Signature · 2.8% SNAP (1st pct in GA)

Oconee County, GA

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Oconee County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).

22.3%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
2.8%
on SNAP
44K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 GA

USDA FARA access plate

County Oconee County, GA

LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ELEVATED 22.3% low-access
  • PHOTO-FINISH +0.2 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 2.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 0.8% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

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

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Oconee County ranks #1,501 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #69 of 151 counties in GA (22.3% low-access).

#1,501
national by low-access %
#69
in GA
1
low-access tracts
1K
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: 2.8% SNAP (1st pct in GA) (-9.3 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Oconee County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Oconee County's 22.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 52% of them and ranked #1,503 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Oconee County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

6 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Oconee County, GA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 6 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (83.3%) 1 tracts limited (16.7%) Adequate 83% Limited 17% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Oconee County, GA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Oconee County has 1 urban and 5 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.

Oconee County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Georgia, 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 Oconee County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts6
Atlas Population (2010 basis)32,808
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population7,320
Low-Access Share22.3%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,116

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Oconee County
IndicatorValue
Population43,551
Median Household Income$121,217
Poverty Rate6.2%well below the national average
SNAP Households424
SNAP Participation Rate2.8%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle0.8%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.4%

SNAP retailers in Oconee County

Oconee County has 24 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 14 locations (58% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 14

  • athens shell, athens
  • bogart food mart, bogart
  • circle m food shop 26, watkinsville
  • food mart, bishop
  • fresh food mart, watkinsville
  • golden pantry 77, bishop
  • golden pantry food stores 1004, watkinsville
  • golden pantry food stores 1034, watkinsville
  • greensboro food mart, watkinsville
  • jp bogart 259, bogart
  • oconee fast mart, watkinsville
  • race trac 51, watkinsville
  • race trac 588, bogart
  • super 76, watkinsville

Combination Grocery/Other · 6

  • cvs pharmacy 4719, watkinsville
  • dollar general 3023, bogart
  • dollar general 17952, bogart
  • dollar general 22812, bishop
  • family dollar store 8137, watkinsville
  • walgreens 17923, watkinsville

Super Store · 2

  • costco wholesale 1621, athens
  • striplings general store, bogart

Supermarket · 2

  • publix 617, watkinsville
  • trader joe's 736, athens

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

Other Counties in Georgia

One of 158 counties in Georgia, 6 are shown here.

Compare Oconee County vs Appling County → · All Georgia counties →

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

SNAP-led peer set first for Oconee County (2.8%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Georgia.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside GA (22.3% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside GA (2.8% 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, Georgia in context

Oconee County sits inside Georgia (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 Oconee County, GA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 13219. 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.