PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · West Virginia

Wood County, WV

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Wood 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).

29.8%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
17.6%
on SNAP
83K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 WV

The food-access picture

29.8% of Wood County residents live in a low-access area, and 2 of its 26 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

8
low-access tracts
8K
food-desert residents
7.3%
households, no vehicle
14.7%
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 Wood County's low-access share at 29.8%, above the national share. 8 of the county's 26 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 25,921 people. 2 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 7,884 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 Wood County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Wood County's 29.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 70% of them and ranked #951 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Wood County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 26 census tracts in Wood 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 Wood County, WV USDA-defined food-access tiers: 18 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 6 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 26 tracts evaluated. 18 tracts adequate (69.2%) 6 tracts limited (23.1%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (7.7%) Adequate 69% Limited 23% Severe 8% Food-access tier distribution: Wood County, WV
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Wood County vs. other West Virginia counties

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

% 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 Wood County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts26
Atlas Population (2010 basis)86,956
Low-Access Tracts8
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population25,921
Low-Access Share29.8%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population7,884

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Wood County
IndicatorValue
Population83,407
Median Household Income$57,810
Poverty Rate14.7%near the national average
SNAP Households6,317
SNAP Participation Rate17.6%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle7.3%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.3%
SNAP participation in Wood County 17.6%

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

What this means

  • 29.8% 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 6,317 households here.
  • 7.3% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 2 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 Wood County

above the national share

2 of Wood County's 26 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 7.7% of all its tracts.

A further 6 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 8.

An estimated 25,921 residents, roughly 29.8% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 7,884 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 18 tracts (69.2%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Wood County

Wood County has 98 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 43 locations (44% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 43

  • 7-eleven 35921h, vienna
  • 7-eleven 35922h, parkersburg
  • 7-eleven 35923h, mineral wells
  • 7-eleven 35950h, parkersburg
  • 7-eleven 35956h, parkersburg
  • 7-eleven 35965h, parkersburg
  • 7-eleven 35966h, parkersburg
  • bfs foods 78, parkersburg
  • black bear express parkersburg, parkersburg
  • cfm 47, williamstown
  • certified oil 400297, parkersburg
  • flowers bakery outlet 461, parkersburg
  • go mart 101, parkersburg
  • go mart 107, mineral wells
  • go mart 108, parkersburg
  • go mart 115, parkersburg
  • go mart 122, parkersburg
  • go mart 71, williamstown
  • go mart 73, parkersburg
  • go mart 74, parkersburg
  • go mart 99, parkersburg
  • little general 4220, washington
  • marathon food mart 150, parkersburg
  • marathon food mart 156, parkersburg
  • par mar store 105, williamstown
  • par mar store 12, parkersburg
  • par mar store 122, mineral wells
  • par mar store 129, rockport
  • par mar store 18, parkersburg
  • par mar store 19, parkersburg
  • par mar store 20, parkersburg
  • par mar store 3, parkersburg
  • par mar store 89, mineral wells
  • par mar store 99, williamstown
  • rebel 919, parkersburg
  • rebel 920, vienna
  • rebel 922, parkersburg
  • speedway 9253, parkersburg
  • sheetz 640, parkersburg
  • sheetz 643, parkersburg
  • speedway 3311, parkersburg
  • speedway 9381, parkersburg
  • u-bolt-thru, vienna

Combination Grocery/Other · 32

  • cvs 6281, parkersburg
  • cvs pharmacy 6274, parkersburg
  • cvs pharmacy 6276, parkersburg
  • cvs pharmacy 7604, parkersburg
  • dollar general 18032, washington
  • dollartree 10179, parkersburg
  • dollar general 11528, williamstown
  • dollar general 11720, parkersburg
  • dollar general 16703, williamstown
  • dollar general 17333, walker
  • dollar general 22181, parkersburg
  • dollar general 25607, vienna
  • dollar general 25946, parkersburg
  • dollar general 3536, parkersburg
  • dollar general 546, parkersburg
  • dollar general 6325, parkersburg
  • dollar general 7936, parkersburg
  • dollar general 9128, vienna
  • dollar general 9312, mineral wells
  • dollar tree 0924, parkersburg
  • dollar tree 2512, parkersburg
  • dollar tree 8368, parkersburg
  • family dollar 11844, davisville
  • family dollar 460, vienna
  • family dollar 8225, parkersburg
  • family dollar store 1249, parkersburg
  • family dollar store 4604, parkersburg
  • family dollar store 715, parkersburg
  • fruth pharmacy 17, mineral wells
  • r & d meats llc, waverly
  • walgreens 19614, vienna
  • walgreens 19848, parkersburg

Supermarket · 11

  • aldi 61018, vienna
  • aldi 61082, parkersburg
  • emerson piggly wiggly of parkersburg, parkersburg
  • gihon piggly wiggly of parkersburg, parkersburg
  • grants supermarket 17, parkersburg
  • grants supermarket 18, vienna
  • grants supermarket 20, parkersburg
  • grants supermarket 21, parkersburg
  • plum street piggly wiggly of parkersburg, parkersburg
  • save-a-lot 117, parkersburg
  • vienna piggly wiggly of parkersburg, vienna

Super Store · 5

  • kroger 752, parkersburg
  • kroger 753, parkersburg
  • sam's club 6373, vienna
  • walmart supercenter 1782, vienna
  • walmart supercenter 2823, parkersburg

Medium Grocery Store · 4

  • 19th street meat market llc, parkersburg
  • james country store, washington
  • mother earth natural foods, parkersburg
  • wards farm market, parkersburg

Farmers' Market · 3

  • community resources, inc., parkersburg
  • emerson market, parkersburg
  • ridge runner farmers market, washington

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in West Virginia

Barbour County
11.4% low-access · 19.5% SNAP
Berkeley County
38.8% low-access · 11.6% SNAP
Boone County
6.6% low-access · 22.0% SNAP
Braxton County
18.3% low-access · 22.0% SNAP
Brooke County
16.9% low-access · 14.1% SNAP
Cabell County
8.3% low-access · 16.7% SNAP

Compare Wood County vs Barbour County → · All West Virginia counties →

Food access nationally, West Virginia in context

Wood County sits inside West Virginia (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 Wood County has low food access? ▼
29.8% of residents in Wood County, WV 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 Wood County? ▼
17.6% of households in Wood County receive SNAP, covering 6,317 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Wood County? ▼
The poverty rate in Wood County, WV is 14.7%, with a median household income of $57,810 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Wood County a food desert? ▼
2 of Wood County's 26 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 Wood County households lack a vehicle? ▼
7.3% of households in Wood 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.