Signature · 2 LILA tracts (50% of tracts)

Karnes County, TX

Karnes County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (50% of the book) alongside 15.7% low-access.

15.7%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
21.1%
on SNAP
15K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 TX

USDA FARA access plate

County Karnes County, TX

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-MODERATE 15.7% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -6.4 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 21.1% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 9.8% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 50% tracts LILA

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

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Karnes County ranks #2,060 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #196 of 252 counties in TX (15.7% low-access; 2 food-desert tracts).

#2,060
national by low-access %
#196
in TX
3
low-access tracts
843
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: 2 LILA tracts (50% of tracts) .

How Karnes County compares nationally

Karnes County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 15.7% low-access share that beats 34% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,063).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Karnes County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Karnes County, TX USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 4 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (25.0%) 1 tracts limited (25.0%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (50.0%) Adequate 25% Limited 25% Severe 50% Food-access tier distribution: Karnes County, TX
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Karnes County has 1 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.

Karnes County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Texas, 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 Karnes County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts4
Atlas Population (2010 basis)14,824
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population2,331
Low-Access Share15.7%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population843

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Karnes County
IndicatorValue
Population14,968
Median Household Income$60,214
Poverty Rate19.1%above the national average
SNAP Households998
SNAP Participation Rate21.1%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle9.8%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population22.5%

SNAP retailers in Karnes County

Karnes County has 17 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 9 locations (53% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 9

  • circle k 2704058, karnes city
  • fast market 4562, kenedy
  • heb convenience store 688, kenedy
  • k c food mart no. 3, kenedy
  • k c food mart no. 4, kenedy
  • murphy usa 7522, kenedy
  • refuel 323, falls city
  • stripes 40801, karnes city
  • stripes 40803h, runge

Combination Grocery/Other · 5

  • dollar general 1854, kenedy
  • dollar general 3033, karnes city
  • dollartree 9101, kenedy
  • dollar general 23669, falls city
  • family dollar 11439, runge

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • la carreta meat market, kenedy

Super Store · 1

  • walmart supercenter 524, kenedy

Supermarket · 1

  • heb 693, kenedy

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

Other Counties in Texas

One of 253 counties in Texas, 6 are shown here.

Compare Karnes County vs Anderson County → · All Texas counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside TX (15.7% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside TX (21.1% 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, Texas in context

Karnes County sits inside Texas (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 Karnes County, TX are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 48255. 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.