Signature · 32.1% SNAP (100th pct in AR)

Phillips County, AR

Phillips County stands out on SNAP (32.1%, +20 pts vs U.S.) with 36.1% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.

36.1%
low-access pop.
3
food-desert tracts
32.1%
on SNAP
15K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 AR

USDA FARA access plate

County Phillips County, AR

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 36.1% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +14.0 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 3 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 32.1% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 17.0% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 50% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Grant County ( -0.6 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Phillips County sits in the upper national band (36.1%, #550 of 3,079) with 3 LILA tracts.

#550
national by low-access %
#8
in AR
4
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: 32.1% SNAP (100th pct in AR) (+20 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Phillips County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Phillips County's 36.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 82% of them and ranked #551 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Phillips County's elevated USDA tier split

6 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 3 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Phillips County, AR USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 3 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 6 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (33.3%) 1 tracts limited (16.7%) 3 tracts severe / food desert (50.0%) Adequate 33% Limited 17% Severe 50% Food-access tier distribution: Phillips County, AR
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Phillips County has 2 urban and 4 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.

Phillips County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Arkansas, 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 Phillips County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts6
Atlas Population (2010 basis)21,757
Low-Access Tracts4
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)3
Low-Access Population7,850
Low-Access Share36.1%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population4,120

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Phillips County
IndicatorValue
Population15,450
Median Household Income$40,134
Poverty Rate29.3%well above the national average
SNAP Households1,934
SNAP Participation Rate32.1%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle17.0%well above the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.4%

Thick SNAP store book in Phillips County

Phillips County has 28 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 15 locations (54% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 15

  • a-z food mart, west helena
  • double quick 90, helena
  • double quick 91, west helena
  • double quick 93, lexa
  • double quick 94, marvell
  • e-z mart 4293, marvell
  • helena quick stop, helena
  • jordans kwik stop 27, west helena
  • jordans kwik stop 48, west helena
  • jordans kwik stop 70, west helena
  • jordans kwik stop 71, helena
  • marvel mart, marvell
  • mellwood grocery, mellwood
  • murphy usa 6591, west helena
  • rustys mart, west helena

Combination Grocery/Other · 7

  • dollar general 2882, west helena
  • dollar general 1320, marvell
  • dollar general 16069, helena
  • dollar general 20876, elaine
  • dollar general 21029, lexa
  • dollar tree 9072, west helena
  • family dollar store 1294, west helena

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • butcher block, west helena
  • phillip mann farms, barton

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • rf beef co., llc, poplar grove

Seafood Specialty · 1

  • delta fish market bar & grill, west helena

Super Store · 1

  • walmart 714, west helena

Supermarket · 1

  • hays 3, west helena

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

Other Counties in Arkansas

One of 74 counties in Arkansas, 6 are shown here.

Compare Phillips County vs Arkansas County → · All Arkansas counties →

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

SNAP-led peer set first for Phillips County (32.1%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Arkansas.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside AR (36.1% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside AR (32.1% 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.

Phillips County inside a higher low-access state context

Phillips County sits inside Arkansas (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 Phillips County, AR are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 05107. 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.