Signature · 10.5% SNAP (79th pct in IA)

Jackson County, IA

Jackson County stands out on SNAP (10.5%, -1.6 pts vs U.S.) with 24.0% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.

24.0%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
10.5%
on SNAP
19K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IA

USDA FARA access plate

County Jackson County, IA

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-ELEVATED 24.0% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +1.9 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 10.5% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.2% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 17% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Van Buren County (+ 0.3 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Jackson County ranks #1,365 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #26 of 98 counties in IA (24.0% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,365
national by low-access %
#26
in IA
4
low-access tracts
1K
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: 10.5% SNAP (79th pct in IA) (-1.6 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Jackson County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Jackson County's 24.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 56% of them and ranked #1,368 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Jackson County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

6 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Jackson County, IA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 3 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 6 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (33.3%) 3 tracts limited (50.0%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (16.7%) Adequate 33% Limited 50% Severe 17% Food-access tier distribution: Jackson County, IA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Jackson County has 2 urban and 4 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.

Jackson County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Iowa, 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 Jackson County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts6
Atlas Population (2010 basis)19,848
Low-Access Tracts4
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population4,763
Low-Access Share24.0%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,393

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Jackson County
IndicatorValue
Population19,390
Median Household Income$74,186
Poverty Rate9.7%below the national average
SNAP Households865
SNAP Participation Rate10.5%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.2%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.2%

SNAP retailers in Jackson County

Jackson County has 18 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 7 locations (39% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 7

  • casey's 2578, maquoketa
  • casey's general store 2846, maquoketa
  • casey's general store 2915, bellevue
  • hy-vee dollar fresh 1407, maquoketa
  • kwik star 212, maquoketa
  • kwik trip 894, maquoketa
  • otter creek stop, zwingle

Combination Grocery/Other · 5

  • benders foods, bellevue
  • dollar general 18235, preston
  • dollar general 2295, maquoketa
  • dollar tree 6256, maquoketa
  • family dollar 12227, bellevue

Small Grocery Store · 2

  • dj mini mart, maquoketa
  • otter creek meats, llc, zwingle

Super Store · 2

  • fareway stores, inc. 639, maquoketa
  • walmart sc 1509, maquoketa

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • tada meats, maquoketa

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • preston grocery, preston

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

Other Counties in Iowa

One of 98 counties in Iowa, 6 are shown here.

Compare Jackson County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →

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

SNAP-led peer set first for Jackson County (10.5%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Iowa.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside IA (24.0% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside IA (10.5% 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, Iowa in context

Jackson County sits inside Iowa (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 Jackson County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19097. 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.