Signature · 37.8% SNAP (100th pct in KY)

Owsley County, KY

Owsley County stands out on SNAP (37.8%, +25.7 pts vs U.S.) with 2.3% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.

2.3%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
37.8%
on SNAP
4K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 KY

USDA FARA access plate

County Owsley County, KY

LA-ADEQUATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ADEQUATE 2.3% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -19.8 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 37.8% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 16.3% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

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

Lower-band low-access

Owsley County lands in the lower national band (2.3%, #2,949 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,949
national by low-access %
#91
in KY
0
low-access tracts
66
food-desert residents

Lower-band county means still leave tract outliers on the table below.

Signature read: 37.8% SNAP (100th pct in KY) (+25.7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Owsley County compares nationally

Food access in Owsley County compares favorably nationally: its 2.3% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 6% of them (rank #2,949).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Owsley County's lower-band USDA tier split

2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Owsley County, KY USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 2 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (100.0%) Adequate 100% Limited 0% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Owsley County, KY
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Owsley County has 0 urban and 2 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.

Owsley County vs nearby low low-access peers

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

FARA 2019 · lower low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Owsley County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts2
Atlas Population (2010 basis)4,755
Low-Access Tracts0
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population108
Low-Access Share2.3%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population66

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Owsley County
IndicatorValue
Population3,971
Median Household Income$22,188
Poverty Rate36.1%well above the national average
SNAP Households593
SNAP Participation Rate37.8%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle16.3%well above the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.0%

SNAP retailers in Owsley County

Owsley County has 9 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 3 locations (33% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollar general 7112, booneville
  • dollar general 24873, booneville
  • family dollar store 733, booneville

Convenience Store · 3

  • booneville bp, booneville
  • booneville foodmart, booneville
  • lerose mini mart, booneville

Farmers' Market · 1

  • owsley county farmers market, booneville

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • thomas callahan grocery, island city

Supermarket · 1

  • booneville shopwise, booneville

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.

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

Owsley County inside a lower low-access state context

Owsley County sits inside Kentucky (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 Owsley County, KY are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 21189. 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.