Signature · 23.6% SNAP (92nd pct in SD)
Buffalo County, SD
Buffalo County stands out on SNAP (23.6%, +11.5 pts vs U.S.) with 18.1% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 18.1%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 23.6%
- on SNAP
- 2K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Buffalo County, SD
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-MODERATE 18.1% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -4.0 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 23.6% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 13.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Grant County (+ 0.8 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Buffalo County ranks #1,844 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #53 of 65 counties in SD (18.1% low-access).
- #1,844
- national by low-access %
- #53
- in SD
- 0
- low-access tracts
- 230
- 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: 23.6% SNAP (92nd pct in SD) (+11.5 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Buffalo County compares nationally
Buffalo County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.1% low-access share that beats 41% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,844).
Buffalo County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
1 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
All 1 of Buffalo County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
Buffalo County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in South Dakota, not a full county-board reprint
- Jones
Jones 100%
100 % low-access
- Lake 19.1
Lake 19.1%
19.1 % low-access
- Grant 18.9
Grant 18.9%
18.9 % low-access
- Buffalo 18.1
Buffalo 18.1%
18.1 % low-access
- Moody 17.3
Moody 17.3%
17.3 % low-access
- Todd 17
Todd 17%
17 % low-access
- Oglala Lakota 0
Oglala Lakota 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 1 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 1,912 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 0 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 347 |
| Low-Access Share | 18.1%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 230 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,808 |
| Median Household Income | $47,045 |
| Poverty Rate | 33.9%well above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 120 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 23.6%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 13.0%well above the national average |
Slim SNAP store book in Buffalo County
Buffalo County has 3 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 2 locations (67% of the total), followed by supermarket.
Where the store book sits, by town
2 towns share the 3 authorized stores; Fort Thompson holds 67% of them. 1 of the 2 towns has no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Ft Thompson.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Thompson | 2 | 1 |
| Ft Thompson | 1 | none |
Convenience Store · 2
- crow creek convenience store, ft thompson
- shelbys mini mart, fort thompson
Supermarket · 1
- lynns dakotamart, fort thompson
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in South Dakota
One of 65 counties in South Dakota, 6 are shown here.
Compare Buffalo County vs Aurora County → · All South Dakota counties →
South Dakota among West North Central states
South Dakota ranks 1st of 7 West North Central states by population-weighted low-access (29.1%). Buffalo County, at 18.1%, runs 11.0 pts below the South Dakota rate.
- South Dakota 29.1%
- North Dakota 28.9%
- Minnesota 27.4%
- Kansas 26.4%
- Missouri 24.9%
- Nebraska 21.9%
- Iowa 20.0%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 Buffalo County, SD are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 46017. 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.