Signature · 48 SNAP-authorized stores

Elko County, NV

Elko 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.

16.1%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
9.1%
on SNAP
54K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NV

USDA FARA access plate

County Elko County, NV

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN

  • LA-MODERATE 16.1% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -6.0 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 9.1% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.6% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-THIN 7% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Humboldt County ( -0.4 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Elko County ranks #2,019 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #12 of 17 counties in NV (16.1% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#2,019
national by low-access %
#12
in NV
5
low-access tracts
2K
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: 48 SNAP-authorized stores .

How Elko County compares nationally

Elko County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.1% low-access share that beats 35% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,023).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Elko County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

14 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Elko County, NV USDA-defined food-access tiers: 9 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 4 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 14 tracts evaluated. 9 tracts adequate (64.3%) 4 tracts limited (28.6%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (7.1%) Adequate 64% Limited 29% Severe 7% Food-access tier distribution: Elko County, NV
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Elko County has 6 urban and 8 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.

Elko County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Nevada, not a full county-board reprint

% 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 Elko County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts14
Atlas Population (2010 basis)48,818
Low-Access Tracts5
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population7,873
Low-Access Share16.1%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,995

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Elko County
IndicatorValue
Population54,047
Median Household Income$86,487
Poverty Rate9.8%below the national average
SNAP Households1,781
SNAP Participation Rate9.1%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.6%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.5%

Thick SNAP store book in Elko County

Elko County has 48 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 22 locations (46% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 22

  • airport phillips 66 80227, elko
  • cavalier liquor & mini mart, carlin
  • elko chevron extramile 4221, elko
  • elko food mart, elko
  • golden gate gas 68, wells
  • golden gate gas 72, elko
  • khoury's mini mart, spring creek
  • love's travel stop 891, jackpot
  • love's travel stop 978, carlin
  • love's travel stops 365, wells
  • maverik 530, spring creek
  • maverik, inc 509, elko
  • maverik, inc 510, elko
  • maverik, inc 681, west wendover
  • maverik, inc 716, wells
  • miller's spring creek, spring creek
  • montello gas and grocery, montello
  • our store, elko
  • pilot travel center 147, west wendover
  • pilot travel center 387, carlin
  • pilot travel center 692, wells
  • ryndon gas & food llc, elko

Combination Grocery/Other · 8

  • cvs pharmacy 8801, elko
  • dollartree 10883, elko
  • dollartree 9012, elko
  • family dollar 11399, elko
  • family dollar 8830, wells
  • family dollar 9006, calrin
  • family dollar store 7445, elko
  • terribles 454, carlin

Super Store · 6

  • ridley's family markets 1144, spring creek
  • ridley's family markets 1147, spring creek
  • ridley's family markets 1189, carlin
  • smith's food & drug 388, elko
  • smith's food & drug 390, wendover
  • walmart 2402, elko

Large Grocery Store · 3

  • cactus petes general store, jackpot
  • roy's inc, elko
  • roy's market, wells

Small Grocery Store · 3

  • azteca market, elko
  • joe's roadside market, elko
  • reyes market llc, west wendover

Supermarket · 3

  • albertsons 155, elko
  • our grocery store, owyhee
  • raleys 117, elko

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • carniceria los compadres, elko
  • la nortena, elko

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphy's nv04, elko

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

Other Counties in Nevada

One of 16 counties in Nevada, 6 are shown here.

Compare Elko County vs Carson City → · All Nevada counties →

Nationwide peers for Elko County's low-access or SNAP share

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Elko County, both outside Nevada so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside NV (16.1% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside NV (9.1% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Food access nationally, Nevada in context

Elko County sits inside Nevada (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 Elko County, NV are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 32007. 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.