Signature · 8.1% SNAP (34th pct in VA)
Alleghany County, VA
Alleghany 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.
- 16.4%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 8.1%
- on SNAP
- 15K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Alleghany County, VA
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-MODERATE 16.4% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -5.7 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-LIGHT 8.1% SNAP
- VEH-OK 6.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 17% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Amelia County (+ 0.1 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Alleghany County ranks #1,995 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #73 of 123 counties in VA (16.4% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #1,995
- national by low-access %
- #73
- in VA
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 1K
- 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: 8.1% SNAP (34th pct in VA) (-4 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Alleghany County compares nationally
Alleghany County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.4% low-access share that beats 36% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,001).
Alleghany County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
6 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Alleghany County has 1 urban and 5 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 low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Virginia, not a full county-board reprint
- Highland
Highland 99.7%
99.7 % low-access
- Loudoun 16.6
Loudoun 16.6%
16.6 % low-access
- Waynesboro ci… 16.6
Waynesboro ci… 16.6%
16.6 % low-access
- Amelia 16.5
Amelia 16.5%
16.5 % low-access
- Pittsylvania 16.5
Pittsylvania 16.5%
16.5 % low-access
- Alleghany 16.4
Alleghany 16.4%
16.4 % low-access
- Dickenson 0
Dickenson 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 6 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 16,250 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 2,664 |
| Low-Access Share | 16.4%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,283 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 14,859 |
| Median Household Income | $56,188 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.6%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 520 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 8.1%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.0%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.3% |
SNAP retailers in Alleghany County
Alleghany County has 12 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 7 locations (58% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 7
- fast break food mart 390, clifton forge
- food festival, clifton forge
- one stop mart, clifton forge
- par mar store 229, low moor
- quick pick, covington
- rusty hinge, iron gate
- stop in food stores 8123, covington
Combination Grocery/Other · 3
- cvs pharmacy 6321, clifton forge
- dollar general 273, clifton forge
- family dollar 329, clifton forge
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- bartleys meat market, covington
Super Store · 1
- kroger 118, clifton forge
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Virginia
One of 132 counties in Virginia, 6 are shown here.
Compare Alleghany County vs Accomack County → · All Virginia counties →
Nationwide peers for Alleghany County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Alleghany County (8.1%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Virginia.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside VA (16.4% here).
- St. Lawrence County, NY · 16.4% low-access
- St. Lawrence County, NY · 16.4% low-access
- Broome County, NY · 16.4% low-access
- Broome County, NY · 16.4% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside VA (8.1% here).
- Jefferson County, WA · 8.1% SNAP
- Jefferson County, WA · 8.1% SNAP
- Brazoria County, TX · 8.1% SNAP
- Brazoria County, TX · 8.1% SNAP
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, Virginia in context
Alleghany County sits inside Virginia (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, VA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 51005. 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.