Signature · 2 LILA tracts (40% of tracts)

Van Buren County, AR

Van Buren County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (40% of the book) alongside 10.4% low-access.

10.4%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
10.7%
on SNAP
16K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 AR

USDA FARA access plate

County Van Buren County, AR

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-TYPICAL · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-MODERATE 10.4% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -11.7 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-TYPICAL 10.7% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.4% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 40% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Marion County ( -0.4 pts)

Lower-band low-access

Van Buren County lands in the lower national band (10.4%, #2,461 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,461
national by low-access %
#69
in AR
2
low-access tracts
1K
food-desert residents

Lower-band county means still leave tract outliers on the table below.

Signature read: 2 LILA tracts (40% of tracts) .

How Van Buren County compares nationally

Van Buren County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 10.4% low-access share that beats 21% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,461).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Van Buren County's lower-band USDA tier split

5 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Van Buren County, AR USDA-defined food-access tiers: 3 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 5 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts adequate (60.0%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (40.0%) Adequate 60% Limited 0% Severe 40% Food-access tier distribution: Van Buren County, AR
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Van Buren County has 0 urban and 5 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.

Van Buren County vs nearby low low-access peers

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

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

FARA 2019 · lower low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Van Buren County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts5
Atlas Population (2010 basis)17,295
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population1,799
Low-Access Share10.4%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,164

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Van Buren County
IndicatorValue
Population15,998
Median Household Income$50,354
Poverty Rate19.1%above the national average
SNAP Households795
SNAP Participation Rate10.7%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.4%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.1%

SNAP retailers in Van Buren County

Van Buren County has 10 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 4 locations (40% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 4

  • dollar general 8025, fairfield bay
  • dollartree 9740, clinton
  • dollar general 15678, bee branch
  • dollar general 3979, clinton

Convenience Store · 3

  • casey's general store 3628, clinton
  • murphy usa 6678, clinton
  • raj gasoline and deli, clinton

Super Store · 3

  • clinton cash saver, clinton
  • harps food store 520, shirley
  • walmart supercenter 788, clinton

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

Other Counties in Arkansas

One of 74 counties in Arkansas, 6 are shown here.

Compare Van Buren County vs Arkansas County → · All Arkansas counties →

Counties near Van Buren County's lower low-access or SNAP band

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside AR (10.4% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside AR (10.7% 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.

Van Buren County inside a lower low-access state context

Van Buren County sits inside Arkansas (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 Van Buren County, AR are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 05141. 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.