Signature · 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts)

Forest County, PA

Forest County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of the book) alongside 39.4% low-access.

39.4%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
14.0%
on SNAP
7K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 PA

USDA FARA access plate

County Forest County, PA

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

  • LA-ELEVATED 39.4% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +17.3 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 14.0% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.7% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 67% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Dauphin County ( -4.0 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Forest County sits in the upper national band (39.4%, #420 of 3,079) with 2 LILA tracts.

#420
national by low-access %
#2
in PA
2
low-access tracts
1K
food-desert residents

Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.

Signature read: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts) .

How Forest County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Forest County's 39.4% low-access share is elevated, higher than 87% of them and ranked #421 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Forest County's elevated USDA tier split

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Forest County, PA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (33.3%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (66.7%) Adequate 33% Limited 0% Severe 67% Food-access tier distribution: Forest County, PA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Forest 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.

Forest County vs nearby high low-access peers

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

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

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Forest County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)7,716
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population3,042
Low-Access Share39.4%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,158

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Forest County
IndicatorValue
Population6,715
Median Household Income$52,191
Poverty Rate11.9%below the national average
SNAP Households268
SNAP Participation Rate14.0%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.7%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population36.0%

SNAP retailers in Forest County

Forest County has 7 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 3 locations (43% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollartree 10353, marienville
  • dollar general 11278, marienville
  • dollar general store 15700, tionesta

Convenience Store · 2

  • kwik fill 391, marienville
  • university korner, marienville

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • baughmans market, marienville

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • tionesta farm fresh, llc, tionesta

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 Forest County vs Adams County → · All Pennsylvania counties →

Forest County inside a higher low-access state context

Forest 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 Forest County, PA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 42053. 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.