Signature · 2 LILA tracts (50% of tracts)

Pocahontas County, WV

Pocahontas County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (50% of the book) alongside 47.7% low-access.

47.7%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
21.7%
on SNAP
8K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 WV

USDA FARA access plate

County Pocahontas County, WV

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-SEVERE 47.7% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +25.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 21.7% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 50% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Pendleton County (+ 0.6 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Pocahontas County sits in the upper national band (47.7%, #232 of 3,079) with 2 LILA tracts.

#232
national by low-access %
#4
in WV
4
low-access tracts
2K
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: 2 LILA tracts (50% of tracts) .

How Pocahontas County compares nationally

Pocahontas County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 47.7% low-access share outpaces 93% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #232 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Pocahontas County's elevated USDA tier split

4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Pocahontas County, WV USDA-defined food-access tiers: 0 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 4 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts limited (50.0%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (50.0%) Adequate 0% Limited 50% Severe 50% Food-access tier distribution: Pocahontas County, WV
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

All 4 of Pocahontas County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.

Pocahontas County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in West Virginia, 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 Pocahontas County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts4
Atlas Population (2010 basis)8,719
Low-Access Tracts4
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population4,158
Low-Access Share47.7%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,719

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Pocahontas County
IndicatorValue
Population7,784
Median Household Income$42,119
Poverty Rate22.5%well above the national average
SNAP Households690
SNAP Participation Rate21.7%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.5%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.4%

SNAP retailers in Pocahontas County

Pocahontas County has 16 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 9 locations (56% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Where the store book sits, by town

6 towns share the 16 authorized stores; Marlinton holds 31% of them. 4 of the 6 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Hillsboro, Bartow, Green Bank, Slatyfork.

TownSNAP storesGrocery-grade
Marlinton51
Hillsboro4none
Bartow2none
Green Bank2none
Slatyfork2none
Arbovale11

Convenience Store · 9

  • levels depot, hillsboro
  • little general 2060, marlinton
  • par mar store 102, bartow
  • par mar store 197, hillsboro
  • par mar store 221, marlinton
  • par mar store 50, slatyfork
  • par mar store 74, green bank
  • route 39 stop, marlinton
  • trents general store llc 2, bartow

Combination Grocery/Other · 4

  • dollar general 915, marlinton
  • dollar general 11748, green bank
  • dollar general 24509, slatyfork
  • dollar general 24638, hillsboro

Farmers' Market · 1

  • saffron flats farms, llc, hillsboro

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • trents general store llc 1, arbovale

Super Store · 1

  • pocahontas foodland, marlinton

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

Other Counties in West Virginia

One of 54 counties in West Virginia, 6 are shown here.

Compare Pocahontas County vs Barbour County → · All West Virginia counties →

West Virginia among South Atlantic states

West Virginia ranks 7th of 9 South Atlantic states by population-weighted low-access (21.3%). Pocahontas County, at 47.7%, runs 26.4 pts above the West Virginia rate.

  1. Georgia 30.9%
  2. South Carolina 28.7%
  3. Delaware 27.3%
  4. Florida 25.1%
  5. North Carolina 22.9%
  6. Maryland 22.7%
  7. West Virginia 21.3%
  8. Virginia 20.4%
  9. District of Columbia 4.6%

Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map

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 Pocahontas County, WV are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 54075. 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.