Signature · 1 LILA tracts (33.3% of tracts)
Washington County, KY
Washington County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 1 LILA tracts (33.3% of the book) alongside 16.2% low-access.
- 16.2%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 16.2%
- on SNAP
- 12K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Washington County, KY
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-MODERATE 16.2% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -5.9 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-HEAVY 16.2% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.3% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 33% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Warren County ( -0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Washington County ranks #2,016 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #42 of 110 counties in KY (16.2% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #2,016
- national by low-access %
- #42
- in KY
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 605
- 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 Washington County compares nationally
Washington County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.2% low-access share that beats 36% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,016).
Washington County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
All 3 of Washington County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
Washington County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Kentucky, not a full county-board reprint
- Robertson
Robertson 74.8%
74.8 % low-access
- Meade 16.6
Meade 16.6%
16.6 % low-access
- Calloway 16.5
Calloway 16.5%
16.5 % low-access
- Washington 16.2
Washington 16.2%
16.2 % low-access
- Warren 16
Warren 16%
16 % low-access
- Harrison 15.6
Harrison 15.6%
15.6 % low-access
- Ballard 0
Ballard 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 3 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 11,717 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,894 |
| Low-Access Share | 16.2%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 605 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 12,140 |
| Median Household Income | $61,616 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.7%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 785 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 16.2%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.3%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.9% |
SNAP retailers in Washington County
Washington County has 13 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 6 locations (46% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Where the store book sits, by town
2 towns share the 13 authorized stores; Springfield holds 69% of them. 1 of the 2 towns has no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Willisburg.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield | 9 | 2 |
| Willisburg | 4 | none |
Combination Grocery/Other · 6
- dollar general 12470, springfield
- dollar general 13050, willisburg
- dollar general 25641, springfield
- dollar general 30454, willisburg
- family dollar 12644, springfield
- walgreens 17432, springfield
Convenience Store · 5
- bg 555 fuel mart, willisburg
- corner market, willisburg
- fivestar 9860, springfield
- grab n go springfield, springfield
- par mart, springfield
Super Store · 1
- parkview iga, springfield
Supermarket · 1
- springfield price cutter 5262, springfield
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 Washington County vs Adair County → · All Kentucky counties →
Nationwide peers for Washington County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Washington County, both outside Kentucky so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside KY (16.2% here).
- Jasper County, IA · 16.2% low-access
- Livingston County, IL · 16.2% low-access
- Chippewa County, MN · 16.2% low-access
- Dakota County, NE · 16.2% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside KY (16.2% here).
- St. Clair County, IL · 16.2% SNAP
- Morgan County, IL · 16.2% SNAP
- Gladwin County, MI · 16.2% SNAP
- Neshoba County, MS · 16.2% SNAP
Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.
Kentucky among East South Central states
Kentucky ranks 4th of 4 East South Central states by population-weighted low-access (19.8%). Washington County, at 16.2%, runs 3.6 pts below the Kentucky rate.
- Tennessee 27.2%
- Mississippi 26.4%
- Alabama 24.5%
- Kentucky 19.8%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 Washington County, KY are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 21229. 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.