Signature · 1.2% low-access (4th pct)

Yancey County, NC

Yancey County lands in the lower national band on low-access (1.2%); supermarket distance is less binding than in the upper band, though local tracts can still diverge.

1.2%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
13.8%
on SNAP
19K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NC

USDA FARA access plate

County Yancey County, NC

LA-ADEQUATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ADEQUATE 1.2% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -20.9 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 13.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.6% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Northampton County (+ 0.0 pts)

Lower-band low-access

Yancey County lands in the lower national band (1.2%, #2,999 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,999
national by low-access %
#97
in NC
0
low-access tracts
101
food-desert residents

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

Signature read: 1.2% low-access (4th pct) (-20.9 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Yancey County compares nationally

Food access in Yancey County compares favorably nationally: its 1.2% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 4% of them (rank #2,999).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Yancey County's lower-band USDA tier split

5 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Yancey County, NC USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 5 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (100.0%) Adequate 100% Limited 0% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Yancey County, NC
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Yancey 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.

Yancey County vs nearby low low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in North Carolina, 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 Yancey County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts5
Atlas Population (2010 basis)17,818
Low-Access Tracts0
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population211
Low-Access Share1.2%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population101

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Yancey County
IndicatorValue
Population18,797
Median Household Income$58,709
Poverty Rate15.2%near the national average
SNAP Households1,120
SNAP Participation Rate13.8%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.6%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.9%

SNAP retailers in Yancey County

Yancey County has 13 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 4 locations (31% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 4

  • cvs pharmacy 4196, burnsville
  • dollartree 10304, burnsville
  • dollar general 1593, burnsville
  • dollar general 20458, burnsville

Convenience Store · 4

  • fastop market 307, burnsville
  • poplar grove mini mart, burnsville
  • riverside general store, burnsville
  • shop & save, burnsville

Supermarket · 2

  • ingles markets 13, burnsville
  • sav mor 813, burnsville

Farmers' Market · 1

  • yancey county farmers market burnsville nafmnp, burnsville

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • davis farms, burnsville

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • grocery outlet 32, burnsville

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

Other Counties in North Carolina

One of 99 counties in North Carolina, 6 are shown here.

Compare Yancey County vs Alamance County → · All North Carolina counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside NC (1.2% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside NC (13.8% 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.

Yancey County inside a lower low-access state context

Yancey County sits inside North Carolina (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 Yancey County, NC are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 37199. 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.