Signature · 44.8% low-access (91st pct)
McKenzie County, ND
McKenzie County sits in the upper national band on low-access (44.8%, +22.7 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 44.8%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 3.4%
- on SNAP
- 14K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County McKenzie County, ND
LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-SEVERE 44.8% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +22.7 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-LIGHT 3.4% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 25% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Wells County (+ 0.0 pts)
Upper-band low-access
McKenzie County sits in the upper national band (44.8%, #287 of 3,079) with 1 LILA tracts.
- #287
- national by low-access %
- #21
- in ND
- 3
- low-access tracts
- 1K
- 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: 44.8% low-access (91st pct) (+22.7 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How McKenzie County compares nationally
McKenzie County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 44.8% low-access share outpaces 91% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #287 most-affected nationwide.
McKenzie County's elevated USDA tier split
4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
All 4 of McKenzie County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
McKenzie County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in North Dakota, not a full county-board reprint
- Nelson
Nelson 100%
100 % low-access
- Pembina
Pembina 45.9%
45.9 % low-access
- Emmons
Emmons 45.7%
45.7 % low-access
- Bottineau
Bottineau 45.4%
45.4 % low-access
- McKenzie
McKenzie 44.8%
44.8 % low-access
- Wells
Wells 44.8%
44.8 % low-access
- Rolette 9.6
Rolette 9.6%
9.6 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 4 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 6,360 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 3 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 2,849 |
| Low-Access Share | 44.8%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,000 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 14,321 |
| Median Household Income | $93,404 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.0%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 205 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 3.4%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.0%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.0% |
SNAP retailers in McKenzie County
McKenzie County has 11 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 5 locations (45% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Where the store book sits, by town
3 towns share the 11 authorized stores; Watford City holds 82% of them. 2 of the 3 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Alexander, Keene.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Watford City | 9 | 1 |
| Alexander | 1 | none |
| Keene | 1 | none |
Combination Grocery/Other · 5
- dollar general 25493, watford city
- dollar general 25509, watford city
- family dollar 11938, watford city
- family dollar 11939, watford city
- jack & jill 1, watford city
Convenience Store · 5
- c store west 301, keene
- circle k 2746514, watford city
- holiday stationstore 2746435, watford city
- maverik 5004, watford city
- travel center of america 259, alexander
Super Store · 1
- cash wise foods 3042, watford city
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in North Dakota
One of 52 counties in North Dakota, 6 are shown here.
Compare McKenzie County vs Adams County → · All North Dakota counties →
Counties near McKenzie County's elevated low-access or SNAP band
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for McKenzie County, both outside North Dakota so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside ND (44.8% here).
- Nicollet County, MN · 44.9% low-access
- Coweta County, GA · 44.9% low-access
- Los Alamos County, NM · 44.6% low-access
- Custer County, NE · 44.6% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside ND (3.4% here).
- Houston County, MN · 3.4% SNAP
- Oldham County, KY · 3.4% SNAP
- Campbell County, WY · 3.4% SNAP
- Rockingham County, NH · 3.3% 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.
North Dakota among West North Central states
North Dakota ranks 2nd of 7 West North Central states by population-weighted low-access (28.9%). McKenzie County, at 44.8%, runs 15.9 pts above the North Dakota rate.
- South Dakota 29.1%
- North Dakota 28.9%
- Minnesota 27.4%
- Kansas 26.4%
- Missouri 24.9%
- Nebraska 21.9%
- Iowa 20.0%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 McKenzie County, ND are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 38053. 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.