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Signature · 4 LILA tracts (44.4% of tracts)

Mecklenburg County, VA

Mecklenburg County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 4 LILA tracts (44.4% of the book) alongside 21.8% low-access.

21.8%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
16.8%
on SNAP
31K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 VA

USDA FARA access plate

County Mecklenburg County, VA

LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 21.8% low-access
  • PHOTO-FINISH -0.3 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 4 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 16.8% SNAP
  • VEH-TYPICAL 7.2% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 44% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Southampton County (+ 0.0 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Mecklenburg County ranks #1,539 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #49 of 123 counties in VA (21.8% low-access; 4 food-desert tracts).

#1,539
national by low-access %
#49
in VA
4
low-access tracts
3K
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: 4 LILA tracts (44.4% of tracts) .

How Mecklenburg County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Mecklenburg County's 21.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 51% of them and ranked #1,544 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Mecklenburg County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

9 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 4 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Mecklenburg County, VA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 9 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (55.6%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (44.4%) Adequate 56% Limited 0% Severe 44% Food-access tier distribution: Mecklenburg County, VA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Mecklenburg County has 2 urban and 7 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.

Mecklenburg County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Virginia, 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 Mecklenburg County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts9
Atlas Population (2010 basis)32,727
Low-Access Tracts4
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population7,119
Low-Access Share21.8%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population3,125

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Mecklenburg County
IndicatorValue
Population30,516
Median Household Income$57,045
Poverty Rate16.3%above the national average
SNAP Households2,281
SNAP Participation Rate16.8%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle7.2%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.3%

Thick SNAP store book in Mecklenburg County

Mecklenburg County has 44 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 18 locations (41% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 18

  • cvs pharmacy 3915, chase city
  • cvs pharmacy 5736, clarksville
  • cvs/pharmacy 5507, south hill
  • dollar general 14120, bracey
  • dollar general 18378, south hill
  • dollar general 0328, south hill
  • dollar general 0375, chase city
  • dollar general 24847, clarksville
  • dollar general 3018, clarksville
  • dollar general 30351, chase city
  • dollar general 30878, bracey
  • dollar general 31024, south hill
  • dollar general 7338, boydton
  • dollar tree 495, la crosse
  • family dollar 128, chase city
  • homestead ransom, skipwith
  • maxway 1829, chase city
  • rose's 406, south hill

Convenience Store · 18

  • aplus 40014h, clarksville
  • aplus 40035h, la crosse
  • aplus 40001h, bracey
  • aplus 40003h, chase city
  • aplus 40002h, clarksville
  • blue heron deli & grill, la crosse
  • blue heron grocery & deli, chase city
  • country boys, chase city
  • gator's hwy 92, llc, chase city
  • hines grocery, la crosse
  • j. gill's, boydton
  • j.b jones co, la crosse
  • lee's convenience, clarksville
  • love's travel stop 469, south hill
  • quik fuel, south hill
  • sadler travel plaza of south hill 390, south hill
  • simmons travel center - bracey 001, bracey
  • slip in, south hill

Supermarket · 4

  • food lion 1152, south hill
  • food lion 2102, chase city
  • food lion 2620, clarksville
  • food lion 2622, south hill

Super Store · 2

  • dollar general market 12013, clarksville
  • walmart supercenter 1934, south hill

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • castle's butcher shop, chase city

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • chase city fruit stand, chase 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 Virginia

One of 132 counties in Virginia, 6 are shown here.

Accomack County
2.2% low-access · 12.5% SNAP
Albemarle County
11.9% low-access · 4.6% SNAP
Alexandria city
0.0% low-access · 5.1% SNAP
Alleghany County
16.4% low-access · 8.1% SNAP
Amelia County
16.5% low-access · 13.4% SNAP
Amherst County
11.3% low-access · 10.5% SNAP

Compare Mecklenburg County vs Accomack County → · All Virginia counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside VA (21.8% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside VA (16.8% 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, Virginia in context

Mecklenburg County sits inside Virginia (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 Mecklenburg County, VA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 51117. 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.