Signature · 6.6% SNAP (27th pct in IN)

Adams County, IN

Adams County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.

17.5%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
6.6%
on SNAP
36K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IN

USDA FARA access plate

County Adams County, IN

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-MODERATE 17.5% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -4.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 6.6% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 13.1% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 14% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Randolph County (+ 0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Adams County ranks #1,908 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #47 of 89 counties in IN (17.5% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,908
national by low-access %
#47
in IN
3
low-access tracts
2K
food-desert residents

Low access = living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket. Food deserts add a low-income condition (USDA LILA).

Signature read: 6.6% SNAP (27th pct in IN) (-5.5 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Adams County compares nationally

Adams County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.5% low-access share that beats 39% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,912).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Adams County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

7 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Adams County, IN USDA-defined food-access tiers: 4 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 7 tracts evaluated. 4 tracts adequate (57.1%) 2 tracts limited (28.6%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (14.3%) Adequate 57% Limited 29% Severe 14% Food-access tier distribution: Adams County, IN
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Adams County has 3 urban and 4 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.

Adams County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Indiana, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Adams County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts7
Atlas Population (2010 basis)34,387
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population6,024
Low-Access Share17.5%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,632

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Adams County
IndicatorValue
Population36,227
Median Household Income$65,289
Poverty Rate11.2%below the national average
SNAP Households816
SNAP Participation Rate6.6%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle13.1%well above the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.5%

SNAP retailers in Adams County

Adams County has 18 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 10 locations (56% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 10

  • cvs 6516, decatur
  • cvs 6528, berne
  • dollar general 2175, decatur
  • dollar general 2777, berne
  • dollar general 7509, decatur
  • dollar tree 448, decatur
  • dollar general 14908, geneva
  • dollar general 20771, monroe
  • family dollar store 4857, berne
  • manley meats, inc, decatur

Convenience Store · 3

  • casey's general store 3590, geneva
  • casey's general store 3678, decatur
  • mcclure oil 66, decatur

Super Store · 3

  • kroger 407, decatur
  • troyer's market, llc, berne
  • walmart 1647, decatur

Supermarket · 2

  • community markets 50, berne
  • m & m market, geneva

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in Indiana

One of 91 counties in Indiana, 6 are shown here.

Compare Adams County vs Allen County → · All Indiana counties →

Nationwide peers for Adams County's low-access or SNAP share

SNAP-led peer set first for Adams County (6.6%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Indiana.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside IN (17.5% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside IN (6.6% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Food access nationally, Indiana in context

Adams County sits inside Indiana (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Read with this county

Sources: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates · methodology · compiled .

PlainFoodAccess renders this county profile directly from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates), no number is typed in by an editor. Figures for Adams County, IN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 18001. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-23. Primary sources: USDA Food Access Research Atlas and Census ACS 5-year estimates.

Note: This page presents public USDA and Census data for informational purposes and is not professional advice. Figures reflect the cited dataset vintages and may differ from the most recent local conditions. How this data is sourced & verified.