County seat: Tacoma, WA
> Active-duty service members in county: 31,246 (50.6% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Joint Base Lewis-McChord; Army
24/7 Wall St.
West Virginia
> County with the most military personnel: Cabell County
> County seat: Huntington, WV
> Active-duty service members in county: 28 (24.6% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: N/A
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Wisconsin
> County with the most military personnel: Monroe County
> County seat: Sparta, WI
> Active-duty service members in county: 278 (37.2% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Fort McCoy; Army Reserve
[in-text-ad-2]
Wyoming
> County with the most military personnel: Laramie County
> County seat: Cheyenne, WY
> Active-duty service members in county: 3,103 (97.7% of military personnel in state)
> Major military base in county: Francis E Warren AFB; Air Force
Sponsored: Want to Retire Early? Start Here
Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Orare you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?
Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.