Signature · 1 LILA tracts (33.3% of tracts)

Stone County, MS

Stone County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 1 LILA tracts (33.3% of the book) alongside 25.7% low-access.

25.7%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
15.5%
on SNAP
19K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MS

USDA FARA access plate

County Stone County, MS

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 25.7% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +3.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-HEAVY 15.5% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.1% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 33% tracts LILA

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

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Stone County ranks #1,241 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #29 of 80 counties in MS (25.7% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,241
national by low-access %
#29
in MS
3
low-access tracts
2K
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: 1 LILA tracts (33.3% of tracts) .

How Stone County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Stone County's 25.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 60% of them and ranked #1,241 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Stone County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

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

By USDA urbanicity classification, Stone County has 1 urban and 2 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.

Stone County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Mississippi, 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 Stone County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)17,786
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population4,573
Low-Access Share25.7%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population2,237

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Stone County
IndicatorValue
Population18,894
Median Household Income$61,413
Poverty Rate16.9%above the national average
SNAP Households1,040
SNAP Participation Rate15.5%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.1%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.6%

SNAP retailers in Stone County

Stone County has 17 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 8 locations (47% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 8

  • dollar general 11268, wiggins
  • dollar general 18599, mchenry
  • dollar general 19553, lumberton
  • dollar general 16334, perkinston
  • dollar general 24130, wiggins
  • dollar tree 5555, wiggins
  • family dollar store 3020, wiggins
  • the butcher block of wiggins llc, wiggins

Convenience Store · 6

  • circle k 2723402, wiggins
  • hr food mart, wiggins
  • jr food mart 476, wiggins
  • murphy usa 6794, wiggins
  • one stop fuel 2, wiggins
  • ramsey springs general store, perkinston

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • smith produce #1, perkinston

Super Store · 1

  • walmart s/c 3528, wiggins

Supermarket · 1

  • piggly wiggly 602, wiggins

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

Other Counties in Mississippi

One of 81 counties in Mississippi, 6 are shown here.

Compare Stone County vs Adams County → · All Mississippi counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside MS (25.7% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside MS (15.5% 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.

Food access nationally, Mississippi in context

Stone County sits inside Mississippi (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 Stone County, MS are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 28131. 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.