Signature · 2 LILA tracts (28.6% of tracts)

Ford County, KS

Ford County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (28.6% of the book) alongside 23.9% low-access.

23.9%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
7.4%
on SNAP
34K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 KS

USDA FARA access plate

County Ford County, KS

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 23.9% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +1.8 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 7.4% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.2% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 29% tracts LILA

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

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Ford County ranks #1,371 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #66 of 105 counties in KS (23.9% low-access; 2 food-desert tracts).

#1,371
national by low-access %
#66
in KS
5
low-access tracts
3K
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: 2 LILA tracts (28.6% of tracts) .

How Ford County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Ford County's 23.9% low-access share is elevated, higher than 56% of them and ranked #1,375 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Ford County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

7 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Ford County, KS USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 3 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 7 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (28.6%) 3 tracts limited (42.9%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (28.6%) Adequate 29% Limited 43% Severe 29% Food-access tier distribution: Ford County, KS
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Ford County has 4 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.

Ford County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Kansas, 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 Ford County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts7
Atlas Population (2010 basis)33,848
Low-Access Tracts5
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population8,078
Low-Access Share23.9%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population2,794

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Ford County
IndicatorValue
Population34,074
Median Household Income$70,781
Poverty Rate14.0%near the national average
SNAP Households870
SNAP Participation Rate7.4%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.2%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.1%

SNAP retailers in Ford County

Ford County has 23 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 13 locations (57% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 13

  • casey's 3783, dodge city
  • casey's 3863, dodge city
  • corner market 117 llc, dodge city
  • corner market 118 llc, dodge city
  • kwik shop 350703, dodge city
  • kwik shop 350762, dodge city
  • love's travel stop 558, dodge city
  • loves country store 58, dodge city
  • loves country store 62, dodge city
  • murphy usa 7483, dodge city
  • quick pick 1 1, dodge city
  • river stop, dodge city
  • spee-d stop, dodge city

Combination Grocery/Other · 6

  • dollar general 10609, dodge city
  • dollar general 22193, dodge city
  • dollar general 24892, bucklin
  • dollar tree 2333, dodge city
  • family dollar 2395, dodge city
  • walgreens 07817, dodge city

Super Store · 2

  • dillon store 001, dodge city
  • walmart sc 0372, dodge city

Supermarket · 2

  • farmers country market 11 11, dodge city
  • tianguis, dodge city

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

Other Counties in Kansas

One of 104 counties in Kansas, 6 are shown here.

Compare Ford County vs Allen County → · All Kansas counties →

Nationwide peers for Ford County's low-access or SNAP share

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside KS (23.9% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside KS (7.4% 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.

Food access nationally, Kansas in context

Ford County sits inside Kansas (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 Ford County, KS are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 20057. 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.