Signature · 10 LILA tracts (58.8% of tracts)

McKinley County, NM

McKinley County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 10 LILA tracts (58.8% of the book) alongside 54.7% low-access.

54.7%
low-access pop.
10
food-desert tracts
37.7%
on SNAP
70K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NM

USDA FARA access plate

County McKinley County, NM

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-SEVERE 54.7% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +32.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-CLUSTER 10 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 37.7% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 10.7% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 59% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Sandoval County ( -1.6 pts)

Upper-band low-access

McKinley County sits in the upper national band (54.7%, #157 of 3,079) with 10 LILA tracts.

#157
national by low-access %
#5
in NM
12
low-access tracts
24K
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: 10 LILA tracts (58.8% of tracts) .

How McKinley County compares nationally

McKinley County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 54.7% low-access share outpaces 95% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #158 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

McKinley County's elevated USDA tier split

17 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 10 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for McKinley County, NM USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 10 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 17 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (29.4%) 2 tracts limited (11.8%) 10 tracts severe / food desert (58.8%) Adequate 29% Limited 12% Severe 59% Food-access tier distribution: McKinley County, NM
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, McKinley County has 6 urban and 11 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.

McKinley County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in New Mexico, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for McKinley County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts17
Atlas Population (2010 basis)71,492
Low-Access Tracts12
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)10
Low-Access Population39,105
Low-Access Share54.7%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population24,379

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for McKinley County
IndicatorValue
Population70,431
Median Household Income$47,668
Poverty Rate33.2%well above the national average
SNAP Households8,047
SNAP Participation Rate37.7%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle10.7%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.5%

Thick SNAP store book in McKinley County

McKinley County has 83 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 46 locations (55% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 46

  • adi north llc, gallup
  • allsups 222, gallup
  • allsups 234, gallup
  • allsups 250, gallup
  • allsups 263, gallup
  • crownpoint trading co 503, crownpoint
  • fast stop iii mini market, zuni
  • gas up 106, gallup
  • gasmax 111, gallup
  • lewis trading post, ramah
  • love's travel stops & country stores inc 215, gallup
  • maverik 645, gallup
  • maverik country stores 671, gallup
  • navajo conoco, navajo
  • navajo shopping center, gamerco
  • nks truck stop, gallup
  • one9 1358, gallup
  • pilot travel center 305, jamestown
  • red mesa express 513, thoreau
  • red mesa express 536, crownpoint
  • red rock package, smithlake
  • speedway 8687, tse bonito
  • speedway 8688, gallup
  • speedway 8691, gallup
  • speedway 8694, gallup
  • speedway 9098, gallup
  • speedway 9115, gallup
  • speedway 9116, gallup
  • speedway 9525, gallup
  • speedway 9525, gallup
  • speedway 9535, church rock
  • speedway 9539, gallup
  • speedway 9647, crownpoint
  • speedway 9647, crownpoint
  • speedway 9668, tohatchi
  • speedway 9668, tohatchi
  • speedway 9672, zuni
  • speedway 9676, thoreau
  • speedway 9676, thoreau
  • speedway 9774, gallup
  • speedway 9776, gallup
  • speedys #120, gallup
  • ta gallup 008, gallup
  • third street tavern mini mart, gallup
  • tsaya trading post, crownpoint
  • zuni express 521, zuni

Combination Grocery/Other · 21

  • dollar general 10282, gallup
  • dollartree 8685, gallup
  • dollar general 12336, gallup
  • dollar general 21742, thoreau
  • dollar general 22934, gallup
  • dollar general 30027, tse bonito
  • dollar general 30040, gallup
  • dollar general 30297, vanderwagen
  • dollar general 30388, ramah
  • dollar tree 3268, gallup
  • family dollar 11582, gallup
  • family dollar 11719, gallup
  • family dollar 11766, yah-ta-hey
  • family dollar 7521, thoreau
  • family dollar store 10325, ramah
  • family dollar store 3760, gallup
  • family dollar store 6621, gallup
  • family dollar store 7992, vanderwagen
  • family dollar store 9288, gallup
  • the filipino market, gallup
  • walgreens 9007, gallup

Super Store · 6

  • bashas inc 31, crownpoint
  • halona marketplace, zuni
  • lowes 21, gallup
  • lowes 23, gallup
  • t & r market, gallup
  • walmart supercenter 906, gallup

Medium Grocery Store · 3

  • bjs kountry store, thoreau
  • la montanita food co-op, gallup
  • major market inc 1, zuni

Supermarket · 3

  • albertsons 2902, gallup
  • safeway 1743, gallup
  • t & r super station, gallup

Small Grocery Store · 2

  • pronto express 107, gallup
  • the community pantry, gallup

Farmers' Market · 1

  • gallup farmers market, gallup

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • red rock beef jerky, gallup

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

Other Counties in New Mexico

One of 32 counties in New Mexico, 6 are shown here.

Compare McKinley County vs Bernalillo County → · All New Mexico counties →

Counties near McKinley County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside NM (54.7% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside NM (37.7% 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.

McKinley County inside a higher low-access state context

McKinley County sits inside New Mexico (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 McKinley County, NM are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 35031. 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.