PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Alabama

Limestone County, AL

Limestone 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.

17.1%
low-access pop.
3
food-desert tracts
8.8%
on SNAP
111K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 AL

The food-access picture

17.1% of Limestone County residents live in a low-access area, and 3 of its 16 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

4
low-access tracts
5K
food-desert residents
3.5%
households, no vehicle
10.0%
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).

Limestone County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 17.1% per the USDA Atlas. 4 of the county's 16 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 14,117 residents who live far from a supermarket. 3 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 5,320 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 Limestone County compares nationally

Limestone County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.1% low-access share that beats 38% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,937).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Limestone County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 16 census tracts in Limestone County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Limestone County, AL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 12 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 3 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 16 tracts evaluated. 12 tracts adequate (75.0%) 1 tracts limited (6.3%) 3 tracts severe / food desert (18.8%) Adequate 75% Limited 6% Severe 19% Food-access tier distribution: Limestone County, AL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Limestone County vs. other Alabama counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Alabama

% 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 Limestone County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts16
Atlas Population (2010 basis)82,782
Low-Access Tracts4
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)3
Low-Access Population14,117
Low-Access Share17.1%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population5,320

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Limestone County
IndicatorValue
Population111,233
Median Household Income$83,629
Poverty Rate10.0%below the national average
SNAP Households3,620
SNAP Participation Rate8.8%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.5%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.7%
SNAP participation in Limestone County 8.8%

About 8.8% of Limestone County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 17.1% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 8.8% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 3,620 households here.
  • 3.5% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 3 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 Limestone County

near the national share

3 of Limestone County's 16 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 18.8% of all its tracts.

A further 1 tract is low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 4.

An estimated 14,117 residents, roughly 17.1% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 5,320 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 12 tracts (75.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Limestone County

Limestone County has 87 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 38 locations (44% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 38

  • 4 square market inc, athens
  • ankr food mart, athens
  • b and k grocery, athens
  • bob's quick mart, athens
  • circle k 2704393, athens
  • clements mini mart, athens
  • elkmont bp, elkmont
  • elm st chevron, athens
  • exxon hwy 72, athens
  • harvest convenience store inc, harvest
  • hobbs street mini mart 1, athens
  • k & s deli & grocery, elkmont
  • la miscelanea party store llc, athens
  • mapco express, inc 1107, athens`
  • mapco express, inc. 5212, elkmont
  • mart a inc, athens
  • mini mart, athens
  • murphy usa 5625, athens
  • oakdale bp, athens
  • oakdale food mart, athens
  • omnamh4u, athens
  • one stop shop, athens
  • payless 3, madison
  • quik mart 33, ardmore
  • racetrac 2636, madison
  • raceway 6712, athens
  • sai chevron inc, madison
  • sai guru 3 inc, madison
  • shree varahi inc, athens
  • sportsmans park, athens
  • tab's market 2, athens
  • tabs market 1, athens
  • tanner chevron, athens
  • tienda mexicana la bonita, athens
  • tiger mart, ardmore
  • uncle bud's mini mart 1, athens
  • village food & gas, athens
  • yunus isa inc, athens

Combination Grocery/Other · 34

  • big lots 3271, athens
  • cvs pharmacy 4815, athens
  • dollar general 0964, athens
  • dollar general 11238, tanner
  • dollar general 14414, athens
  • dollar general 19510, athens
  • dollar general 2680, athens
  • dollar general 5865, athens
  • dollar general 9140, madison
  • dollar general 9670, athens
  • dollar general store 9671, harvest
  • dollar general 10107, athens
  • dollar general 11261, athens
  • dollar general 16375, athens
  • dollar general 18104, elkmont
  • dollar general 20067, athens
  • dollar general 20069, athens
  • dollar general 20944, athens
  • dollar general 21187, athens
  • dollar general 21483, ardmore
  • dollar general 22809, athens
  • dollar general 23296, athens
  • dollar general 30572, elkmont
  • dollar general 31134, ardmore
  • dollar general 5836, athens
  • dollar general 6245, elkmont
  • dollar general 7424, athens
  • dollar general store 17686, athens
  • dollar tree 10250, athens
  • dollar tree 1368, athens
  • family dollar 13647, tanner
  • twice daily/white bison # 3103 3103, athens
  • twice daily/white bison # 3114 3114, athens
  • walgreens 10981, athens

Supermarket · 5

  • aldi 70086 70086, athens
  • fresh value athens 14, athens
  • publix 1185, madison
  • publix 1203, athens
  • publix alabama, llc 1790, athens

Super Store · 3

  • hometown grocery, athens
  • hometown grocery - limestone, athens
  • walmart super center 661, athens

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • l & s food market, ardmore
  • piggly wiggly 85, elkmont

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • el azteca supermercado y taqueria, athens
  • tienda mexicana la fuente, athens

Small Grocery Store · 2

  • mapou carribean store, athens
  • market agustin, athens

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • marcial's fresh produce, elkmont

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Alabama

Autauga County
33.9% low-access · 9.2% SNAP
Baldwin County
25.1% low-access · 6.7% SNAP
Barbour County
20.5% low-access · 21.3% SNAP
Bibb County
1.6% low-access · 20.7% SNAP
Blount County
6.8% low-access · 12.3% SNAP
Bullock County
68.5% low-access · 34.0% SNAP

Compare Limestone County vs Autauga County → · All Alabama counties →

Food access nationally, Alabama in context

Limestone County sits inside Alabama (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; 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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Limestone County has low food access? ▼
17.1% of residents in Limestone County, AL live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Limestone County? ▼
8.8% of households in Limestone County receive SNAP, covering 3,620 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Limestone County? ▼
The poverty rate in Limestone County, AL is 10.0%, with a median household income of $83,629 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Limestone County a food desert? ▼
3 of Limestone County's 16 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Limestone County households lack a vehicle? ▼
3.5% of households in Limestone County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
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.