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Signature · 29.1% SNAP (100th pct in CO)

Costilla County, CO

Costilla County stands out on SNAP (29.1%, +17 pts vs U.S.) with 100.0% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.

100.0%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
29.1%
on SNAP
4K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 CO

USDA FARA access plate

County Costilla County, CO

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-SEVERE 100.0% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +77.9 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 29.1% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.4% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 100% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Dolores County (+ 0.0 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Costilla County sits in the upper national band (100.0%, #12 of 3,079) with 2 LILA tracts.

#12
national by low-access %
#1
in CO
2
low-access tracts
2K
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: 29.1% SNAP (100th pct in CO) (+17 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Costilla County compares nationally

Costilla County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 100.0% low-access share outpaces 98% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #12 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Costilla County's elevated USDA tier split

2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Costilla County, CO USDA-defined food-access tiers: 0 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 2 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts severe / food desert (100.0%) Adequate 0% Limited 0% Severe 100% Food-access tier distribution: Costilla County, CO
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

All 2 of Costilla 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.

Costilla County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Colorado, 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 Costilla County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts2
Atlas Population (2010 basis)3,524
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population3,524
Low-Access Share100.0%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population2,043

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Costilla County
IndicatorValue
Population3,607
Median Household Income$36,861
Poverty Rate21.0%above the national average
SNAP Households481
SNAP Participation Rate29.1%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.4%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.6%

SNAP retailers in Costilla County

Costilla County has 8 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 5 locations (63% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Where the store book sits, by town

3 towns share the 8 authorized stores; Fort Garland holds 38% of them. 2 of the 3 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Fort Garland, Blanca.

TownSNAP storesGrocery-grade
Fort Garland3none
San Luis31
Blanca2none

Convenience Store · 5

  • alta 3205, fort garland
  • blanca rv park, blanca
  • red rock general store, blanca
  • red rock general store, fort garland
  • san luis central oil, san luis

Combination Grocery/Other · 2

  • dollar general 22668, fort garland
  • family dollar 8102, san luis

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • san luis peoples market, san luis

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in Colorado

One of 63 counties in Colorado, 6 are shown here.

Adams County
17.9% low-access · 10.3% SNAP
Alamosa County
27.7% low-access · 28.6% SNAP
Arapahoe County
13.6% low-access · 7.7% SNAP
Archuleta County
40.9% low-access · 6.9% SNAP
Baca County
25.2% low-access · 21.3% SNAP
Bent County
12.4% low-access · 21.4% SNAP

Compare Costilla County vs Adams County → · All Colorado counties →

Colorado among Mountain states

Colorado ranks 8th of 8 Mountain states by population-weighted low-access (21.5%). Costilla County, at 100.0%, runs 78.5 pts above the Colorado rate.

  1. New Mexico 31.7%
  2. Wyoming 29.7%
  3. Arizona 26.8%
  4. Idaho 25.8%
  5. Utah 23.9%
  6. Nevada 23.0%
  7. Montana 22.3%
  8. Colorado 21.5%

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 Costilla County, CO are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 08023. 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.