PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Maryland

Allegany County, MD

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Allegany County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).

30.4%
low-access pop.
9
food-desert tracts
21.0%
on SNAP
67K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MD

The food-access picture

30.4% of Allegany County residents live in a low-access area, and 9 of its 23 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

10
low-access tracts
7K
food-desert residents
9.1%
households, no vehicle
16.9%
below poverty line

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, 1-and-10-mile measure).

USDA data puts Allegany County's low-access share at 30.4%, above the national share. 10 of the county's 23 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 22,797 people. 9 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 7,317 low-income residents.

How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts

The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.

How Allegany County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Allegany County's 30.4% low-access share is elevated, higher than 71% of them and ranked #907 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Allegany County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 23 census tracts in Allegany County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Allegany County, MD USDA-defined food-access tiers: 13 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 9 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 23 tracts evaluated. 13 tracts adequate (56.5%) 1 tracts limited (4.3%) 9 tracts severe / food desert (39.1%) Adequate 57% Limited 4% Severe 39% Food-access tier distribution: Allegany County, MD
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Allegany County vs. other Maryland counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Maryland

% 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 Allegany County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts23
Atlas Population (2010 basis)75,087
Low-Access Tracts10
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)9
Low-Access Population22,797
Low-Access Share30.4%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population7,317

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Allegany County
IndicatorValue
Population67,452
Median Household Income$59,603
Poverty Rate16.9%above the national average
SNAP Households5,751
SNAP Participation Rate21.0%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle9.1%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population9.7%
SNAP participation in Allegany County 21.0%

About 21.0% of Allegany County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 30.4% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 21.0% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 5,751 households here.
  • 9.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 9 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).

USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).

What the food-access data shows for Allegany County

above the national share

9 of Allegany County's 23 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 39.1% of all its tracts.

A further 1 tract is low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 10.

An estimated 22,797 residents, roughly 30.4% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 7,317 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 13 tracts (56.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Allegany County

Allegany County has 56 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 22 locations (39% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 22

  • 4704198.0 4198, cumberland
  • 4704199.0 4199, cumberland
  • 7-eleven 36161, frostburg
  • 7-eleven 36164, cumberland
  • bfs foods 76, cumberland
  • claysville motel, frostburg
  • coney market and deli, lonaconing
  • ellie's deli, cumberland
  • lnc bp 12, cumberland
  • love's travel stop 537, cumberland
  • par mar store 190, westernport
  • par mar store 191, westernport
  • pit n go #3 n/a, cumberland
  • pit n go 1 n/a, lonaconing
  • pit n go 2, cumberland
  • sheetz 129, cumberland
  • sheetz 167, corriganville
  • sheetz 41, cumberland
  • sheetz 46, cumberland
  • sheetz 51, cumberland
  • sheetz 591, lavale
  • sheetz 62, frostburg

Combination Grocery/Other · 20

  • cvs 5728, cumberland
  • dollar general 874, lavale
  • dollar general 11872, cumberland
  • dollar general 14647, cumberland
  • dollar general 24134, flintstone
  • dollar general 24295, cumberland
  • dollar general 24302, mount savage
  • dollar general 4842, cresaptown
  • dollar general 7508, westernport
  • dollar general 7566, cumberland
  • dollar general 951, frostburg
  • dollar general store 16482, lonaconing
  • dollar tree 3733, cumberland
  • dollar tree 6886, cumberland
  • dollar tree 7743, frostburg
  • dollartree 9129, cumberland
  • family dollar store 5157, cumberland
  • kennells kustom kuts & deli, ellerslie
  • pick n go creek 2, frostburg
  • walgreens 17857, frostburg

Supermarket · 8

  • aldi 71096 71096, lavale
  • martins food market 6003, cumberland
  • martins food market 6297, lavale
  • save-a-lot 24229, cumberland
  • save-a-lot 24970, cumberland
  • save-a-lot 45022, frostburg
  • weis markets 291, cumberland
  • weis markets 293, frostburg

Super Store · 2

  • big lots 5474, frostburg
  • walmart supercenter 2027, lavale

Farmers' Market · 1

  • allegany mountain fresh farmers market, inc, cumberland

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • staffords and more, cumberland

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • b & b country meats, frostburg

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • wholesome harvest co-op, frostburg

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Maryland

Anne Arundel County
33.7% low-access · 6.5% SNAP
Baltimore city
4.5% low-access · 23.2% SNAP
Baltimore County
21.8% low-access · 11.3% SNAP
Calvert County
38.6% low-access · 5.1% SNAP
Caroline County
9.2% low-access · 17.6% SNAP
Carroll County
29.5% low-access · 5.2% SNAP

Compare Allegany County vs Anne Arundel County → · All Maryland counties →

Food access nationally, Maryland in context

Allegany County sits inside Maryland (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Allegany County has low food access? ▼
30.4% of residents in Allegany County, MD live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Allegany County? ▼
21.0% of households in Allegany County receive SNAP, covering 5,751 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Allegany County? ▼
The poverty rate in Allegany County, MD is 16.9%, with a median household income of $59,603 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Allegany County a food desert? ▼
9 of Allegany County's 23 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Allegany County households lack a vehicle? ▼
9.1% of households in Allegany County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
Data Sources & Methodology

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →

Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).

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.