Signature · 4 LILA tracts (36.4% of tracts)

Pope County, AR

Pope County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 4 LILA tracts (36.4% of the book) alongside 23.3% low-access.

23.3%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
9.9%
on SNAP
64K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 AR

USDA FARA access plate

County Pope County, AR

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 23.3% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +1.2 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 4 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 9.9% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 36% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Montgomery County ( -0.2 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Pope County ranks #1,420 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #42 of 75 counties in AR (23.3% low-access; 4 food-desert tracts).

#1,420
national by low-access %
#42
in AR
7
low-access tracts
6K
food-desert residents

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).

Signature read: 4 LILA tracts (36.4% of tracts) .

How Pope County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Pope County's 23.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 55% of them and ranked #1,421 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Pope County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

11 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 4 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Pope County, AR USDA-defined food-access tiers: 4 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 3 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 11 tracts evaluated. 4 tracts adequate (36.4%) 3 tracts limited (27.3%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (36.4%) Adequate 36% Limited 27% Severe 36% Food-access tier distribution: Pope County, AR
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Pope County has 5 urban and 6 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.

Pope County low-access neighbourhood

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

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Pope County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts11
Atlas Population (2010 basis)61,754
Low-Access Tracts7
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population14,369
Low-Access Share23.3%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population5,787

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Pope County
IndicatorValue
Population64,131
Median Household Income$57,344
Poverty Rate16.9%above the national average
SNAP Households2,411
SNAP Participation Rate9.9%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.5%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.7%

Thick SNAP store book in Pope County

Pope County has 39 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 19 locations (49% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 19

  • cvs pharmacey 11093, russellville
  • dollar general 13890, pottsville
  • dollar general 14034, russellville
  • dollar general 1734, russellville
  • dollar general 3713, atkins
  • dollar general 4252, dover
  • dollar general 4925, russellville
  • dollar general 11620, london
  • dollar general 14625, russellville
  • dollar general 16448, russellville
  • dollar general 23240, dover
  • dollar general 24611, atkins
  • dollar general 6816, russellville
  • dollar general store 17124, hector
  • dollar tree 353, russellville
  • dollar tree 5808, russellville
  • family dollar store 4009, russellville
  • walgreens 10199, russellville
  • walgreens 15243, russellville

Convenience Store · 9

  • casey's 3345, atkins
  • casey's 3755, russellville
  • center valley grocery, russellville
  • caseys general store 3557, russellville
  • jordans kwik stop 76, pottsville
  • jordans kwik stop 82, atkins
  • pilot travel center 430, russellville
  • pilot travel center 605, russellville
  • university c store, russellville

Super Store · 5

  • 10 box cost-plus 349, russellville
  • harps food store 398, dover
  • kroger food store 624, russellville
  • walmart neighborhood market 4128, russellville
  • walmart supercenter 58, russellville

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • chicken mart, russellville
  • chicken mart, russellville

Supermarket · 2

  • aldi 41116, russellville
  • bill's cash saver 407, atkins

Farmers' Market · 1

  • russellville community market, inc., russellville

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • latino market 1, russellville

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 Pope County vs Arkansas County → · All Arkansas counties →

Nationwide peers for Pope County's low-access or SNAP share

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Pope County, both outside Arkansas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside AR (23.3% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside AR (9.9% 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.

Food access nationally, Arkansas in context

Pope 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 Pope County, AR are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 05115. 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.