Signature · 26 SNAP-authorized stores
Elk County, PA
Elk County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.
- 17.3%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 14.5%
- on SNAP
- 31K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Elk County, PA
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-MODERATE 17.3% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -4.8 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 14.5% SNAP
- VEH-OK 6.3% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Berks County (+ 0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Elk County ranks #1,923 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #35 of 67 counties in PA (17.3% low-access).
- #1,923
- national by low-access %
- #35
- in PA
- 2
- 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: 26 SNAP-authorized stores .
How Elk County compares nationally
Elk County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.3% low-access share that beats 38% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,928).
Elk County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
9 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
By USDA urbanicity classification, Elk County has 3 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.
Elk County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Pennsylvania, not a full county-board reprint
- Chester
Chester 45.1%
45.1 % low-access
- Mercer
Mercer 18.2%
18.2 % low-access
- Susquehanna
Susquehanna 18.1%
18.1 % low-access
- Berks 17.5
Berks 17.5%
17.5 % low-access
- Elk 17.3
Elk 17.3%
17.3 % low-access
- Fayette 16.8
Fayette 16.8%
16.8 % low-access
- Wyoming 0.9
Wyoming 0.9%
0.9 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 9 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 31,946 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 5,516 |
| Low-Access Share | 17.3%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,507 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 30,506 |
| Median Household Income | $66,380 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.7%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,932 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 14.5%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.3%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.0% |
Thick SNAP store book in Elk County
Elk County has 26 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 10 locations (38% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 10
- cvs pharmacy 1686, johnsonburg
- dollar general 4430, ridgway
- dollar general 11928, saint marys
- dollar general 20522, saint marys
- dollar general 24971, brockport
- dollar general store 16972, kersey
- dollar tree 1175, saint marys
- family dollar 13295, ridgway
- family dollar 9304, weedville
- family dollar store 2439, johnsonburg
Convenience Store · 10
- corner market & deli inc, kersey
- delullo's market, saint marys
- elk crossing 555 general store, benezett
- getgo 3087, saint marys
- kwik fill 187, johnsonburg
- nittany minit mart 240, saint marys
- nittany minit mart 257, johnsonburg
- powerfuel and c store, ridgway
- sheetz 400, saint marys
- sheetz 96, ridgway
Supermarket · 4
- aldi 69032, st. mary's
- elk county foods, johnsonburg, johnsonburg
- ridgway elk county foods, ridgway
- save-a-lot 24691, saint marys
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- pfaffs market, saint marys
Super Store · 1
- walmart supercenter 1792, saint marys
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Pennsylvania
One of 66 counties in Pennsylvania, 6 are shown here.
Compare Elk County vs Adams County → · All Pennsylvania counties →
Nationwide peers for Elk County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Elk County, both outside Pennsylvania so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside PA (17.3% here).
- Clackamas County, OR · 17.3% low-access
- Clackamas County, OR · 17.3% low-access
- Pottawatomie County, OK · 17.3% low-access
- Pottawatomie County, OK · 17.3% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside PA (14.5% here).
- Craig County, OK · 14.5% SNAP
- Craig County, OK · 14.5% SNAP
- Abbeville County, SC · 14.5% SNAP
- Abbeville County, SC · 14.5% 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, Pennsylvania in context
Elk County sits inside Pennsylvania (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 Elk County, PA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 42047. 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.