Signature · 4.3% low-access (9th pct)

Alleghany County, NC

Alleghany County lands in the lower national band on low-access (4.3%); supermarket distance is less binding than in the upper band, though local tracts can still diverge.

4.3%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
14.0%
on SNAP
11K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NC

USDA FARA access plate

County Alleghany County, NC

LA-ADEQUATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ADEQUATE 4.3% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -17.8 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 14.0% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.0% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Franklin County ( -0.1 pts)

Lower-band low-access

Alleghany County lands in the lower national band (4.3%, #2,846 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,846
national by low-access %
#86
in NC
0
low-access tracts
222
food-desert residents

Lower-band county means still leave tract outliers on the table below.

Signature read: 4.3% low-access (9th pct) (-17.8 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Alleghany County compares nationally

Food access in Alleghany County compares favorably nationally: its 4.3% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 9% of them (rank #2,850).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Alleghany County's lower-band USDA tier split

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Alleghany County, NC USDA-defined food-access tiers: 3 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts adequate (100.0%) Adequate 100% Limited 0% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Alleghany County, NC
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Alleghany County has 0 urban and 3 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.

Alleghany County vs nearby low low-access peers

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

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

FARA 2019 · lower low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Alleghany County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)11,155
Low-Access Tracts0
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population477
Low-Access Share4.3%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population222

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Alleghany County
IndicatorValue
Population11,174
Median Household Income$47,172
Poverty Rate16.0%above the national average
SNAP Households725
SNAP Participation Rate14.0%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.0%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.0%

SNAP retailers in Alleghany County

Alleghany County has 10 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 4 locations (40% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 4

  • dollar general 1702, sparta
  • dollar general 23736, ennice
  • family dollar store 1241, sparta
  • walgreens 16133, sparta

Convenience Store · 4

  • las dos rosas, sparta
  • pro stop, glade valley
  • quality mart #69 1769, sparta
  • speedway 7947, sparta

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • alleghany meat and produce center, sparta

Supermarket · 1

  • food lion 508, sparta

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

Other Counties in North Carolina

One of 99 counties in North Carolina, 6 are shown here.

Compare Alleghany County vs Alamance County → · All North Carolina counties →

Counties near Alleghany County's lower low-access or SNAP band

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Alleghany County, both outside North Carolina so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside NC (4.3% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside NC (14.0% 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.

Alleghany County inside a lower low-access state context

Alleghany County sits inside North Carolina (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 Alleghany County, NC are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 37005. 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.