Access to pharmacies is a crucial part of healthcare for countless Americans. In addition to dispensing life-saving medications and vaccines — including the vaccines for COVID-19 — pharmacists also function as knowledgeable care providers to the communities they serve.
Pharmacies are often more accessible than doctors’ offices, which require an appointment and sometimes a waiting period of months, and may be some distance away. Pharmacists also provide consultation and information regarding possible drug interactions. (These are the 25 most dangerous drugs.)
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that analyzed the medical interactions of over 680,000 Medicare recipients found that visits to pharmacies were significantly more numerous than those to primary care providers. (Here are 20 things pharmacists want you to know.)
Many Americans, however, live in pharmacy deserts — even in major metropolises. A recent study showed that nearly 15 million people in America’s 30 largest cities don’t have convenient access to a pharmacy. A majority of those people are black or Latino, a fact that highlights the racial disparities that exist in our current healthcare system.
24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of the 50 counties around the country with the most pharmacies per capita. Only counties with populations of 25,000 or more were included (the county with the highest pharmacy-to-inhabitant ratio, Hodgeman in Kansas, for instance, has a population of only 1,876).
Click here to see the counties with the most pharmacies per capita
To identify the counties with the most pharmacies, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a study provided by USA RX on pharmacies by state, using internal data from the U.S Census Bureau. Only counties with populations of 25,000 or more were included (the county with the highest pharmacy-to-inhabitant ratio, Hodgeman in Kansas, for instance, has a population of only 1,876). The percentage of population reporting sub-optimal health is from the 2021 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Of the 50 counties included, a majority are in the South, with 11 in Kentucky, seven in Georgia, five in West Virginia, four each in Alabama and Mississippi, and three in Virginia.
Source: Z28scrambler / https___creativecommons.org_licenses_by-sa_4.0_deed.en / Wikimedia Commons
50. Pike, Mississippi
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.31
> Total pharmacies: 13
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 28.3% — #81 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons
49. Scioto, Ohio
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.32
> Total pharmacies: 25
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 23.2% — #382 highest out of 2,830
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48. Haralson, Georgia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.36
> Total pharmacies: 10
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 16.3% — #1,664 highest out of 2,830
47. Lauderdale, Mississippi
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.37
> Total pharmacies: 25
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 21.1% — #698 highest out of 2,830
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Source: 93558439@N05 / Flickr
46. Pickens, Georgia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.38
> Total pharmacies: 11
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 13.4% — #2,381 highest out of 2,830
Source: Doug Kerr / https___creativecommons.org_licenses_by-sa_2.0_deed.en / Wikimedia Commons
45. Russell, Virginia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.39
> Total pharmacies: 9
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 18.2% — #1,239 highest out of 2,830
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44. Sumter, Georgia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.39
> Total pharmacies: 10
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 24.8% — #234 highest out of 2,830
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43. Madison, Mississippi
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.39
> Total pharmacies: 36
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 17.0% — #1,485 highest out of 2,830
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
42. Dunklin, Missouri
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.43
> Total pharmacies: 10
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 30.4% — #43 highest out of 2,830
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Source: kristyfox / Flickr
41. Montgomery, Kansas
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.46
> Total pharmacies: 11
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 17.7% — #1,326 highest out of 2,830
Source: KatieDobies / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
40. Cullman, Alabama
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.46
> Total pharmacies: 29
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 21.8% — #587 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Mjrmtg / https___creativecommons.org_licenses_by-sa_3.0_ / Wikimedia Commons
39. Coffee, Georgia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.47
> Total pharmacies: 15
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 21.3% — #667 highest out of 2,830
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
38. Stephens, Georgia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.47
> Total pharmacies: 9
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 18.4% — #1,198 highest out of 2,830
Source: Jenna L. / Yelp
37. Washington, Tennessee
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.48
> Total pharmacies: 45
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 19.9% — #927 highest out of 2,830
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Source: jcbozeman / Flickr
36. Dallas, Alabama
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.49
> Total pharmacies: 13
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 29.8% — #49 highest out of 2,830
Source: User_Elcajonfarms / Wikimedia Commons
35. Polk, Minnesota
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.51
> Total pharmacies: 11
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 13.6% — #2,321 highest out of 2,830
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34. Routt, Colorado
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.51
> Total pharmacies: 9
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 11.0% — #2,764 highest out of 2,830
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
33. Habersham, Georgia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.53
> Total pharmacies: 16
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 18.0% — #1,263 highest out of 2,830
Source: Warren LeMay / Wikimedia Commons
32. Ripley, Indiana
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.53
> Total pharmacies: 10
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 17.8% — #1,303 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
31. Huron, Michigan
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.55
> Total pharmacies: 11
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 14.5% — #2,115 highest out of 2,830
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
30. Montgomery, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.55
> Total pharmacies: 10
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 22.4% — #486 highest out of 2,830
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
29. Hopkins, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.58
> Total pharmacies: 16
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 20.4% — #825 highest out of 2,830
28. Muhlenberg, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.59
> Total pharmacies: 11
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 22.8% — #441 highest out of 2,830
Source: Jonathunder / https___creativecommons.org_licenses_by-sa_4.0_ / Wikimedia Commons
27. Brown, Minnesota
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.60
> Total pharmacies: 9
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 11.3% — #2,738 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Rudi Weikard / Wikimedia Commons
26. Walker, Alabama
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.62
> Total pharmacies: 23
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 24.4% — #257 highest out of 2,830
Source: Tim Kiser (w_User_Malepheasant) / Wikimedia Commons
25. Boyd, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.64
> Total pharmacies: 17
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 20.4% — #816 highest out of 2,830
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24. Oneida, Wisconsin
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.65
> Total pharmacies: 13
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 12.1% — #2,639 highest out of 2,830
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23. Colbert, Alabama
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.80
> Total pharmacies: 21
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 20.9% — #730 highest out of 2,830
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
22. Mille Lacs, Minnesota
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.81
> Total pharmacies: 10
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 14.0% — #2,225 highest out of 2,830
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
21. McCracken, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.82
> Total pharmacies: 25
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 21.5% — #637 highest out of 2,830
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
20. Harlan, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.84
> Total pharmacies: 10
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 28.2% — #83 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Dudemanfellabra / Wikimedia Commons
19. Forrest, Mississippi
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.87
> Total pharmacies: 29
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 23.3% — #380 highest out of 2,830
Source: ehrlif / iStock via Getty Images
18. Alpena, Michigan
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.87
> Total pharmacies: 11
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 14.7% — #2,065 highest out of 2,830
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
17. Kanawha, West Virginia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.87
> Total pharmacies: 69
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 21.8% — #582 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Skye Marthaler / Wikimedia Commons
16. McNairy, Tennessee
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.89
> Total pharmacies: 10
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 24.5% — #245 highest out of 2,830
Source: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD / Wikimedia Commons
15. Evangeline, Louisiana
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.89
> Total pharmacies: 13
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 25.0% — #212 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Cohee / Wikimedia Commons
14. Hardin, Tennessee
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.90
> Total pharmacies: 10
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 24.4% — #258 highest out of 2,830
Source: Bubba73 (Jud McCranie) / Wikimedia Commons
13. Ware, Georgia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.92
> Total pharmacies: 14
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 21.9% — #569 highest out of 2,830
Source: Ammodramus / Wikimedia Commons
12. Madison, Nebraska
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 3.99
> Total pharmacies: 14
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 16.0% — #1,744 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Tim Pennington / iStock via Getty Images
11. Smyth, Virginia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 4.32
> Total pharmacies: 13
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 17.6% — #1,345 highest out of 2,830
Source: EyeMark / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
10. Greenbrier, West Virginia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 4.33
> Total pharmacies: 15
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 21.7% — #599 highest out of 2,830
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Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
9. Tazewell, Virginia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 4.43
> Total pharmacies: 18
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 17.2% — #1,448 highest out of 2,830
Source: Coal town guy / Wikimedia Commons
8. Raleigh, West Virginia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 4.63
> Total pharmacies: 34
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 24.8% — #232 highest out of 2,830
Source: John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
7. Logan, West Virginia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 4.68
> Total pharmacies: 15
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 25.5% — #175 highest out of 2,830
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Source: By W.marsh - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2634812
6. Bell, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 4.99
> Total pharmacies: 13
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 28.7% — #70 highest out of 2,830
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
5. Whitley, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 5.24
> Total pharmacies: 19
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 26.4% — #135 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons
4. Pike, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 5.87
> Total pharmacies: 34
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 25.6% — #171 highest out of 2,830
Source: Taber Andrew Bain / Wikimedia Commons
3. Hancock, West Virginia
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 6.25
> Total pharmacies: 18
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 21.1% — #688 highest out of 2,830
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
2. Floyd, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 6.74
> Total pharmacies: 24
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 29.3% — #62 highest out of 2,830
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Source: Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons
1. Perry, Kentucky
> Pharmacies per 10k residents: 7.38
> Total pharmacies: 19
> Population reporting sub-optimal health: 26.0% — #151 highest out of 2,830
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