Signature · 37 SNAP-authorized stores
Chippewa County, MI
Chippewa 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.
- 19.8%
- low-access pop.
- 3
- food-desert tracts
- 13.1%
- on SNAP
- 36K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Chippewa County, MI
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-TYPICAL · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-MODERATE 19.8% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -2.3 pts vs US
- LILA-POCKET 3 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-TYPICAL 13.1% SNAP
- VEH-OK 6.9% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 25% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Midland County ( -0.4 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Chippewa County ranks #1,693 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #36 of 80 counties in MI (19.8% low-access; 3 food-desert tracts).
- #1,693
- national by low-access %
- #36
- in MI
- 5
- low-access tracts
- 3K
- 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: 37 SNAP-authorized stores .
How Chippewa County compares nationally
Chippewa County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 19.8% low-access share that beats 46% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,693).
Chippewa County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
12 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 3 LILA.
Chippewa County is mostly rural by USDA tract type (8 rural, 4 urban), so most tracts are held to the 10-mile test and only the 4 urban tracts face the 1-mile one.
Chippewa County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Michigan, not a full county-board reprint
- Schoolcraft
Schoolcraft 46%
46 % low-access
- Huron
Huron 21.1%
21.1 % low-access
- Allegan
Allegan 20.8%
20.8 % low-access
- Kent
Kent 20.3%
20.3 % low-access
- Chippewa
Chippewa 19.8%
19.8 % low-access
- Midland
Midland 19.4%
19.4 % low-access
- Arenac 0
Arenac 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 12 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 38,520 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 5 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 3 |
| Low-Access Population | 7,633 |
| Low-Access Share | 19.8%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 3,135 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 36,295 |
| Median Household Income | $62,217 |
| Poverty Rate | 14.0%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,846 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 13.1%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.9%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 12.2% |
Thick SNAP store book in Chippewa County
Chippewa County has 37 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 16 locations (43% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
10 towns share the 37 authorized stores; Sault Sainte Marie holds 51% of them. 5 of the 10 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Kincheloe, Paradise, Drummond Island, Kinross, Trout Lake.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Sault Sainte Marie | 19 | 5 |
| Kincheloe | 4 | none |
| Brimley | 3 | 1 |
| Rudyard | 3 | 1 |
| Paradise | 2 | none |
| Pickford | 2 | 1 |
| De Tour Village | 1 | 1 |
| Drummond Island | 1 | none |
| Kinross | 1 | none |
| Trout Lake | 1 | none |
Convenience Store · 16
- admiral 5796, sault sainte marie
- brake time, sault sainte marie
- circle k 2746174, sault sainte marie
- circle k 2746262, sault sainte marie
- harmony health foods, sault sainte marie
- kincheloe ez mart 628, kincheloe
- kinross ez mart 630, kinross
- krist food mart 035, sault sainte marie
- krist food mart 40, sault sainte marie
- meijer gas station 293, sault sainte marie
- midjim convenience store, sault sainte marie
- paradise recreational sports llc 1, paradise
- sunes grocery, drummond island
- the market on osborn, sault sainte marie
- trout lake iga 1, trout lake
- westshore conv. store, sault sainte marie
Combination Grocery/Other · 8
- dollar general 20642, kincheloe
- dollar general 24820, rudyard
- dollar general 25611, pickford
- dollar tree 2870, sault sainte marie
- family dollar 12069, brimley
- family dollar store 3761, sault sainte marie
- family dollar store 7161, kincheloe
- walgreens 10405, sault sainte marie
Large Grocery Store · 3
- neville's superette, sault sainte marie
- pickford coop, pickford
- rudyard cooperative company, rudyard
Medium Grocery Store · 2
- four season's market & deli, brimley
- sune's food center, iga, de tour village
Super Store · 2
- meijer 293, sault sainte marie
- walmart supercenter 1936, sault sainte marie
Supermarket · 2
- gordon food service store mp036, sault sainte marie
- pat's foods, sault sainte marie
Farmers' Market · 1
- bay mills farmer's market, brimley
Food Buying Co-op · 1
- kinross co-op, kincheloe
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1
- love meats, inc., rudyard
Small Grocery Store · 1
- paradise food pantry market, paradise
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Michigan
One of 82 counties in Michigan, 6 are shown here.
Compare Chippewa County vs Alcona County → · All Michigan counties →
Nationwide peers for Chippewa County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Chippewa County, both outside Michigan so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MI (19.8% here).
- Dubois County, IN · 19.8% low-access
- Niagara County, NY · 19.8% low-access
- Minnehaha County, SD · 19.8% low-access
- Lee County, MS · 19.9% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MI (13.1% here).
- Calhoun County, MS · 13.1% SNAP
- Leake County, MS · 13.1% SNAP
- Lowndes County, MS · 13.1% SNAP
- Monroe County, MS · 13.1% 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.
Michigan among East North Central states
Michigan ranks 3rd of 5 East North Central states by population-weighted low-access (23.2%). Chippewa County, at 19.8%, runs 3.4 pts below the Michigan rate.
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 Chippewa County, MI are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 26033. 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.