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Signature · 1 LILA tracts (33.3% of tracts)

Clay County, WV

Clay County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 1 LILA tracts (33.3% of the book) alongside 18.4% low-access.

18.4%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
32.6%
on SNAP
8K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 WV

USDA FARA access plate

County Clay County, WV

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-MODERATE 18.4% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -3.7 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-HEAVY 32.6% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 10.3% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 33% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Braxton County ( -0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Clay County ranks #1,822 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #22 of 52 counties in WV (18.4% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,822
national by low-access %
#22
in WV
2
low-access tracts
925
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: 1 LILA tracts (33.3% of tracts) .

How Clay County compares nationally

Clay County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.4% low-access share that beats 42% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,824).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Clay County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Clay County, WV USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (33.3%) 1 tracts limited (33.3%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (33.3%) Adequate 33% Limited 33% Severe 33% Food-access tier distribution: Clay County, WV
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Clay County has 0 urban and 3 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 low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in West Virginia, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Clay County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)9,386
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population1,722
Low-Access Share18.4%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population925

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Clay County
IndicatorValue
Population7,835
Median Household Income$42,318
Poverty Rate26.4%well above the national average
SNAP Households969
SNAP Participation Rate32.6%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle10.3%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.8%

SNAP retailers in Clay County

Clay County has 11 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 8 locations (73% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 8

  • cunningham motors inc, ivydale
  • go mart 65, clay
  • go mart 86, ivydale
  • legacy foods, indore
  • little general 3075, lizemores
  • mason county exxon 160, ivydale
  • par mar store 172, maysel
  • par mar store 217, bickmore

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollar general 0903, clay
  • dollar general 19536, wallback
  • family dollar store 3120, clay

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

Other Counties in West Virginia

One of 54 counties in West Virginia, 6 are shown here.

Barbour County
11.4% low-access · 19.5% SNAP
Berkeley County
38.8% low-access · 11.6% SNAP
Boone County
6.6% low-access · 22.0% SNAP
Braxton County
18.3% low-access · 22.0% SNAP
Brooke County
16.9% low-access · 14.1% SNAP
Cabell County
8.3% low-access · 16.7% SNAP

Compare Clay County vs Barbour County → · All West Virginia counties →

Food access nationally, West Virginia in context

Clay County sits inside West Virginia (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

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, WV are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 54015. 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.