Signature · 14.1% SNAP (44th pct in KY)
Allen County, KY
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Allen 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).
- 21.7%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 14.1%
- on SNAP
- 21K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Allen County, KY
LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-ELEVATED 21.7% low-access
- PHOTO-FINISH -0.4 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 14.1% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.6% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Boyle County ( -0.1 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Allen County ranks #1,545 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #24 of 110 counties in KY (21.7% low-access).
- #1,545
- national by low-access %
- #24
- in KY
- 1
- 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: 14.1% SNAP (44th pct in KY) (+2 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Allen County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Allen County's 21.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 50% of them and ranked #1,553 most-affected nationwide.
Allen County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
6 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
By USDA urbanicity classification, Allen 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.
Allen County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Kentucky, not a full county-board reprint
- Robertson
Robertson 74.8%
74.8 % low-access
- Jefferson 22.2
Jefferson 22.2%
22.2 % low-access
- Allen 21.7
Allen 21.7%
21.7 % low-access
- Boyle 21.6
Boyle 21.6%
21.6 % low-access
- Breathitt 21.6
Breathitt 21.6%
21.6 % low-access
- Fayette 20.7
Fayette 20.7%
20.7 % low-access
- Ballard 0
Ballard 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 6 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 19,956 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 4,336 |
| Low-Access Share | 21.7%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,726 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 21,293 |
| Median Household Income | $61,403 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.5%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,131 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 14.1%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.6%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 0.8% |
SNAP retailers in Allen County
Allen County has 18 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 8 locations (44% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 8
- dollar general 0192, scottsville
- dollartree 8766, scottsville
- dollar general 12505, scottsville
- dollar general 22000, scottsville
- dollar general 24235, scottsville
- dollar general 31174, franklin
- family dollar store 3236, scottsville
- walgreens 19765, scottsville
Convenience Store · 6
- fivestar 9000, scottsville
- jr food store 816, scottsville
- minit mart 4466, scottsville
- minit mart 4467, scottsville
- old gallatin inc dba scottsville food mart, scottsville
- scottsville fastrac inc, scottsville
Supermarket · 2
- food lion 1233, scottsville
- houchens save a lot 139, scottsville
Farmers' Market · 1
- allen county farmers market, scottsville
Super Store · 1
- dollar general market 9806, scottsville
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Kentucky
One of 119 counties in Kentucky, 6 are shown here.
Compare Allen County vs Adair County → · All Kentucky counties →
Nationwide peers for Allen County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Allen County (14.1%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Kentucky.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside KY (21.7% here).
- St. Mary's County, MD · 21.7% low-access
- St. Mary's County, MD · 21.7% low-access
- Forrest County, MS · 21.7% low-access
- Forrest County, MS · 21.7% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside KY (14.1% here).
- Jefferson Parish, LA · 14.1% SNAP
- Jefferson Parish, LA · 14.1% SNAP
- St. James Parish, LA · 14.1% SNAP
- St. James Parish, LA · 14.1% 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, Kentucky in context
Allen County sits inside Kentucky (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 Allen County, KY are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 21003. 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.