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Signature · 15.6% low-access (34th pct)

Harrison County, KY

Harrison 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.

15.6%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
15.9%
on SNAP
19K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 KY

USDA FARA access plate

County Harrison County, KY

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-MODERATE 15.6% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -6.5 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-HEAVY 15.9% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 9.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 20% tracts LILA

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

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Harrison County ranks #2,067 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #44 of 110 counties in KY (15.6% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#2,067
national by low-access %
#44
in KY
3
low-access tracts
878
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: 15.6% low-access (34th pct) (-6.5 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Harrison County compares nationally

Harrison County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 15.6% low-access share that beats 34% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,071).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Harrison County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

5 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Harrison County, KY USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 5 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (40.0%) 2 tracts limited (40.0%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (20.0%) Adequate 40% Limited 40% Severe 20% Food-access tier distribution: Harrison County, KY
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Harrison 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.

Harrison 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 Harrison County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts5
Atlas Population (2010 basis)18,846
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population2,932
Low-Access Share15.6%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population878

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Harrison County
IndicatorValue
Population19,140
Median Household Income$66,442
Poverty Rate17.1%above the national average
SNAP Households1,157
SNAP Participation Rate15.9%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle9.5%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.6%

SNAP retailers in Harrison County

Harrison County has 22 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 9 locations (41% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 9

  • apple market 529, cynthiana
  • circle k 4703361, cynthiana
  • claysville 1st stop 101, cynthiana
  • cynthiana 1st stop 76, cynthiana
  • go time 6, llc 6, cynthiana
  • ned's gas & deli, cynthiana
  • speedway 9708, cynthiana
  • thrift food mart, cynthiana
  • valero cynthiana, cynthiana

Combination Grocery/Other · 7

  • dollar general 19671, cynthiana
  • dollar general 21669, cynthiana
  • dollar general 2288, cynthiana
  • dollar general 23786, cynthiana
  • dollar tree 7494, cynthiana
  • family dollar store 513, cynthiana
  • walgreens 19673, cynthiana

Super Store · 2

  • ruler 351, cynthiana
  • walmart 591, cynthiana

Farmers' Market · 1

  • harrison county farmers market, cynthiana

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • save a lot 24084, cynthiana

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • riverview meat company llc, cynthiana

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • ken's value center, berry

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 Harrison County vs Adair County → · All Kentucky counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside KY (15.6% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside KY (15.9% 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, Kentucky in context

Harrison 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 Harrison County, KY are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 21097. 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.