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Signature · 6.5% SNAP (24th pct in MN)

Brown County, MN

Brown County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.

17.2%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
6.5%
on SNAP
26K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MN

USDA FARA access plate

County Brown County, MN

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-MODERATE 17.2% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -4.9 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 6.5% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.9% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 13% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Jackson County (+ 0.2 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Brown County ranks #1,929 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #61 of 87 counties in MN (17.2% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,929
national by low-access %
#61
in MN
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: 6.5% SNAP (24th pct in MN) (-5.6 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Brown County compares nationally

Brown County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.2% low-access share that beats 38% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,933).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Brown County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

8 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Brown County, MN USDA-defined food-access tiers: 6 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 8 tracts evaluated. 6 tracts adequate (75.0%) 1 tracts limited (12.5%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (12.5%) Adequate 75% Limited 13% Severe 13% Food-access tier distribution: Brown County, MN
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Brown County has 5 urban and 3 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.

Brown County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Minnesota, 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 Brown County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts8
Atlas Population (2010 basis)25,893
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population4,452
Low-Access Share17.2%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,047

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Brown County
IndicatorValue
Population25,800
Median Household Income$69,378
Poverty Rate8.5%well below the national average
SNAP Households717
SNAP Participation Rate6.5%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.9%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.5%

SNAP retailers in Brown County

Brown County has 22 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 6 locations (27% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 6

  • casey's 2075, new ulm
  • caseys general store 3545, sleepy eye
  • express lane 5514, new ulm
  • holiday stationstore 2746545, new ulm
  • kwik trip 432, new ulm
  • kwik trip 180, new ulm

Combination Grocery/Other · 5

  • dollar general 14115, springfield
  • dollartree 8090, sleepy eye
  • dollar tree 3487, new ulm
  • janu-4 llc, sleepy eye
  • walgreens 10516, new ulm

Super Store · 3

  • cash wise foods 3013, new ulm
  • hy-vee foods 1441, new ulm
  • walmart 3760, new ulm

Supermarket · 3

  • aldi 72081, new ulm
  • schutz family foods, sleepy eye
  • springfield market, springfield

Farmers' Market · 2

  • knuj farmers market association, new ulm
  • new ulm farmers market, new ulm

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphy's take 'n' bake pizza mn008, new ulm

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • mike's discount food warehouse 5, comfrey

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • new ulm community market and cooperative dba graze, new ulm

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

Other Counties in Minnesota

One of 86 counties in Minnesota, 6 are shown here.

Aitkin County
33.8% low-access · 8.9% SNAP
Anoka County
38.3% low-access · 7.2% SNAP
Becker County
34.5% low-access · 11.6% SNAP
Beltrami County
32.3% low-access · 13.5% SNAP
Benton County
30.0% low-access · 8.6% SNAP
Big Stone County
38.4% low-access · 9.5% SNAP

Compare Brown County vs Aitkin County → · All Minnesota counties →

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

SNAP-led peer set first for Brown County (6.5%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Minnesota.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside MN (17.2% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside MN (6.5% 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, Minnesota in context

Brown County sits inside Minnesota (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; 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

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 Brown County, MN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 27015. 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.