Signature · 5 SNAP-authorized stores
Clay County, NE
Clay County has a slim SNAP-authorized store book (5) while 24.7% of residents live low-access, distance and shelf access compound.
- 24.7%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 6.1%
- on SNAP
- 6K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Clay County, NE
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-ELEVATED 24.7% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +2.6 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 6.1% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.7% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Saunders County ( -0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Clay County ranks #1,308 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #55 of 93 counties in NE (24.7% low-access).
- #1,308
- national by low-access %
- #55
- in NE
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 527
- 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 SNAP-authorized stores .
How Clay County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Clay County's 24.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 58% of them and ranked #1,308 most-affected nationwide.
Clay County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
All 2 of Clay 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.
Clay County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Nebraska, not a full county-board reprint
- Thomas
Thomas 100%
100 % low-access
- Deuel 26.8
Deuel 26.8%
26.8 % low-access
- Johnson 26.2
Johnson 26.2%
26.2 % low-access
- Clay 24.7
Clay 24.7%
24.7 % low-access
- Saunders 24.5
Saunders 24.5%
24.5 % low-access
- Phelps 22.3
Phelps 22.3%
22.3 % 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) | 6,542 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,614 |
| Low-Access Share | 24.7%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 527 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 6,095 |
| Median Household Income | $78,986 |
| Poverty Rate | 6.9%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 151 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 6.1%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.7%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.5% |
Slim SNAP store book in Clay County
Clay County has 5 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 2 locations (40% of the total), followed by large grocery store.
Where the store book sits, by town
4 towns share the 5 authorized stores; Sutton holds 40% of them. 2 of the 4 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Clay Center, Harvard.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Sutton | 2 | 1 |
| Clay Center | 1 | none |
| Edgar | 1 | 1 |
| Harvard | 1 | none |
Convenience Store · 2
- casey's 4383, sutton
- harvard food mart, harvard
Large Grocery Store · 2
- browns thrift store, sutton
- sorsens corner market inc, edgar
Combination Grocery/Other · 1
- dollar general store 17752, clay center
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 Clay 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%). Clay County, at 24.7%, runs 2.8 pts above 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 Clay County, NE are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 31035. 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.