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Signature · 26 SNAP-authorized stores

Meade County, KY

Meade 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.

16.6%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
11.5%
on SNAP
30K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 KY

USDA FARA access plate

County Meade County, KY

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-TYPICAL · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-MODERATE 16.6% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -5.5 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-TYPICAL 11.5% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.3% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 13% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Calloway County ( -0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Meade County ranks #1,980 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #40 of 110 counties in KY (16.6% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,980
national by low-access %
#40
in KY
3
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: 26 SNAP-authorized stores .

How Meade County compares nationally

Meade County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.6% low-access share that beats 37% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,983).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Meade County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

8 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Meade County, KY USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 8 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (62.5%) 2 tracts limited (25.0%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (12.5%) Adequate 63% Limited 25% Severe 13% Food-access tier distribution: Meade County, KY
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Meade County has 2 urban and 6 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.

Meade County low-access neighbourhood

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

% 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 Meade County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts8
Atlas Population (2010 basis)28,602
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population4,741
Low-Access Share16.6%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,651

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Meade County
IndicatorValue
Population30,158
Median Household Income$74,355
Poverty Rate12.2%below the national average
SNAP Households1,261
SNAP Participation Rate11.5%near the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.3%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.7%

Thick SNAP store book in Meade County

Meade County has 26 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 13 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 13

  • 10k corporation, brandenburg
  • best stop food mart, ekron
  • big spring country store, vine grove
  • by-pass quick stop, brandenburg
  • circle k 4703334, brandenburg
  • corner stop, brandenburg
  • dodge store 6402, muldraugh
  • doe valley express, brandenburg
  • fivestar 2000, brandenburg
  • gajanand inc, vine grove
  • kds quick stop, vine grove
  • midway kwik stop, brandenburg
  • muldraugh express, muldraugh

Combination Grocery/Other · 10

  • dollar general 11093, vine grove
  • dollar general 8874, muldraugh
  • dollar general 13816, brandenburg
  • dollar general 16229, vine grove
  • dollar general 21394, brandenburg
  • dollar general 22451, brandenburg
  • dollar general store 17125, brandenburg
  • family dollar 11924, ekron
  • family dollar 9256, brandenburg
  • walgreens 17304, brandenburg

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • stull's new country store, payneville

Super Store · 1

  • kroger #l-00903 903, brandenburg

Supermarket · 1

  • houchens save a lot 144, brandenburg

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

Other Counties in Kentucky

One of 119 counties in Kentucky, 6 are shown here.

Adair County
6.5% low-access · 16.9% SNAP
Allen County
21.7% low-access · 14.1% SNAP
Anderson County
7.8% low-access · 7.5% SNAP
Ballard County
0.0% low-access · 11.9% SNAP
Barren County
15.5% low-access · 16.3% SNAP
Bath County
1.7% low-access · 19.6% SNAP

Compare Meade County vs Adair County → · All Kentucky counties →

Nationwide peers for Meade County's low-access or SNAP share

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside KY (16.6% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside KY (11.5% 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.

Food access nationally, Kentucky in context

Meade County sits inside Kentucky (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; 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

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 Meade County, KY are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 21163. 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.