Signature · 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts)

Clearwater County, MN

Clearwater County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of the book) alongside 39.2% low-access.

39.2%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
13.1%
on SNAP
9K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MN

USDA FARA access plate

County Clearwater County, MN

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

  • LA-ELEVATED 39.2% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +17.1 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-TYPICAL 13.1% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 9.2% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 67% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Blue Earth County ( -0.3 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Clearwater County sits in the upper national band (39.2%, #430 of 3,079) with 2 LILA tracts.

#430
national by low-access %
#12
in MN
2
low-access tracts
1K
food-desert residents

Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.

Signature read: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts) .

How Clearwater County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Clearwater County's 39.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 86% of them and ranked #433 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Clearwater County's elevated USDA tier split

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Clearwater County, MN USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (33.3%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (66.7%) Adequate 33% Limited 0% Severe 67% Food-access tier distribution: Clearwater County, MN
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Clearwater County has 0 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.

Clearwater County vs nearby high low-access peers

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

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Clearwater County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)8,695
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population3,404
Low-Access Share39.2%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,317

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Clearwater County
IndicatorValue
Population8,616
Median Household Income$64,475
Poverty Rate12.6%below the national average
SNAP Households438
SNAP Participation Rate13.1%near the national average
Households Without a Vehicle9.2%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.5%

SNAP retailers in Clearwater County

Clearwater County has 10 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 4 locations (40% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 4

  • bagley co-op association, bagley
  • northern bait & convenience, gonvick
  • orton bagley food mart 175, bagley
  • y 92 convenience tesoro, clearbrook

Combination Grocery/Other · 2

  • dollar general 20404, bagley
  • family dollar store 10674, bagley

Farmers' Market · 1

  • bagley area farmers market, bagley

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • bakken's market llc, clearbrook

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • headwaters meat processing, bagley

Supermarket · 1

  • galens supermarket, bagley

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.

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

Clearwater County inside a higher low-access state context

Clearwater County sits inside Minnesota (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 Clearwater County, MN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 27029. 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.