PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Mississippi

Washington County, MS

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Washington County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).

29.1%
low-access pop.
9
food-desert tracts
17.6%
on SNAP
43K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MS

The food-access picture

29.1% of Washington County residents live in a low-access area, and 9 of its 19 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

10
low-access tracts
9K
food-desert residents
11.9%
households, no vehicle
26.4%
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).

USDA data puts Washington County's low-access share at 29.1%, above the national share. 10 of the county's 19 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 14,866 people. 9 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 9,024 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 Washington County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Washington County's 29.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 68% of them and ranked #999 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Washington County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 19 census tracts in Washington 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 Washington County, MS USDA-defined food-access tiers: 9 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 9 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 19 tracts evaluated. 9 tracts adequate (47.4%) 1 tracts limited (5.3%) 9 tracts severe / food desert (47.4%) Adequate 47% Limited 5% Severe 47% Food-access tier distribution: Washington County, MS
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Washington County vs. other Mississippi counties

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

% 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 Washington County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts19
Atlas Population (2010 basis)51,137
Low-Access Tracts10
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)9
Low-Access Population14,866
Low-Access Share29.1%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population9,024

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Washington County
IndicatorValue
Population42,765
Median Household Income$42,165
Poverty Rate26.4%well above the national average
SNAP Households3,017
SNAP Participation Rate17.6%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle11.9%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.8%
SNAP participation in Washington County 17.6%

About 17.6% of Washington County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 29.1% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 17.6% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 3,017 households here.
  • 11.9% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 9 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 Washington County

above the national share

9 of Washington County's 19 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 47.4% of all its tracts.

A further 1 tract is low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 10.

An estimated 14,866 residents, roughly 29.1% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 9,024 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 9 tracts (47.4%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Washington County

Washington County has 68 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 39 locations (57% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 39

  • deep food mart llc, arcola
  • delta one stop, greenville
  • delta stop 01, hollandale
  • dodge store 6803, leland
  • double quick 109, greenville
  • double quick 6, greenville
  • double quick 61, leland
  • double quick 76, leland
  • double quick 80, greenville
  • double quick 81, greenville
  • double quick 83, hollandale
  • double quick 85, greenville
  • double quick 88, greenville
  • double quick 89, greenville
  • fast gas inc, greenville
  • fratesi brothers grocery, leland
  • friends food & fuel llc, greenville
  • jij food mart, leland
  • jmw food market, greenville
  • johnny's food market, greenville
  • king food market, greenville
  • mudd inc, greenville
  • murphy usa 6683, greenville
  • neighborhood grocery, greenville
  • quick food market, greenville
  • rick's express #4, greenville
  • rick's express 10, greenville
  • raceway express, greenville
  • ricks express #1, hollandale
  • ricks express 5, greenville
  • ricks express 6, greenville
  • roy's store, chatham
  • sunny super market, greenville
  • soulful, greenville
  • southern fish, greenville
  • the curb store, greenville
  • the filling station 14, greenville
  • the filling station 16, greenville
  • the filling station 17, greenville

Combination Grocery/Other · 19

  • brenda faye's fish market and bait shop, greenville
  • cvs pharmacy 5808, greenville
  • dollar general 7514, greenville
  • dollar general 8030, leland
  • dollar general 8931, hollandale
  • dollar general 9013, greenville
  • dollar general 9699, greenville
  • dollartree 9970, greenville
  • dollar general 12231, greenville
  • dollar general 13068, greenville
  • dollar general 13414, greenville
  • dollar general 24626, greenville
  • dollar tree 528, greenville
  • family dollar 2801, hollandale
  • family dollar 546, leland
  • family dollar 547, greenville
  • family dollar store 4820, greenville
  • family dollar store 8658, greenville
  • walgreen 09144, greenville

Super Store · 3

  • kroger 429, greenville
  • shopper's value 9068, greenville
  • walmart supercenter 182, greenville

Supermarket · 3

  • stop-n-shop llc, leland
  • sunflower 25 inc 9025, hollandale
  • shopper's value 9048, greenville

Small Grocery Store · 2

  • cindys food market, greenville
  • one south wholesale, llc, greenville

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • taylor's farm and garden, greenville

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • maws wings and things llc, leland

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Mississippi

Adams County
28.3% low-access · 16.5% SNAP
Alcorn County
18.9% low-access · 16.1% SNAP
Amite County
13.9% low-access · 15.2% SNAP
Attala County
27.1% low-access · 15.6% SNAP
Benton County
35.7% low-access · 17.2% SNAP
Bolivar County
50.9% low-access · 26.0% SNAP

Compare Washington County vs Adams County → · All Mississippi counties →

Food access nationally, Mississippi in context

Washington County sits inside Mississippi (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 Washington County has low food access? ▼
29.1% of residents in Washington County, MS 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 Washington County? ▼
17.6% of households in Washington County receive SNAP, covering 3,017 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Washington County? ▼
The poverty rate in Washington County, MS is 26.4%, with a median household income of $42,165 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Washington County a food desert? ▼
9 of Washington County's 19 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 Washington County households lack a vehicle? ▼
11.9% of households in Washington 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.