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Signature · 46.7% low-access (92nd pct)

James City County, VA

James City County sits in the upper national band on low-access (46.7%, +24.6 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

46.7%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
6.5%
on SNAP
81K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 VA

USDA FARA access plate

County James City County, VA

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN

  • LA-SEVERE 46.7% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +24.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 6.5% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.0% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-THIN 9% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Petersburg city (+ 0.1 pts)

Upper-band low-access

James City County sits in the upper national band (46.7%, #249 of 3,079) with 1 LILA tracts.

#249
national by low-access %
#9
in VA
7
low-access tracts
6K
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: 46.7% low-access (92nd pct) (+24.6 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How James City County compares nationally

James City County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 46.7% low-access share outpaces 92% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #249 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

James City County's elevated USDA tier split

11 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for James City County, VA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 4 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 6 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 11 tracts evaluated. 4 tracts adequate (36.4%) 6 tracts limited (54.5%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (9.1%) Adequate 36% Limited 55% Severe 9% Food-access tier distribution: James City County, VA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, James City County has 9 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.

James City County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Virginia, 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 James City County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts11
Atlas Population (2010 basis)67,009
Low-Access Tracts7
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population31,315
Low-Access Share46.7%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population5,816

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for James City County
IndicatorValue
Population81,013
Median Household Income$109,985
Poverty Rate6.8%well below the national average
SNAP Households2,072
SNAP Participation Rate6.5%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.0%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.5%

Other Counties in Virginia

One of 132 counties in Virginia, 6 are shown here.

Accomack County
2.2% low-access · 12.5% SNAP
Albemarle County
11.9% low-access · 4.6% SNAP
Alexandria city
0.0% low-access · 5.1% SNAP
Alleghany County
16.4% low-access · 8.1% SNAP
Amelia County
16.5% low-access · 13.4% SNAP
Amherst County
11.3% low-access · 10.5% SNAP

Compare James City County vs Accomack County → · All Virginia counties →

Counties near James City County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside VA (46.7% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside VA (6.5% 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.

James City County inside a higher low-access state context

James City County sits inside Virginia (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 James City County, VA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 51095. 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.