Signature · 1 LILA tracts (50% of tracts)
Aleutians West Census Area, AK
Aleutians West Census Area's signature pressure is desert tracts: 1 LILA tracts (50% of the book) alongside 21.4% low-access.
- 21.4%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 4.8%
- on SNAP
- 5K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Aleutians West Census Area, AK
LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-ELEVATED 21.4% low-access
- PHOTO-FINISH -0.7 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-LIGHT 4.8% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.3% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 50% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Wrangell City and Borough (+ 0.0 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Aleutians West Census Area ranks #1,568 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #20 of 27 counties in AK (21.4% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #1,568
- national by low-access %
- #20
- in AK
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 434
- 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: 1 LILA tracts (50% of tracts) .
How Aleutians West Census Area compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Aleutians West Census Area's 21.4% low-access share is elevated, higher than 50% of them and ranked #1,568 most-affected nationwide.
Aleutians West Census Area: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
All 2 of Aleutians West Census Area's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
Aleutians West Census Area low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Alaska, not a full county-board reprint
- Lake and Peni…
Lake and Peni… 100%
100 % low-access
- Prince of Wal… 22.7
Prince of Wal… 22.7%
22.7 % low-access
- Aleutians West 21.4
Aleutians West 21.4%
21.4 % low-access
- Wrangell City… 21.4
Wrangell City… 21.4%
21.4 % low-access
- Haines 20.7
Haines 20.7%
20.7 % low-access
- Juneau City a… 20.7
Juneau City a… 20.7%
20.7 % low-access
- Kusilvak 0
Kusilvak 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 2 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 5,561 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,190 |
| Low-Access Share | 21.4%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 434 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 5,235 |
| Median Household Income | $135,500 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.3%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 46 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 4.8%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.3%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 36.1% |
SNAP retailers in Aleutians West Census Area
Aleutians West Census Area has 6 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 3 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
5 towns share the 6 authorized stores; Unalaska holds 33% of them. 3 of the 5 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Saint Paul Island, St. George Island, Tka.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Unalaska | 2 | 1 |
| Dutch Harbor | 1 | 1 |
| Saint Paul Island | 1 | none |
| St. George Island | 1 | none |
| Tka | 1 | none |
Convenience Store · 3
- atka native store, tka
- st. george canteen, st. george island
- three bears alaska dutch harbor 132, unalaska
Combination Grocery/Other · 1
- aleut community store, saint paul island
Super Store · 1
- three bears alaska dutch harbor 130, dutch harbor
Supermarket · 1
- safeway 1834, unalaska
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Alaska
One of 29 counties in Alaska, 6 are shown here.
Compare Aleutians West Census Area vs Aleutians East Borough → · All Alaska counties →
Alaska among Pacific states
Alaska ranks 1st of 5 Pacific states by population-weighted low-access (30.9%). Aleutians West Census Area, at 21.4%, runs 9.5 pts below the Alaska rate.
- Alaska 30.9%
- Hawaii 26.7%
- Washington 23.1%
- Oregon 16.9%
- California 13.3%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 Aleutians West Census Area, AK are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 02016. 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.