Signature · 10.7% low-access (22nd pct)

Ritchie County, WV

Ritchie County lands in the lower national band on low-access (10.7%); supermarket distance is less binding than in the upper band, though local tracts can still diverge.

10.7%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
15.9%
on SNAP
8K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 WV

USDA FARA access plate

County Ritchie County, WV

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-MODERATE 10.7% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -11.4 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 15.9% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.8% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

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

Lower-band low-access

Ritchie County lands in the lower national band (10.7%, #2,429 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,429
national by low-access %
#36
in WV
1
low-access tracts
496
food-desert residents

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

Signature read: 10.7% low-access (22nd pct) (-11.4 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Ritchie County compares nationally

Ritchie County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 10.7% low-access share that beats 22% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,433).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Ritchie County's lower-band USDA tier split

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Ritchie County, WV USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (66.7%) 1 tracts limited (33.3%) Adequate 67% Limited 33% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Ritchie County, WV
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Ritchie County has 0 urban and 3 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.

Ritchie County vs nearby low 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 · lower low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Ritchie County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)10,449
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population1,120
Low-Access Share10.7%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population496

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Ritchie County
IndicatorValue
Population8,286
Median Household Income$50,582
Poverty Rate21.6%well above the national average
SNAP Households540
SNAP Participation Rate15.9%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.8%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.4%

SNAP retailers in Ritchie County

Ritchie County has 19 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 9 locations (47% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 9

  • dollar general 908, harrisville
  • dollar general 13423, pennsboro
  • dollar general 23242, smithville
  • dollar general 31124, pennsboro
  • family dollar store 1025, pennsboro
  • family dollar store 4934, harrisville
  • harrisville shop n save express, harrisville
  • walgreens 17935, saint marys
  • walgreens 18423, harrisville

Convenience Store · 7

  • 7-eleven 35953h, pennsboro
  • bailey brothers, smithville
  • get fueled up llc, cairo
  • go mart 103, ellenboro
  • little general 4225, pennsboro
  • par mar store 21, harrisville
  • rt 16 fuel center, ellenboro

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • cairo meat and grocery, cairo

Super Store · 1

  • st marys galaxy, saint marys

Supermarket · 1

  • pennsboro save a lot 45075, pennsboro

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 Ritchie County vs Barbour County → · All West Virginia counties →

Ritchie County inside a lower low-access state context

Ritchie County sits inside West 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 Ritchie County, WV are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 54085. 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.