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Signature · 20.1% low-access (46th pct)

Howard County, NE

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Howard 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).

20.1%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
6.7%
on SNAP
7K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NE

USDA FARA access plate

County Howard County, NE

LA-ELEVATED · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ELEVATED 20.1% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -2.0 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 6.7% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 3.0% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Sherman County (+ 0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Howard County ranks #1,678 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #63 of 93 counties in NE (20.1% low-access).

#1,678
national by low-access %
#63
in NE
1
low-access tracts
321
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: 20.1% low-access (46th pct) (-2 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Howard County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Howard County's 20.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 46% of them and ranked #1,682 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Howard County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Howard County, NE USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 2 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (50.0%) 1 tracts limited (50.0%) Adequate 50% Limited 50% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Howard County, NE
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Howard County has 0 urban and 2 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.

Howard County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Nebraska, 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 Howard County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts2
Atlas Population (2010 basis)6,274
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population1,259
Low-Access Share20.1%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population321

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Howard County
IndicatorValue
Population6,534
Median Household Income$76,767
Poverty Rate4.8%well below the national average
SNAP Households169
SNAP Participation Rate6.7%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.0%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.1%

SNAP retailers in Howard County

Howard County has 8 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 5 locations (63% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 5

  • casey's general store 3526, saint paul
  • kwik stop 21, saint paul
  • pump & pantry 13, saint paul
  • pump & pantry 37, saint libory
  • whitefoot market inc, boelus

Combination Grocery/Other · 1

  • dollar general 7887, saint paul

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • kerry's grocery, dannebrog

Supermarket · 1

  • hometown market, saint paul

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.

Adams County
35.0% low-access · 9.1% SNAP
Antelope County
12.9% low-access · 4.7% SNAP
Arthur County
100.0% low-access · 5.9% SNAP
Banner County
98.5% low-access · 1.3% SNAP
Blaine County
100.0% low-access
Boone County
12.3% low-access · 3.9% SNAP

Compare Howard County vs Adams County → · All Nebraska counties →

Food access nationally, Nebraska in context

Howard County sits inside Nebraska (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; 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

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 Howard County, NE are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 31093. 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.