Signature · 8.5% SNAP (72nd pct in SD)
Lawrence County, SD
Lawrence County stands out on SNAP (8.5%, -3.6 pts vs U.S.) with 20.1% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 20.1%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 8.5%
- on SNAP
- 27K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Lawrence County, SD
LA-ELEVATED · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-ELEVATED 20.1% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -2.0 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 8.5% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.8% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Minnehaha County ( -0.3 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Lawrence County ranks #1,681 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #49 of 65 counties in SD (20.1% low-access).
- #1,681
- national by low-access %
- #49
- in SD
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 2K
- 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: 8.5% SNAP (72nd pct in SD) (-3.6 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Lawrence County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Lawrence County's 20.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 46% of them and ranked #1,682 most-affected nationwide.
Lawrence County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
5 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
By USDA urbanicity classification, Lawrence County has 3 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.
Lawrence County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in South Dakota, not a full county-board reprint
- Jones
Jones 100%
100 % low-access
- Lawrence 20.1
Lawrence 20.1%
20.1 % low-access
- Minnehaha 19.8
Minnehaha 19.8%
19.8 % low-access
- Lake 19.1
Lake 19.1%
19.1 % low-access
- Grant 18.9
Grant 18.9%
18.9 % low-access
- Buffalo 18.1
Buffalo 18.1%
18.1 % low-access
- Oglala Lakota 0
Oglala Lakota 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 5 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 24,097 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 4,846 |
| Low-Access Share | 20.1%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,554 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 27,233 |
| Median Household Income | $73,384 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.6%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,027 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 8.5%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.8%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.4% |
SNAP retailers in Lawrence County
Lawrence County has 19 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 7 locations (37% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 7
- big d oil 11, deadwood
- circle k 2746651, spearfish
- common cents food store 121, lead
- common cents food store 122, spearfish
- loaf n jug 750445, spearfish
- yesway 1191, spearfish
- yesway 1192, spearfish
Combination Grocery/Other · 5
- dollar general 31369, lead
- dollar tree 5717, spearfish
- family dollar store 10984, deadwood
- good earth natural foods, spearfish
- walgreens 12906, spearfish
Super Store · 2
- lynns dakotamart, lead
- walmart sc 1543, spearfish
Supermarket · 2
- lueders food center 250, spearfish
- safeway 583, spearfish
Bakery Specialty · 1
- papa murphys pizza sd002, spearfish
Large Grocery Store · 1
- bj's country store whitewood ww#7, whitewood
Small Grocery Store · 1
- the bees knees natural foods, spearfish
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in South Dakota
One of 65 counties in South Dakota, 6 are shown here.
Compare Lawrence County vs Aurora County → · All South Dakota counties →
Nationwide peers for Lawrence County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Lawrence County (8.5%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside South Dakota.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside SD (20.1% here).
- Johnson County, TX · 20.1% low-access
- Johnson County, TX · 20.1% low-access
- Jackson County, OR · 20.1% low-access
- Jackson County, OR · 20.1% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside SD (8.5% here).
- Brunswick County, NC · 8.5% SNAP
- Brunswick County, NC · 8.5% SNAP
- Madison County, NE · 8.5% SNAP
- Madison County, NE · 8.5% SNAP
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, South Dakota in context
Lawrence County sits inside South Dakota (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 Lawrence County, SD are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 46081. 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.