Signature · 7.8% SNAP (17th pct in OH)

Ottawa County, OH

Ottawa County sits in the upper national band on low-access (31.0%, +8.9 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

31.0%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
7.8%
on SNAP
40K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 OH

USDA FARA access plate

County Ottawa County, OH

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN

  • LA-ELEVATED 31.0% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +8.9 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 7.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 3.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-THIN 8% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Hamilton County (+ 0.1 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Ottawa County sits in the upper national band (31.0%, #877 of 3,079) with 1 LILA tracts.

#877
national by low-access %
#18
in OH
6
low-access tracts
4K
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: 7.8% SNAP (17th pct in OH) (-4.3 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Ottawa County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Ottawa County's 31.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 72% of them and ranked #877 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Ottawa County's elevated USDA tier split

13 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Ottawa County, OH USDA-defined food-access tiers: 7 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 5 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 13 tracts evaluated. 7 tracts adequate (53.8%) 5 tracts limited (38.5%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (7.7%) Adequate 54% Limited 38% Severe 8% Food-access tier distribution: Ottawa County, OH
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Ottawa County has 6 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.

Ottawa County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Ohio, 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 Ottawa County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts13
Atlas Population (2010 basis)41,428
Low-Access Tracts6
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population12,833
Low-Access Share31.0%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population3,711

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Ottawa County
IndicatorValue
Population39,994
Median Household Income$76,101
Poverty Rate8.4%well below the national average
SNAP Households1,441
SNAP Participation Rate7.8%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.5%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.4%

Thick SNAP store book in Ottawa County

Ottawa County has 32 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 14 locations (44% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 14

  • countyline one stop center, port clinton
  • curtice carryout, curtice
  • express stop 4669, elmore
  • friendship 70, port clinton
  • friendship 72, oak harbor
  • friendship 76, port clinton
  • genoa mini mart, genoa
  • heilman's brew thru, genoa
  • hy-miler 2241, port clinton
  • hy-miller 2237, port clinton
  • pc party mart, port clinton
  • pat's party mart, port clinton
  • rich's drive thru & conv store, port clinton
  • speedway 5410 5410, port clinton

Combination Grocery/Other · 10

  • dollar general 14390, port clinton
  • dollar general 19577, elmore
  • dollar general 19697, oak harbor
  • dollar general 4779, port clinton
  • dollar general 8331, oak harbor
  • dollar general 994, genoa
  • dollar general 15713, lakeside marblehead
  • dollar general 17230, port clinton
  • dollar tree 6770, port clinton
  • family dollar 12980, genoa

Super Store · 5

  • bassett's market, port clinton
  • community markets 240, oak harbor
  • kroger n-641, port clinton
  • miller's newmarket, genoa
  • walmart supercenter 1445, port clinton

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • erie food market, lakeside marblehead
  • tank's meats, inc, elmore

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • bassett's hardware & city market, port clinton

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

Other Counties in Ohio

One of 87 counties in Ohio, 6 are shown here.

Compare Ottawa County vs Adams County → · All Ohio counties →

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

SNAP-led peer set first for Ottawa County (7.8%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Ohio.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside OH (31.0% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside OH (7.8% 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.

Ottawa County inside a higher low-access state context

Ottawa County sits inside Ohio (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 Ottawa County, OH are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 39123. 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.