PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Missouri

Cole County, MO

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Cole County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).

31.2%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
5.9%
on SNAP
77K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MO

The food-access picture

31.2% of Cole County residents live in a low-access area, and 2 of its 15 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

10
low-access tracts
7K
food-desert residents
5.5%
households, no vehicle
9.0%
below poverty line

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, 1-and-10-mile measure).

USDA data puts Cole County's low-access share at 31.2%, above the national share. 10 of the county's 15 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 23,730 people. 2 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 6,764 low-income residents.

How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts

The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.

How Cole County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Cole County's 31.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 72% of them and ranked #866 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Cole County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 15 census tracts in Cole County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Cole County, MO USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 8 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 15 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (33.3%) 8 tracts limited (53.3%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (13.3%) Adequate 33% Limited 53% Severe 13% Food-access tier distribution: Cole County, MO
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Cole County vs. other Missouri counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Missouri

% 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 Cole County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts15
Atlas Population (2010 basis)75,990
Low-Access Tracts10
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population23,730
Low-Access Share31.2%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population6,764

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Cole County
IndicatorValue
Population77,032
Median Household Income$74,876
Poverty Rate9.0%below the national average
SNAP Households1,847
SNAP Participation Rate5.9%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.5%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population5.3%
SNAP participation in Cole County 5.9%

About 5.9% of Cole County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 31.2% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 5.9% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 1,847 households here.
  • 5.5% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 2 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).

USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).

What the food-access data shows for Cole County

above the national share

2 of Cole County's 15 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 13.3% of all its tracts.

A further 8 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 10.

An estimated 23,730 residents, roughly 31.2% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 6,764 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 5 tracts (33.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Cole County

Cole County has 62 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 31 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 31

  • 17 eagle stop 61, eugene
  • beeline snack shop #12, jefferson city
  • beeline snack shop 1, jefferson city
  • break time 3172, jefferson city
  • break time convenience 3043, jefferson city
  • break time convenience 3044, jefferson city
  • break time convenience 3045, jefferson city
  • break time convenience 3049, jefferson city
  • break time convenience 3050, jefferson city
  • break time convenience 3118, jefferson city
  • break time convenience 3158, jefferson city
  • brooks street 66, jefferson city
  • casey's 2033, jefferson city
  • casey's general store 3665, wardsville
  • eastland 66, jefferson city
  • eugene eagle stop 1, eugene
  • hs petroleum corp, jefferson city
  • hy-vee gas 5303, jefferson city
  • jc health foods, jefferson city
  • jefferson city 1 bp, jefferson city
  • jefferson city eagle stop 3, jefferson city
  • king of discount grocery & tobacco, jefferson city
  • la raza market, jefferson city
  • la tiendita el tapatio, jefferson city
  • lohman eagle stop 16, lohman
  • midwest petroleum 47, jefferson city
  • morli, inc., jefferson city
  • mr convenience, jefferson city
  • s&s petroleum llc, jefferson city
  • southwest eagle stop 63, jefferson city
  • truman 66, jefferson city

Combination Grocery/Other · 16

  • dollartree 9471, jefferson city
  • dollartree plus 9204, jefferson city
  • dollar general 10286, eugene
  • dollar general 11811, russellville
  • dollar general 1219, jefferson city
  • dollar general 1433, jefferson city
  • dollar general 17598, jefferson city
  • dollar general 20651, wardsville
  • dollar general 21883, saint martins
  • dollar general 24448, jefferson city
  • dollar general 30714, jefferson city
  • dollar general 9518, jefferson city
  • dollar tree 0558, jefferson city
  • walgreens 09713, jefferson city
  • walgreens 12749, jefferson city
  • walgreens 3017, jefferson city

Super Store · 9

  • gerbes 118, jefferson city
  • gerbes 122, jefferson city
  • hy-vee food store 1303, jefferson city
  • sam's club 6505, jefferson city
  • schnucks 726, jefferson city
  • schultes fresh foods, jefferson city
  • target stores t- 0752, jefferson city
  • walmart sc 5477, jefferson city
  • walmart supercenter 29, jefferson city

Supermarket · 3

  • aldi 41085, jefferson city
  • hen house 47, jefferson city
  • jefferson city u163, jefferson city

Farmers' Market · 1

  • capital city farmers market, jefferson city

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • shirks country market llc, centertown

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • rb international food store, jefferson city

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Missouri

Adair County
27.3% low-access · 9.0% SNAP
Andrew County
15.8% low-access · 4.9% SNAP
Atchison County
5.1% low-access · 5.8% SNAP
Audrain County
22.6% low-access · 12.3% SNAP
Barry County
19.7% low-access · 11.0% SNAP
Barton County
56.5% low-access · 18.5% SNAP

Compare Cole County vs Adair County → · All Missouri counties →

Food access nationally, Missouri in context

Cole County sits inside Missouri (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; 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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Cole County has low food access? ▼
31.2% of residents in Cole County, MO live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Cole County? ▼
5.9% of households in Cole County receive SNAP, covering 1,847 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Cole County? ▼
The poverty rate in Cole County, MO is 9.0%, with a median household income of $74,876 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Cole County a food desert? ▼
2 of Cole County's 15 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Cole County households lack a vehicle? ▼
5.5% of households in Cole County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
Data Sources & Methodology

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →

Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).

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.