Signature · 10.1% SNAP (14th pct in KY)

Union County, KY

Union County sits in the upper national band on low-access (33.5%, +11.4 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

33.5%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
10.1%
on SNAP
13K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 KY

USDA FARA access plate

County Union County, KY

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

  • LA-ELEVATED 33.5% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +11.4 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 10.1% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.6% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 25% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Christian County ( -0.3 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Union County sits in the upper national band (33.5%, #707 of 3,079) with 1 LILA tracts.

#707
national by low-access %
#10
in KY
1
low-access tracts
3K
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: 10.1% SNAP (14th pct in KY) (-2 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Union County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Union County's 33.5% low-access share is elevated, higher than 77% of them and ranked #708 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Union County's elevated USDA tier split

4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Union County, KY USDA-defined food-access tiers: 3 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 4 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts adequate (75.0%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (25.0%) Adequate 75% Limited 0% Severe 25% Food-access tier distribution: Union County, KY
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Union County has 1 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.

Union County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Kentucky, 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 Union County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts4
Atlas Population (2010 basis)15,007
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population5,021
Low-Access Share33.5%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population2,998

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Union County
IndicatorValue
Population13,260
Median Household Income$60,327
Poverty Rate18.4%above the national average
SNAP Households523
SNAP Participation Rate10.1%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.6%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population5.9%

SNAP retailers in Union County

Union County has 19 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 10 locations (53% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 10

  • casey's 3379, sturgis
  • gateway one stop 1, sturgis
  • giant 829, morganfield
  • hashmukh inc, waverly
  • huck's 291, morganfield
  • huck's 302, sturgis
  • ideal market 22, morganfield
  • smokin' joe's 2, sturgis
  • sturgis minimart, sturgis
  • uniontown food mart llc, uniontown

Combination Grocery/Other · 4

  • dollar general 2408, morganfield
  • dollar general 11590, uniontown
  • dollar general 4593, sturgis
  • dollar tree 5027, morganfield

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • floyd's alps, morganfield

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • union cty livestock inc t/a jim david meats, uniontown

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • weddings supermarket, uniontown

Super Store · 1

  • walmart 257, morganfield

Supermarket · 1

  • food giant 523, sturgis

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

Other Counties in Kentucky

One of 119 counties in Kentucky, 6 are shown here.

Compare Union County vs Adair County → · All Kentucky counties →

Counties near Union County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

SNAP-led peer set first for Union County (10.1%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Kentucky.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside KY (33.5% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside KY (10.1% 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.

Union County inside a higher low-access state context

Union County sits inside Kentucky (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 Union County, KY are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 21225. 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.