Signature · 55.7% low-access (95th pct)
McPherson County, SD
McPherson County sits in the upper national band on low-access (55.7%, +33.6 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 55.7%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 3.2%
- on SNAP
- 2K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County McPherson County, SD
LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-SEVERE 55.7% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +33.6 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 3.2% SNAP
- VEH-OK 1.5% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Lyman County ( -0.8 pts)
Upper-band low-access
McPherson County sits in the upper national band (55.7%, #148 of 3,079).
- #148
- national by low-access %
- #11
- in SD
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 571
- 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: 55.7% low-access (95th pct) (+33.6 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How McPherson County compares nationally
McPherson County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 55.7% low-access share outpaces 95% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #148 most-affected nationwide.
McPherson County's elevated USDA tier split
1 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
All 1 of McPherson 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.
McPherson County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in South Dakota, not a full county-board reprint
- Jones
Jones 100%
100 % low-access
- McPherson
McPherson 55.7%
55.7 % low-access
- Lyman
Lyman 54.9%
54.9 % low-access
- Marshall
Marshall 50.7%
50.7 % low-access
- Day
Day 49%
49 % low-access
- Dewey
Dewey 48.5%
48.5 % low-access
- Oglala Lakota 0
Oglala Lakota 0%
0 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 1 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 2,459 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,369 |
| Low-Access Share | 55.7%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 571 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,145 |
| Median Household Income | $66,906 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.9%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 29 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 3.2%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 1.5%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 15.0% |
Slim SNAP store book in McPherson County
McPherson County has 3 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 1 locations (33% of the total), followed by small grocery store.
Where the store book sits, by town
2 towns share the 3 authorized stores; Eureka holds 67% of them. 1 of the 2 towns has no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Leola.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Eureka | 2 | 1 |
| Leola | 1 | none |
Combination Grocery/Other · 1
- dollar general 18507, eureka
Small Grocery Store · 1
- ten-45 grocery and cafe, leola
Supermarket · 1
- ken's food fair 9124, eureka
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 McPherson County vs Aurora County → · All South Dakota counties →
South Dakota among West North Central states
South Dakota ranks 1st of 7 West North Central states by population-weighted low-access (29.1%). McPherson County, at 55.7%, runs 26.6 pts above the South 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 McPherson County, SD are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 46089. 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.