PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · South Dakota

Pennington County, SD

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Pennington 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).

32.8%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
8.1%
on SNAP
114K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 SD

The food-access picture

32.8% of Pennington County residents live in a low-access area, and 4 of its 23 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

12
low-access tracts
9K
food-desert residents
5.6%
households, no vehicle
11.2%
below poverty line

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, 1-and-10-mile measure).

USDA data puts Pennington County's low-access share at 32.8%, above the national share. 12 of the county's 23 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 33,076 people. 4 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 9,090 low-income residents.

How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts

The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.

How Pennington County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Pennington County's 32.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 76% of them and ranked #759 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Pennington County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 23 census tracts in Pennington County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Pennington County, SD USDA-defined food-access tiers: 11 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 8 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 23 tracts evaluated. 11 tracts adequate (47.8%) 8 tracts limited (34.8%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (17.4%) Adequate 48% Limited 35% Severe 17% Food-access tier distribution: Pennington County, SD
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Pennington County vs. other South Dakota counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in South Dakota

% 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 Pennington County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts23
Atlas Population (2010 basis)100,948
Low-Access Tracts12
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population33,076
Low-Access Share32.8%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population9,090

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Pennington County
IndicatorValue
Population113,512
Median Household Income$74,517
Poverty Rate11.2%below the national average
SNAP Households3,738
SNAP Participation Rate8.1%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.6%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.3%
SNAP participation in Pennington County 8.1%

About 8.1% of Pennington County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 32.8% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 8.1% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 3,738 households here.
  • 5.6% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 4 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).

USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).

What the food-access data shows for Pennington County

above the national share

4 of Pennington County's 23 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 17.4% of all its tracts.

A further 8 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 12.

An estimated 33,076 residents, roughly 32.8% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 9,090 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 11 tracts (47.8%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Pennington County

Pennington County has 92 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 53 locations (58% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 53

  • benjas mexican store, rapid city
  • big d oil 17, rapid city
  • big d oil 22, rapid city
  • big d oil 24, rapid city
  • big d oil 4, rapid city
  • big d oil 41, rapid city
  • big d oil 42, rapid city
  • big d oil 45, rapid city
  • big d oil 5, rapid city
  • big d oil 54, rapid city
  • big d oil 62, rapid city
  • big d oil 8, rapid city
  • bj's 003, rapid city
  • bj's country store new underwood 1, new underwood
  • circle k 2746524, box elder
  • circle k 2746529, rapid city
  • circle k 2746573, rapid city
  • common cents 125, rapid city
  • common cents food store 102, rapid city
  • common cents food store 104, rapid city
  • common cents food store 105, rapid city
  • common cents food store 107, rapid city
  • common cents food store 108, rapid city
  • common cents food store 109, rapid city
  • common cents food store 111, wall
  • corner pantry 13, rapid city
  • corner pantry 18, rapid city
  • corner pantry 21, rapid city
  • corner pantry 4, rapid city
  • corner pantry 5, rapid city
  • corner pantry 8, rapid city
  • corner pantry 9, rapid city
  • discount overstocks, rapid city
  • flying j travel plaza 52, rapid city
  • holiday stationstore 2746449, rapid city
  • holiday stationstore 2746455, rapid city
  • holiday stationstore 2746456, rapid city
  • holiday stationstore 2746465, rapid city
  • holiday stationstore 2746512, rapid city
  • loaf n jug 750443, rapid city
  • loaf n jug 750444, rapid city
  • loaf n jug 750449, box elder
  • love's travel stop 602, box elder
  • main street market inc, rapid city
  • maverik 552, rapid city
  • maverik 571, rapid city
  • pilot travel center 918, rapid city
  • yesway 1172, box elder
  • yesway 1186, rapid city
  • yesway 1187, rapid city
  • yesway 1188, rapid city
  • yesway 1189, rapid city
  • yesway 1190, rapid city

Combination Grocery/Other · 20

  • dollartree 8841, rapid city
  • dollar general 15078, box elder
  • dollar general 15207, rapid city
  • dollar general 18267, rapid city
  • dollar general 20846, rapid city
  • dollar general 23124, hermosa
  • dollar general 30314, box elder
  • dollar general store 16841, hill city
  • dollar tree 4086, rapid city
  • dollar tree 5642, rapid city
  • dollar tree 7681, rapid city
  • family dollar 7118, rapid city
  • family dollar 7251, rapid city
  • krulls market 9814, hill city
  • the salvation army, rapid city
  • the thrift store, rapid city
  • walgreens 05643, rapid city
  • walgreens 09512, rapid city
  • walgreens 10656, rapid city
  • wall food center, wall

Super Store · 6

  • family fare 253, rapid city
  • family fare 265, rapid city
  • sam's club 6565, rapid city
  • target stores t- 2457, rapid city
  • walmart 3872, rapid city
  • walmart sc 1604, rapid city

Supermarket · 4

  • lynn's dakotamart, box elder
  • safeway 1554, rapid city
  • safeway 581, rapid city
  • timmons market, rapid city

Bakery Specialty · 2

  • papa murphy's pizza sd001, rapid city
  • papa murphy's pizza sd006, rapid city

Farmers' Market · 2

  • barlow family farm, quinn
  • blackhills farmers market, rapid city

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • breadroot natural foods co-op, rapid city
  • dakota butcher-rapid city inc, rapid city

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • cutting edge meat market, rapid city
  • sacred storm buffalo meats & treats, rapid city

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • pops grocery shoppe, hermosa

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in South Dakota

Aurora County
70.4% low-access · 4.4% SNAP
Beadle County
29.0% low-access · 11.3% SNAP
Bennett County
39.2% low-access · 17.0% SNAP
Bon Homme County
80.2% low-access · 6.3% SNAP
Brookings County
45.4% low-access · 4.4% SNAP
Brown County
42.1% low-access · 8.8% SNAP

Compare Pennington County vs Aurora County → · All South Dakota counties →

Food access nationally, South Dakota in context

Pennington County sits inside South Dakota (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; 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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Pennington County has low food access? ▼
32.8% of residents in Pennington County, SD live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Pennington County? ▼
8.1% of households in Pennington County receive SNAP, covering 3,738 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Pennington County? ▼
The poverty rate in Pennington County, SD is 11.2%, with a median household income of $74,517 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Pennington County a food desert? ▼
4 of Pennington County's 23 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Pennington County households lack a vehicle? ▼
5.6% of households in Pennington County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
Data Sources & Methodology

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →

Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).

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.