If you take the Empire Builder from Chicago towards the northwest, one of the trains goes through North Dakota at night.
Every farm in the area has one of those mercury vapor lights in the yard, which are visible for tens of miles. If you sit in the scenic car then, you will see one of those farmstead perhaps every hour. It is very not populated.
I agree! I think density is good, which is why I live in an urban area. What I don't get are the other people who live in urban areas who want them to be more like North Dakota.
There is your answer.