Signature · 1.5% SNAP (0th pct in VA)

Powhatan County, VA

Powhatan County lands in the lower national band on low-access (6.1%); supermarket distance is less binding than in the upper band, though local tracts can still diverge.

6.1%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
1.5%
on SNAP
32K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 VA

USDA FARA access plate

County Powhatan County, VA

LA-ADEQUATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ADEQUATE 6.1% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -16.0 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 1.5% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 2.0% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

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

Lower-band low-access

Powhatan County lands in the lower national band (6.1%, #2,758 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,758
national by low-access %
#102
in VA
1
low-access tracts
307
food-desert residents

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

Signature read: 1.5% SNAP (0th pct in VA) (-10.6 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Powhatan County compares nationally

Food access in Powhatan County compares favorably nationally: its 6.1% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 12% of them (rank #2,760).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Powhatan County's lower-band USDA tier split

5 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Powhatan County, VA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 4 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 5 tracts evaluated. 4 tracts adequate (80.0%) 1 tracts limited (20.0%) Adequate 80% Limited 20% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Powhatan County, VA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Powhatan County has 0 urban and 5 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.

Powhatan County vs nearby low low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Virginia, 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 Powhatan County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts5
Atlas Population (2010 basis)28,046
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population1,701
Low-Access Share6.1%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population307

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Powhatan County
IndicatorValue
Population31,555
Median Household Income$110,537
Poverty Rate4.6%well below the national average
SNAP Households166
SNAP Participation Rate1.5%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle2.0%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.1%

SNAP retailers in Powhatan County

Powhatan County has 12 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 5 locations (42% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 5

  • barham seafood llc, powhatan
  • cvs pharmacy 11083, powhatan
  • dollartree 9160, powhatan
  • dollar general 2032, powhatan
  • family dollar store 5382, powhatan

Convenience Store · 3

  • murphy express 8749, powhatan
  • sheetz 331, powhatan
  • sheetz 565, powhatan

Supermarket · 2

  • food lion 1361, powhatan
  • food lion 2610, powhatan

Farmers' Market · 1

  • powhatan village farmers market, powhatan

Super Store · 1

  • walmart 5847, powhatan

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

Other Counties in Virginia

One of 132 counties in Virginia, 6 are shown here.

Compare Powhatan County vs Accomack County → · All Virginia counties →

Counties near Powhatan County's lower low-access or SNAP band

SNAP-led peer set first for Powhatan County (1.5%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Virginia.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside VA (6.1% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside VA (1.5% 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.

Powhatan County inside a lower low-access state context

Powhatan County sits inside Virginia (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 Powhatan County, VA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 51145. 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.