County food-access profile · Tennessee
Knox County, TN
Knox County sits among the counties with the widest food-access gaps the USDA tracks, most residents here live well outside a comfortable walk or drive to a supermarket. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.
- 41.2%
- low-access pop.
- 18
- food-desert tracts
- 8.9%
- on SNAP
- 494K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
41.2% of Knox County residents live in a low-access area, and 18 of its 112 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 72
- low-access tracts
- 52K
- food-desert residents
- 5.3%
- households, no vehicle
- 12.2%
- below poverty line
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, 1-and-10-mile measure).
Knox County carries one of the more serious food-access burdens the USDA Atlas tracks: its low-access share of 41.2% is well above the national share. 72 of the county's 112 census tracts fall into that category, areas where residents live far from a supermarket, covering about 177,933 people. 18 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 51,734 low-income residents.
How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts
The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.
How Knox County compares nationally
Knox County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 41.2% low-access share outpaces 88% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #364 most-affected nationwide.
Knox County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 112 census tracts in Knox County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Knox County vs. other Tennessee counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Tennessee
- Knox
Knox County, TN
41.2 % low-access
- Anderson 10.9
Anderson County, TN
10.9 % low-access
- Bedford
Bedford County, TN
23 % low-access
- Benton 12.6
Benton County, TN
12.6 % low-access
- Bledsoe 4.7
Bledsoe County, TN
4.7 % low-access
- Blount
Blount County, TN
30.1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 112 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 432,226 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 72 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 18 |
| Low-Access Population | 177,933 |
| Low-Access Share | 41.2%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 51,734 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 494,148 |
| Median Household Income | $74,222 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.2%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 17,979 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 8.9%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.3%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.6% |
About 8.9% of Knox County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 41.2% of residents are low-access, well above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 8.9% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 17,979 households here.
- 5.3% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 18 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).
USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).
What the food-access data shows for Knox County
well above the national share
18 of Knox County's 112 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 16.1% of all its tracts.
A further 54 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 72.
An estimated 177,933 residents, roughly 41.2% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 51,734 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 40 tracts (35.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Knox County
Knox County has 397 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 151 locations (38% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 151
- 1 stop, strawberry plains
- all star mart, knoxville
- am market 1st store, knoxville
- ambe enterprise llc, knoxville
- ayush corporation, knoxville
- beercity no, knoxville
- big d food store., knoxville
- breadbox 3470, knoxville
- breadbox 3474, knoxville
- breadbox 3476, knoxville
- breadbox 3478, knoxville
- breadbox 3481, knoxville
- broadway food mart, knoxville
- broadway quick mart, knoxville
- circle k 4703930, knoxville
- circle k 4703939, knoxville
- campbell station shell, knoxville
- casey's 4293, knoxville
- casey's general store 4037, knoxville
- casey's general store 4038, knoxville
- casey's general store 4039, knoxville
- casey's general store 4043, knoxville
- casey's general store 4044, knoxville
- casey's general store 4045, knoxville
- casey's general store 4046, knoxville
- casey's general store 4047, knoxville
- casey's general store 4048, knoxville
- casey's general store 4204, knoxville
- casey's general store 4205, knoxville
- casey's general store 4206, knoxville
- casey's general store 4207, knoxville
- casey's general store 4209, knoxville
- casey's general store 4212, knoxville
- casey's general store 4220, knoxville
- casey's general store 4232, knoxville
- cedar lane citgo, knoxville
- clinton highway shell, knoxville
- corner mart, knoxville
- dadu mart, knoxville
- dash n go, knoxville
- dev & manav inc dba kwik pantry, knoxville
- deyar markets inc, knoxville
- disha convenience, knoxville
- diti market, knoxville
- doan's market & deli, knoxville
- ez food mart, knoxville
- ez stop food mart 15, knoxville
- ez stop food mart 16, knoxville
- ez stop food mart 21, corryton
- ez stop food mart 30, powell
- ebenezer market 01, knoxville
- el tikal futura llc, knoxville
- ellistown market, knoxville
- essential stop inc, corryton
- express stop 1, knoxville
- exxon lee's food mart, knoxville
- fastop markets 214, knoxville
- flowers bakery outlet 515, powell
- flowers bakery outlet 975, knoxville
- food market, knoxville
- fountain city llc dba fountain city exxon, knoxville
- goodstop 4204, knoxville
- goodstop 4210, knoxville
- goodstop 4211, knoxville
- goodstop 4213, knoxville
- goodstop 4214, knoxville
- goodstop 4215, knoxville
- goodstop 4216, knoxville
- goodstop 4218, knoxville
- goodstop 4231, knoxville
- green grocery, knoxville
- green grocery store, knoxville
- handy dandy market & deli, knoxville
- heiskell market & deli 1, heiskell
- hena inc, knoxville
- holston tobacco shop, knoxville
- holyland market, knoxville
- hop-in, knoxville
- housemountain market & deli, corryton
- ian's market 116, knoxville
- ian's market 120, knoxville
- ians market # 87, blaine
- ians market #171, knoxville
- ians market #39, knoxville
- ians market #73, knoxville
- ians market 163, powell
- in n out market, knoxville
- inskip llc., knoxville
- jasoda inc, knoxville
- kgp mart, knoxville
- keith ave market deli, knoxville
- kenjo 11, knoxville
- kenjo 12, knoxville
- kenjo 21, knoxville
- kenjo 22, knoxville
- kenjo 23, powell
- kenjo 29, knoxville
- kenjo 33, knoxville
- kenjo 34, knoxville
- kenjo 35, knoxville
- kenjo 30, knoxville
- kenjo 31, knoxville
- kenjo 32, knoxville
- knox tobacco & beer, knoxville
- la bonita, knoxville
- la eskina latina, knoxville
- lee's food mart 15, knoxville
- lees food mart 126, knoxville
- lees food mart 1398, knoxville
- lucky store, knoxville
- mapco express, inc. 3697, knoxville
- magnolia quick mart, knoxville
- manashri llc, knoxville
- marathon, strawberry plains
- maria's market, knoxville
- murphy express 8616, knoxville
- murphy usa 6978, knoxville
- murphy usa 7004, knoxville
- murphy usa 7661, knoxville
- nikinsaah inc, knoxville
- petro knoxville 312, knoxville
- phillips 66, knoxville
- pilot travel center 219, knoxville
- pilot travel center 722, knoxville
- pilot travel centers 403, heiskell
- pioneer market & deli, knoxville
- quick market #5, knoxville
- quick market #6, knoxville
- quick stop, knoxville
- quick stop, knoxville
- quick stop, knoxville
- r & h supermarket, knoxville
- r & s quick stop, knoxville
- ray's market & deli, knoxville
- regal traders llc, knoxville
- rite stop deli & market, knoxville
- rocky top markets 925, knoxville
- rocky top markets 934, knoxville
- sevier fuels, knoxville
- smartserv 6, knoxville
- speedway 7156, knoxville
- stop n shop market & deli, knoxville
- store 270, knoxville
- super stop market, knoxville
- tienda nony #1, knoxville
- tazewell shell market, knoxville
- the local market 104, knoxville
- the local market 107, knoxville
- the local market 112, knoxville
- the local market 121, knoxville
- the local market 122, knoxville
Combination Grocery/Other · 97
- cvs pharmacy 3762, knoxville
- cvs pharmacy 7698, knoxville
- cvs pharmacy 11137, knoxville
- cvs pharmacy 2404, powell
- cvs pharmacy 3721, knoxville
- cvs pharmacy 3741, knoxville
- cvs pharmacy 3743, knoxville
- cvs pharmacy 4624, knoxville
- cvs pharmacy 5639, farragut
- cvs pharmacy 5761, knoxville
- cvs pharmacy 6355, knoxville
- cvs pharmacy 6363, knoxville
- dollar general 0288, knoxville
- dollar general 1050, knoxville
- dollar general 14654, knoxville
- dollar general 19049, knoxville
- dollar general 19444, knoxville
- dollar general 2346, knoxville
- dollar general 289, knoxville
- dollar general 3139, knoxville
- dollar general 3365, knoxville
- dollar general 3651, knoxville
- dollar general 454, knoxville
- dollar general 591, knoxville
- dollar general 6744, knoxville
- dollartree 10052, knoxville
- dollartree 10730, corryton
- dollartree 9278, farragut
- dollartree 9925, knoxville
- dollartree plus 9007, knoxville
- dollar general 10918, knoxville
- dollar general 11454, knoxville
- dollar general 12599, mascot
- dollar general 13547, knoxville
- dollar general 15540, knoxville
- dollar general 15809, knoxville
- dollar general 16415, knoxville
- dollar general 16495, knoxville
- dollar general 17369, knoxville
- dollar general 20505, knoxville
- dollar general 21561, knoxville
- dollar general 21831, knoxville
- dollar general 22828, knoxville
- dollar general 23170, knoxville
- dollar general 24087, knoxville
- dollar general 25517, heiskell
- dollar general 25961, knoxville
- dollar general 30121, knoxville
- dollar general 30122, knoxville
- dollar general 30142, farragut
- dollar general 30172, knoxville
- dollar general 30656, knoxville
- dollar general 31084, knoxville
- dollar general 31356, knoxville
- dollar general 6894, corryton
- dollar general store 16042, knoxville
- dollar general store 16749, heiskell
- dollar general store 17132, knoxville
- dollar tree 2254, knoxville
- dollar tree 285, knoxville
- dollar tree 2859, knoxville
- dollar tree 2944, knoxville
- dollar tree 301, knoxville
- dollar tree 4355, knoxville
- dollar tree 4635, knoxville
- dollar tree 4679, knoxville
- dollar tree 5092, knoxville
- dollar tree 6456, knoxville
- dollar tree 6524, knoxville
- dollar tree 6803, knoxville
- dollar tree 7251, knoxville
- family dollar store 11150, knoxville
- family dollar store 1140, knoxville
- family dollar store 6812, knoxville
- lucky asian mart, knoxville
- machali's international market, knoxville
- sk african food market/cuisine llc 426, knoxville
- walgreen 05483, knoxville
- walgreen 05729, knoxville
- walgreens 03955, farragut
- walgreens 1015, knoxville
- walgreens 3209, knoxville
- walgreens 4169, knoxville
- walgreens 4199, knoxville
- walgreens 4330, knoxville
- walgreens 5373, knoxville
- walgreens 5394, knoxville
- walgreens 6967, knoxville
- walgreens 7320, powell
- walgreens 7374, knoxville
- walgreens 07760, farragut
- walgreens 11174, knoxville
- walgreens 12980, corryton
- walgreens 1634, knoxville
- walgreens 3798, knoxville
- walgreens 5053, farragut
- walgreens 6224, knoxville
Bakery Specialty · 2
- papa murphy's pizza tn008, knoxville
- papa murphy's pizza tn029, knoxville
Showing 250 of 397 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Tennessee
Compare Knox County vs Anderson County → · All Tennessee counties →
Food access nationally, Tennessee in context
Knox County sits inside Tennessee (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context
Understand the Data
Frequently Asked Questions
What share of Knox County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Knox County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Knox County? ▼
Is Knox County a food desert? ▼
What share of Knox County households lack a vehicle? ▼
Data Sources & Methodology
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →
Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).
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.