PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Alabama

Talladega County, AL

Talladega County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.

18.6%
low-access pop.
5
food-desert tracts
17.0%
on SNAP
81K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 AL

The food-access picture

18.6% of Talladega County residents live in a low-access area, and 5 of its 22 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

6
low-access tracts
6K
food-desert residents
6.9%
households, no vehicle
17.8%
below poverty line

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, 1-and-10-mile measure).

Talladega County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 18.6% per the USDA Atlas. 6 of the county's 22 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 15,309 residents who live far from a supermarket. 5 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 6,453 low-income residents.

How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts

The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.

How Talladega County compares nationally

Talladega County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.6% low-access share that beats 42% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,809).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Talladega County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 22 census tracts in Talladega County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Talladega County, AL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 16 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 5 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 22 tracts evaluated. 16 tracts adequate (72.7%) 1 tracts limited (4.5%) 5 tracts severe / food desert (22.7%) Adequate 73% Limited 5% Severe 23% Food-access tier distribution: Talladega County, AL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Talladega County vs. other Alabama counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Alabama

% 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 Talladega County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts22
Atlas Population (2010 basis)82,291
Low-Access Tracts6
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)5
Low-Access Population15,309
Low-Access Share18.6%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population6,453

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Talladega County
IndicatorValue
Population81,021
Median Household Income$57,776
Poverty Rate17.8%above the national average
SNAP Households5,717
SNAP Participation Rate17.0%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.9%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.2%
SNAP participation in Talladega County 17.0%

About 17.0% of Talladega County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 18.6% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 17.0% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 5,717 households here.
  • 6.9% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 5 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).

USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).

What the food-access data shows for Talladega County

near the national share

5 of Talladega County's 22 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 22.7% of all its tracts.

A further 1 tract is low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 6.

An estimated 15,309 residents, roughly 18.6% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 6,453 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 16 tracts (72.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Talladega County

Talladega County has 95 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 46 locations (48% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 46

  • 7-eleven 42352, lincoln
  • aoc texaco #3, sylacauga
  • allen food mart #44 #44, sylacauga
  • allen food marts, inc #11, sylacauga
  • allen's quick stop #3, sylacauga
  • allen's short stop, sylacauga
  • alsabi llc, eastaboga
  • aoc food marts inc 06, talladega
  • aoc food marts inc 09, lincoln
  • aoc food marts inc aoc 15, lincoln
  • ars food mart, talladega
  • arzaan food mart, llc, sylacauga
  • childersburg exxon package store, childersburg
  • circle k 2723664, childersburg
  • circle k store 2706479, sylacauga
  • circle k store 2709333, talladega
  • circle k store 2709334, sylacauga
  • citgo childersburg, childersburg
  • coldwater friendly stop, oxford
  • comet mini mart, sylacauga
  • coosa river chevron, childersburg
  • fin food mart, talladega
  • flowers bakery outlet 705, talladega
  • hop in hwy 280, sylacauga
  • l&j food mart mobil, sylacauga
  • lincoln food mart, lincoln
  • mapco express, inc. 5111, eastaboga
  • mapco express, inc. 5121, lincoln
  • mapco express, inc. 5122, eastaboga
  • mapco express, inc. 5188, talladega
  • mapco express, inc. 5193, childersburg
  • mapco express, inc. 5195, alpine
  • maa amba inc, talladega
  • marathon food center, lincoln
  • murphy usa 7819, talladega
  • nav shakti inc, talladega
  • pilot travel center 1549, lincoln
  • pilot travel center 497, lincoln
  • pops corner grocery, talladega
  • quik stop, childersburg
  • shree verai inc, munford
  • talladega food mart, talladega
  • talladega food mart, talladega
  • the cotton patch, talladega
  • verai om inc, talladega
  • waldo quick stop, talladega

Combination Grocery/Other · 36

  • cvs pharmacy 4842, talladega
  • cvs pharmacy 4861, childersburg
  • cvs pharmacy 4915, sylacauga
  • dollar general 1080, talladega
  • dollar general 19509, talledaga
  • dollar general 2332, sylacauga
  • dollar general 3581, talladega
  • dollar general 4339, childersburg
  • dollar general 4433, lincoln
  • dollar general 8462, munford
  • dollartree 8970, sylacauga
  • dollar general 12775, sycamore
  • dollar general 12945, eastaboga
  • dollar general 13092, talladega
  • dollar general 14476, sylacauga
  • dollar general 15731, talledega
  • dollar general 16257, sylacauga
  • dollar general 16634, talladega
  • dollar general 20499, lincoln
  • dollar general 22329, sylacauga
  • dollar general 25999, munford
  • dollar general 30705, lincoln
  • dollar general 30717, alpine
  • dollar general 31132, sylacauga
  • dollar general 4306, sylacauga
  • dollar general 6434, sylacauga
  • dollar general store 17398, talladega
  • dollar tree 2136, talladega
  • dollar tree 541, sylacauga
  • family dollar 12608, lincoln
  • family dollar 13473, talladega
  • family dollar store 405, sylacauga
  • family dollar store 459, childersburg
  • family dollar store 760, talladega
  • walgreens 10598, sylacauga
  • walgreens 12099, talladega

Super Store · 6

  • piggly wiggly 242, talladega
  • piggly wiggly 234, sylacauga
  • piggly wiggly 236, sylacauga
  • piggly wiggly 240, childersburg
  • walmart supercenter 432, talladega
  • walmart supercenter 730, sylacauga

Supermarket · 3

  • meat depot sylacauga 92, sylacauga
  • piggly wiggly 237, lincoln
  • publix alabama, llc 1794, sylacauga

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • munford food mart, munford
  • r & p food mart,inc., sylacauga

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • hwy 77 fishmarket, lincoln

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • studdard meat market, alpine

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Alabama

Autauga County
33.9% low-access · 9.2% SNAP
Baldwin County
25.1% low-access · 6.7% SNAP
Barbour County
20.5% low-access · 21.3% SNAP
Bibb County
1.6% low-access · 20.7% SNAP
Blount County
6.8% low-access · 12.3% SNAP
Bullock County
68.5% low-access · 34.0% SNAP

Compare Talladega County vs Autauga County → · All Alabama counties →

Food access nationally, Alabama in context

Talladega County sits inside Alabama (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Talladega County has low food access? ▼
18.6% of residents in Talladega County, AL live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Talladega County? ▼
17.0% of households in Talladega County receive SNAP, covering 5,717 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Talladega County? ▼
The poverty rate in Talladega County, AL is 17.8%, with a median household income of $57,776 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Talladega County a food desert? ▼
5 of Talladega County's 22 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Talladega County households lack a vehicle? ▼
6.9% of households in Talladega County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
Data Sources & Methodology

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →

Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).

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.