Signature · 3 LILA tracts (100% of tracts)

Tensas Parish, LA

Tensas Parish's signature pressure is desert tracts: 3 LILA tracts (100% of the book) alongside 58.9% low-access.

58.9%
low-access pop.
3
food-desert tracts
31.8%
on SNAP
4K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 LA

USDA FARA access plate

County Tensas Parish, LA

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-SEVERE 58.9% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +36.8 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 3 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 31.8% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 9.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 100% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Beauregard Parish ( -3.1 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Tensas Parish sits in the upper national band (58.9%, #130 of 3,079) with 3 LILA tracts.

#130
national by low-access %
#1
in LA
3
low-access tracts
2K
food-desert residents

Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.

Signature read: 3 LILA tracts (100% of tracts) .

How Tensas Parish compares nationally

Tensas Parish sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 58.9% low-access share outpaces 96% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #130 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Tensas Parish's elevated USDA tier split

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 3 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Tensas Parish, LA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 0 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 3 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts severe / food desert (100.0%) Adequate 0% Limited 0% Severe 100% Food-access tier distribution: Tensas Parish, LA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Tensas Parish 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.

Tensas Parish vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Louisiana, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Tensas Parish
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)5,252
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)3
Low-Access Population3,092
Low-Access Share58.9%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population2,043

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Tensas Parish
IndicatorValue
Population3,935
Median Household Income$36,615
Poverty Rate34.4%well above the national average
SNAP Households502
SNAP Participation Rate31.8%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle9.5%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population6.6%

SNAP retailers in Tensas Parish

Tensas Parish has 8 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 3 locations (38% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollar general 18726, newellton
  • dollar general 7948, saint joseph
  • family dollar 12863, saint joseph

Convenience Store · 2

  • britt's pharmacy, newellton
  • fueltrac 1, waterproof

Farmers' Market · 1

  • tensas produce market, st. joseph

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • diane's market, newellton

Supermarket · 1

  • mac's fresh market 8, saint joseph

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

Other Counties in Louisiana

One of 63 counties in Louisiana, 6 are shown here.

Compare Tensas Parish vs Acadia Parish → · All Louisiana counties →

Tensas Parish inside a higher low-access state context

Tensas Parish sits inside Louisiana (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 Tensas Parish, LA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 22107. 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.