Signature · 5.4% SNAP (34th pct in NE)
Cedar County, NE
Cedar 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.
- 18.3%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 5.4%
- on SNAP
- 8K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Cedar County, NE
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-MODERATE 18.3% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -3.8 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 5.4% SNAP
- VEH-OK 1.7% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Cass County (+ 0.1 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Cedar County ranks #1,827 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #68 of 93 counties in NE (18.3% low-access).
- #1,827
- national by low-access %
- #68
- in NE
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 406
- 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: 5.4% SNAP (34th pct in NE) (-6.7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Cedar County compares nationally
Cedar County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.3% low-access share that beats 41% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,827).
Cedar County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
All 2 of Cedar County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
Cedar County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Nebraska, not a full county-board reprint
- Thomas
Thomas 100%
100 % low-access
- Platte 19.2
Platte 19.2%
19.2 % low-access
- Thayer 18.8
Thayer 18.8%
18.8 % low-access
- Cass 18.4
Cass 18.4%
18.4 % low-access
- Cedar 18.3
Cedar 18.3%
18.3 % low-access
- Pawnee 18.1
Pawnee 18.1%
18.1 % low-access
- Burt 0.7
Burt 0.7%
0.7 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 2 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 8,852 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,618 |
| Low-Access Share | 18.3%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 406 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 8,315 |
| Median Household Income | $73,578 |
| Poverty Rate | 7.1%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 186 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 5.4%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 1.7%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.4% |
SNAP retailers in Cedar County
Cedar County has 6 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 2 locations (33% of the total), followed by medium grocery store.
Where the store book sits, by town
3 towns share the 6 authorized stores; Hartington holds 50% of them. Every one of these towns has at least one grocery-grade outlet (3 across the county).
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Hartington | 3 | 1 |
| Laurel | 2 | 1 |
| Randolph | 1 | 1 |
Combination Grocery/Other · 2
- dollar general 16399, laurel
- dollar general 6418, hartington
Medium Grocery Store · 2
- jims food center, randolph
- laurel's hometown market 9485, laurel
Convenience Store · 1
- casey's 1173, hartington
Large Grocery Store · 1
- burnells foodtown inc, hartington
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Nebraska
One of 92 counties in Nebraska, 6 are shown here.
Compare Cedar County vs Adams County → · All Nebraska counties →
Nebraska among West North Central states
Nebraska ranks 6th of 7 West North Central states by population-weighted low-access (21.9%). Cedar County, at 18.3%, runs 3.6 pts below the Nebraska rate.
- South Dakota 29.1%
- North Dakota 28.9%
- Minnesota 27.4%
- Kansas 26.4%
- Missouri 24.9%
- Nebraska 21.9%
- Iowa 20.0%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 Cedar County, NE are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 31027. 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.