Signature · 34.5% SNAP (97th pct in KY)
Breathitt County, KY
Breathitt County stands out on SNAP (34.5%, +22.4 pts vs U.S.) with 21.6% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 21.6%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 34.5%
- on SNAP
- 13K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Breathitt County, KY
LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-ELEVATED 21.6% low-access
- PHOTO-FINISH -0.5 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-HEAVY 34.5% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 15.2% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 14% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Boyle County (+ 0.0 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Breathitt County ranks #1,555 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #26 of 110 counties in KY (21.6% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #1,555
- national by low-access %
- #26
- 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: 34.5% SNAP (97th pct in KY) (+22.4 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Breathitt County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Breathitt County's 21.6% low-access share is elevated, higher than 50% of them and ranked #1,557 most-affected nationwide.
Breathitt County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
7 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Breathitt County has 1 urban and 6 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.
Breathitt 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
- Breathitt 21.6
Breathitt 21.6%
21.6 % low-access
- Boyle 21.6
Boyle 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 | 7 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 13,878 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 2,995 |
| Low-Access Share | 21.6%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,663 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 13,276 |
| Median Household Income | $34,808 |
| Poverty Rate | 33.1%well above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,885 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 34.5%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 15.2%well above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.1% |
SNAP retailers in Breathitt County
Breathitt County has 19 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 9 locations (47% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 9
- apple market 524, jackson
- dex mini mart, jackson
- go time 3, llc, jackson
- jackson kwik mart 1078, jackson
- jiffy mart, jackson
- kc gas and goods, jackson
- speed zone convenience center, jackson
- vip fuels 006, jackson
- vip fuels 5, jackson
Combination Grocery/Other · 6
- dollar general 2150, jackson
- dollar general 23532, jackson
- dollar general 30155, lost creek
- dollar general 30845, jackson
- family dollar 13361, jackson
- family dollar store 2131, jackson
Supermarket · 2
- houchen's save a lot 418, jackson
- jackson iga, jackson
Farmers' Market · 1
- breathitt county farmer's market, jackson
Super Store · 1
- walmart 693, jackson
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 Breathitt County vs Adair County → · All Kentucky counties →
Nationwide peers for Breathitt County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Breathitt County (34.5%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Kentucky.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside KY (21.6% here).
- Cerro Gordo County, IA · 21.6% low-access
- Cerro Gordo County, IA · 21.6% low-access
- Kent County, DE · 21.6% low-access
- Kent County, DE · 21.6% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside KY (34.5% here).
- Bullock County, AL · 34.0% SNAP
- Washington County, NC · 33.9% SNAP
- Claiborne Parish, LA · 33.8% SNAP
- Anson County, NC · 33.8% 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
Breathitt 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 Breathitt County, KY are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 21025. 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.