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Signature · 18.5% low-access (42nd pct)

Hancock County, KY

Hancock 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.

18.5%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
14.8%
on SNAP
9K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 KY

USDA FARA access plate

County Hancock County, KY

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-MODERATE 18.5% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -3.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 14.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.4% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Daviess County (+ 0.4 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Hancock County ranks #1,814 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #35 of 110 counties in KY (18.5% low-access).

#1,814
national by low-access %
#35
in KY
1
low-access tracts
427
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: 18.5% low-access (42nd pct) (-3.6 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Hancock County compares nationally

Hancock County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.5% low-access share that beats 42% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,819).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Hancock County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

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

By USDA urbanicity classification, Hancock County has 1 urban and 2 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.

Hancock County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Kentucky, 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 Hancock County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)8,565
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population1,581
Low-Access Share18.5%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population427

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Hancock County
IndicatorValue
Population9,034
Median Household Income$65,464
Poverty Rate16.2%above the national average
SNAP Households537
SNAP Participation Rate14.8%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.4%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.2%

SNAP retailers in Hancock County

Hancock County has 6 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 3 locations (50% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollar general 12368, hawesville
  • dollar general 21826, hawesville
  • dollar general 4353, lewisport

Convenience Store · 2

  • powers express, hawesville
  • riverside food mart, lewisport

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • bills iga, hawesville

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

Other Counties in Kentucky

One of 119 counties in Kentucky, 6 are shown here.

Adair County
6.5% low-access · 16.9% SNAP
Allen County
21.7% low-access · 14.1% SNAP
Anderson County
7.8% low-access · 7.5% SNAP
Ballard County
0.0% low-access · 11.9% SNAP
Barren County
15.5% low-access · 16.3% SNAP
Bath County
1.7% low-access · 19.6% SNAP

Compare Hancock County vs Adair County → · All Kentucky counties →

Food access nationally, Kentucky in context

Hancock County sits inside Kentucky (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 Hancock County, KY are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 21091. 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.