Signature · 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts)
Zapata County, TX
Zapata County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of the book) alongside 16.8% low-access.
- 16.8%
- low-access pop.
- 2
- food-desert tracts
- 31.3%
- on SNAP
- 14K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Zapata County, TX
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-MODERATE 16.8% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -5.3 pts vs US
- LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 31.3% SNAP
- VEH-TYPICAL 8.8% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 67% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Fisher County (+ 0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Zapata County ranks #1,967 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #189 of 252 counties in TX (16.8% low-access; 2 food-desert tracts).
- #1,967
- national by low-access %
- #189
- in TX
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 1K
- 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: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts) .
How Zapata County compares nationally
Zapata County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.8% low-access share that beats 37% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,967).
Zapata County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Zapata County has 2 urban and 1 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.
Zapata County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Texas, not a full county-board reprint
- Throckmorton
Throckmorton 100%
100 % low-access
- Bastrop 17.3
Bastrop 17.3%
17.3 % low-access
- Fisher 17
Fisher 17%
17 % low-access
- Zapata 16.8
Zapata 16.8%
16.8 % low-access
- Burleson 16.5
Burleson 16.5%
16.5 % low-access
- Jasper 16.5
Jasper 16.5%
16.5 % low-access
- Rains 0
Rains 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 3 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 14,018 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 2 |
| Low-Access Population | 2,353 |
| Low-Access Share | 16.8%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,181 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 13,841 |
| Median Household Income | $39,239 |
| Poverty Rate | 38.4%well above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,430 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 31.3%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 8.8%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.8% |
Thick SNAP store book in Zapata County
Zapata County has 28 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 14 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 14
- 3g's grocery & drive inn, zapata
- 7 days express, zapata
- 7 days express 2, zapata
- 83 drive thru, zapata
- antojitos snacks, zapata
- costenos drive thru, zapata
- el tigre food store 01, zapata
- el pinche drive, zapata
- gutierrez gas & grocery, llc., san ygnacio
- hawks quik pic, zapata
- los pasteles bakery & coffee shop 1, zapata
- stripes 40901h, zapata
- valero corner store 2741540, zapata
- zapata drive in, zapata
Combination Grocery/Other · 8
- cvs pharmacy 10817, zapata
- dollar general 6021, zapata
- dt plus 9030, zapata
- dollar general 11955, zapata
- dollar general 15661, zapata
- dollar general 22823, zapata
- family dollar 12438, zapata
- family dollar 3427, zapata
Medium Grocery Store · 2
- d & e foodcraft center inc, zapata
- juniors dr in & mt mkt, zapata
Supermarket · 2
- lowes 155, zapata
- riverview family center 2, zapata
Bakery Specialty · 1
- its romi 1, zapata
Large Grocery Store · 1
- border town foods 9, zapata
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Texas
One of 253 counties in Texas, 6 are shown here.
Compare Zapata County vs Anderson County → · All Texas counties →
Nationwide peers for Zapata County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Zapata County, both outside Texas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside TX (16.8% here).
- Box Elder County, UT · 16.8% low-access
- Box Elder County, UT · 16.8% low-access
- Jefferson County, TN · 16.8% low-access
- Jefferson County, TN · 16.8% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside TX (31.3% here).
- Noxubee County, MS · 31.3% SNAP
- Noxubee County, MS · 31.3% SNAP
- Evangeline Parish, LA · 31.2% SNAP
- Scotland County, NC · 31.6% 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.
Food access nationally, Texas in context
Zapata County sits inside Texas (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 Zapata County, TX are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 48505. 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.