Signature · 9.0% SNAP (80th pct in KS)

Shawnee County, KS

Shawnee County stands out on SNAP (9.0%, -3.1 pts vs U.S.) with 23.8% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.

23.8%
low-access pop.
11
food-desert tracts
9.0%
on SNAP
178K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 KS

USDA FARA access plate

County Shawnee County, KS

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 23.8% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +1.7 pts vs US
  • LILA-CLUSTER 11 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 9.0% SNAP
  • VEH-TYPICAL 7.4% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 26% tracts LILA

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

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Shawnee County ranks #1,380 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #67 of 105 counties in KS (23.8% low-access; 11 food-desert tracts).

#1,380
national by low-access %
#67
in KS
19
low-access tracts
19K
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: 9.0% SNAP (80th pct in KS) (-3.1 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Shawnee County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Shawnee County's 23.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 56% of them and ranked #1,381 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Shawnee County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

43 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 11 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Shawnee County, KS USDA-defined food-access tiers: 24 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 8 limited, 11 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 43 tracts evaluated. 24 tracts adequate (55.8%) 8 tracts limited (18.6%) 11 tracts severe / food desert (25.6%) Adequate 56% Limited 19% Severe 26% Food-access tier distribution: Shawnee County, KS
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Shawnee County has 33 urban and 10 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.

Shawnee County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Kansas, 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 Shawnee County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts43
Atlas Population (2010 basis)177,934
Low-Access Tracts19
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)11
Low-Access Population42,434
Low-Access Share23.8%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population19,180

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Shawnee County
IndicatorValue
Population178,025
Median Household Income$67,104
Poverty Rate12.7%below the national average
SNAP Households6,756
SNAP Participation Rate9.0%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle7.4%near the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.9%

Thick SNAP store book in Shawnee County

Shawnee County has 119 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 51 locations (43% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 51

  • 1 stop, topeka
  • 29th quick stop, topeka
  • 29th st gas & shop llc, topeka
  • 804 convenience llc, topeka
  • abraham sn llc, topeka
  • at your service 4174, topeka
  • buy and ride 7, topeka
  • casey's 3971, topeka
  • casey's 4378, topeka
  • casey's 4477, topeka
  • casey's general store 3580, topeka
  • capital city smokes & grocery nida llc 1, topeka
  • casey's general store 2261, topeka
  • casey's general store 2312, topeka
  • casey's general store 3047, rossville
  • caseys general store 1196, silver lake
  • east quick stop, topeka
  • flowers bakery outlet 1395, topeka
  • gas n shop, topeka
  • haag's express, topeka
  • holliday square 66 36, topeka
  • huntoon max's 71, topeka
  • hy-vee gas 5658, topeka
  • k fast track, topeka
  • kick's 66, topeka
  • kwik shop 350705, topeka
  • kwik shop 350713, topeka
  • kwik shop 350720, topeka
  • kwik shop 350757, topeka
  • kwik shop 350780, topeka
  • kwik shop 350781, topeka
  • kwik shop 350789, topeka
  • kwik shop 350791, topeka
  • kwik shop 350796, topeka
  • lakeview 40, topeka
  • love's country store 175, tecumseh
  • love's travel stop 769, topeka
  • low cost 1, topeka
  • max's of auburn 66, auburn
  • mister thriftys llc, topeka
  • mjaz operation llc, topeka
  • murphy express 8599, topeka
  • quick stop 5, topeka
  • rm&k enterprise inc, topeka
  • tj's express 54, topeka
  • top city beverages, topeka
  • u-market, topeka
  • valero 1 stop, topeka
  • valero 4, topeka
  • white lakes 66 61, topeka
  • xpress mart, topeka

Combination Grocery/Other · 30

  • cvs 10244, topeka
  • dollartree 8070, topeka
  • dollar general 1171, topeka
  • dollar general 11834, auburn
  • dollar general 12745, topeka
  • dollar general 13381, topeka
  • dollar general 15245, topeka
  • dollar general 15354, topeka
  • dollar general 21526, topeka
  • dollar general 21591, topeka
  • dollar general 2703, topeka
  • dollar general 3085, topeka
  • dollar general 30927, silver lake
  • dollar general 3618, topeka
  • dollar general 4046, topeka
  • dollar tree 1293, topeka
  • dollar tree 1377, topeka
  • dollar tree 3374, topeka
  • dollar tree 6627, topeka
  • dollar tree 6660, topeka
  • family dollar 11855, topeka
  • family dollar 3621, topeka
  • walgreens 15601, topeka
  • walgreens 03069, topeka
  • walgreens 03772, topeka
  • walgreens 04557, topeka
  • walgreens 04782, topeka
  • walgreens 04981, topeka
  • walgreens 07778, topeka
  • walgreens 16314, topeka

Super Store · 15

  • dillon store 037, topeka
  • dillon store 047, topeka
  • dillon store 054, topeka
  • dillon store 067, topeka
  • dillon store 088, topeka
  • dillon store 87, topeka
  • hy-vee, topeka
  • sam's club 8176, topeka
  • supermercado nuestra familia 3740, topeka
  • target stores t- 0355, topeka
  • walmart neighborhood market 6585, topeka
  • walmart sc 1802, topeka
  • walmart sc 2131, topeka
  • walmart sc 5441, topeka
  • walmart supercenter 6392, topeka

Supermarket · 6

  • aldi 46054, topeka
  • aldi 46083, topeka
  • aldi 46009, topeka
  • rossville market llc, rossville
  • seabrook apple market, topeka
  • vitamin cottage natural foods market u073, topeka

Medium Grocery Store · 4

  • meat market camecuaro llc, topeka
  • second chance foods, topeka
  • tiltons oakland market, topeka
  • tiltons westside inc, topeka

Bakery Specialty · 3

  • papa murphy's ks055, topeka
  • papa murphy's take n bake pizza ks007, topeka
  • papa murphys ks041, topeka

Farmers' Market · 3

  • breadbasket farmers market nafmnp, topeka
  • downtown topeka farmers market, topeka
  • hi-crest market nafmnp, topeka

Small Grocery Store · 3

  • asia market topeka corp, topeka
  • hermans beef & sausage house, topeka
  • mi pueblito meat market no, topeka

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • la unica supermarket, topeka
  • supermart el torito inc #2, topeka

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • herman's meat and smokehouse 1, topeka
  • leonard meat, topeka

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

Other Counties in Kansas

One of 104 counties in Kansas, 6 are shown here.

Compare Shawnee County vs Allen County → · All Kansas counties →

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

SNAP-led peer set first for Shawnee County (9.0%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Kansas.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside KS (23.8% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside KS (9.0% 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, Kansas in context

Shawnee County sits inside Kansas (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 Shawnee County, KS are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 20177. 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.