Signature · 7.0% low-access (14th pct)

Clay County, AL

Clay County lands in the lower national band on low-access (7.0%); supermarket distance is less binding than in the upper band, though local tracts can still diverge.

7.0%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
14.2%
on SNAP
14K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 AL

USDA FARA access plate

County Clay County, AL

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

  • LA-ADEQUATE 7.0% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -15.1 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 14.2% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.8% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Blount County ( -0.2 pts)

Lower-band low-access

Clay County lands in the lower national band (7.0%, #2,701 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,701
national by low-access %
#58
in AL
0
low-access tracts
414
food-desert residents

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

Signature read: 7.0% low-access (14th pct) (-15.1 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Clay County compares nationally

Food access in Clay County compares favorably nationally: its 7.0% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 14% of them (rank #2,703).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Clay County's lower-band USDA tier split

4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Clay County, AL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 4 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 4 tracts evaluated. 4 tracts adequate (100.0%) Adequate 100% Limited 0% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Clay County, AL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Clay County has 0 urban and 4 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.

Clay County vs nearby low low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Alabama, 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 Clay County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts4
Atlas Population (2010 basis)13,932
Low-Access Tracts0
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population978
Low-Access Share7.0%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population414

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Clay County
IndicatorValue
Population14,192
Median Household Income$55,250
Poverty Rate17.6%above the national average
SNAP Households828
SNAP Participation Rate14.2%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.8%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.6%

SNAP retailers in Clay County

Clay County has 12 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 4 locations (33% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 4

  • dollar general 4550, lineville
  • dollar general 20059, lineville
  • dollar general 20925, ashland
  • dollar general 4495, ashland

Convenience Store · 4

  • circle k store 2709320, ashland
  • circle k store 2709321, lineville
  • delta general store, delta
  • sassy's convenience store, lineville

Supermarket · 2

  • piggly wiggly of ashland 65, ashland
  • piggly wiggly of lineville 75, lineville

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • perryland foods inc, lineville

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • mathews meat market, lineville

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

Other Counties in Alabama

One of 66 counties in Alabama, 6 are shown here.

Compare Clay County vs Autauga County → · All Alabama counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside AL (7.0% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside AL (14.2% 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.

Clay County inside a lower low-access state context

Clay County sits inside Alabama (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 Clay County, AL are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 01027. 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.