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Signature · 9.6% SNAP (16th pct in GA)

Gilmer County, GA

Gilmer 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.
1
food-desert tracts
9.6%
on SNAP
32K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 GA

USDA FARA access plate

County Gilmer County, GA

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-MODERATE 17.3% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -4.8 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 9.6% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 2.9% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 20% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Murray County (+ 0.3 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Gilmer County ranks #1,924 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #87 of 151 counties in GA (17.3% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,924
national by low-access %
#87
in GA
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: 9.6% SNAP (16th pct in GA) (-2.5 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Gilmer County compares nationally

Gilmer 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).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Gilmer County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

5 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Gilmer County, GA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 3 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 5 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts adequate (60.0%) 1 tracts limited (20.0%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (20.0%) Adequate 60% Limited 20% Severe 20% Food-access tier distribution: Gilmer County, GA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Gilmer County has 1 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.

Gilmer County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Georgia, 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 Gilmer County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts5
Atlas Population (2010 basis)28,292
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population4,906
Low-Access Share17.3%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population2,003

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Gilmer County
IndicatorValue
Population32,426
Median Household Income$74,499
Poverty Rate16.0%above the national average
SNAP Households1,247
SNAP Participation Rate9.6%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle2.9%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.7%

Thick SNAP store book in Gilmer County

Gilmer County has 29 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 12 locations (41% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 12

  • citgo food mart, ellijay
  • ellijay bp, ellijay
  • ellijay mini mart, ellijay
  • green country store, ellijay
  • murphy usa 6887, ellijay
  • new hope grocery, ellijay
  • one stop walkers corner, ellijay
  • orchard junction, ellijay
  • parkway conoco, east ellijay
  • rebels food mart, ellijay
  • stanley's food, ellijay
  • tim buk tu food mart llc, ellijay

Combination Grocery/Other · 10

  • antigua guatemala 1, ellijay
  • cvs pharmacy 7736, ellijay
  • dollar general 11129, ellijay
  • dollar general 3583, ellijay
  • dollar general 12140, ellijay
  • dollar general 12628, ellijay
  • dollar general 23495, ellijay
  • dollar general 24938, ellijay
  • dollar tree 2783, ellijay
  • walgreens 17697, east ellijay

Supermarket · 3

  • aldi 76146, ellijay
  • food lion 907, east ellijay
  • ingles markets 409, east ellijay

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • north georgia meat company inc, ellijay

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • carniceria y tienda la mexicana, inc., ellijay

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • san rafael, ellijay

Super Store · 1

  • walmart supercenter 1070, ellijay

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

Other Counties in Georgia

One of 158 counties in Georgia, 6 are shown here.

Appling County
47.8% low-access · 19.6% SNAP
Atkinson County
23.5% low-access · 26.2% SNAP
Bacon County
3.3% low-access · 20.9% SNAP
Baker County
61.3% low-access · 15.2% SNAP
Baldwin County
24.6% low-access · 16.2% SNAP
Banks County
1.8% low-access · 9.0% SNAP

Compare Gilmer County vs Appling County → · All Georgia counties →

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

SNAP-led peer set first for Gilmer County (9.6%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Georgia.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside GA (17.3% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside GA (9.6% 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, Georgia in context

Gilmer County sits inside Georgia (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 Gilmer County, GA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 13123. 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.