Signature · 2 LILA tracts (50% of tracts)

Alamosa County, CO

Alamosa County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (50% of the book) alongside 27.7% low-access.

27.7%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
28.6%
on SNAP
17K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 CO

USDA FARA access plate

County Alamosa County, CO

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 27.7% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +5.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 28.6% SNAP
  • VEH-TYPICAL 7.9% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 50% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Jackson County ( -0.3 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Alamosa County ranks #1,096 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #20 of 63 counties in CO (27.7% low-access; 2 food-desert tracts).

#1,096
national by low-access %
#20
in CO
3
low-access tracts
2K
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 (50% of tracts) .

How Alamosa County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Alamosa County's 27.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 65% of them and ranked #1,104 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Alamosa County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Alamosa County, CO USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 4 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (25.0%) 1 tracts limited (25.0%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (50.0%) Adequate 25% Limited 25% Severe 50% Food-access tier distribution: Alamosa County, CO
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Alamosa County has 2 urban and 2 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.

Alamosa County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Colorado, not a full county-board reprint

% 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 Alamosa County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts4
Atlas Population (2010 basis)15,445
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population4,278
Low-Access Share27.7%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,942

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Alamosa County
IndicatorValue
Population16,581
Median Household Income$55,397
Poverty Rate17.2%above the national average
SNAP Households1,900
SNAP Participation Rate28.6%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle7.9%near the national average
Group-Quarters Population5.7%

SNAP retailers in Alamosa County

Alamosa County has 20 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 6 locations (30% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 6

  • alta 3301, alamosa
  • alta 3501, alamosa
  • alta 5601, alamosa
  • alta 5725, alamosa
  • loaf n jug 750010, alamosa
  • maverik, inc 679, alamosa

Combination Grocery/Other · 5

  • dollar general 22449, alamosa
  • dollar tree 3556, alamosa
  • family dollar 4599, alamosa
  • tienda de juanita llc, alamosa
  • walgreens 09912, alamosa

Farmers' Market · 3

  • alamosa farmers market, alamosa
  • alamosa farmers market n/a, alamosa
  • rio grande farm park farm stand, alamosa

Super Store · 2

  • city market 422, alamosa
  • walmart sc 869, alamosa

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphy's ( co135) co135, alamosa

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • valley meat and food llc, alamosa

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • slv apothecary, alamosa

Supermarket · 1

  • safeway 1681, alamosa

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

Other Counties in Colorado

One of 63 counties in Colorado, 6 are shown here.

Compare Alamosa County vs Adams County → · All Colorado counties →

Nationwide peers for Alamosa County's low-access or SNAP share

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside CO (27.7% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside CO (28.6% 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.

Food access nationally, Colorado in context

Alamosa County sits inside Colorado (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 Alamosa County, CO are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 08003. 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.