Special Report

The County in Every State With the Most Military Personnel

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

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. 

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.) 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.) 

Click here to see which county in every state has the most military personnel. 

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]

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

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

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]

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

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

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

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]

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

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

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

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]

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

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]

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

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]

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]

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

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

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]

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

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]

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

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]

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]

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

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

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]

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

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]

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

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]

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

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]

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

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

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]

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

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]

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

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

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

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.