Signature · 4 LILA tracts (57.1% of tracts)

Jim Wells County, TX

Jim Wells County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 4 LILA tracts (57.1% of the book) alongside 21.2% low-access.

21.2%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
24.0%
on SNAP
39K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 TX

USDA FARA access plate

County Jim Wells County, TX

LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 21.2% low-access
  • PHOTO-FINISH -0.9 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 4 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 24.0% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.9% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 57% tracts LILA

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

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Jim Wells County ranks #1,586 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #149 of 252 counties in TX (21.2% low-access; 4 food-desert tracts).

#1,586
national by low-access %
#149
in TX
5
low-access tracts
4K
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: 4 LILA tracts (57.1% of tracts) .

How Jim Wells County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Jim Wells County's 21.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 49% of them and ranked #1,587 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Jim Wells County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

7 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 4 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Jim Wells County, TX USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 7 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (28.6%) 1 tracts limited (14.3%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (57.1%) Adequate 29% Limited 14% Severe 57% Food-access tier distribution: Jim Wells County, TX
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Jim Wells County has 5 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.

Jim Wells County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Texas, 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 Jim Wells County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts7
Atlas Population (2010 basis)40,838
Low-Access Tracts5
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population8,660
Low-Access Share21.2%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population3,946

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Jim Wells County
IndicatorValue
Population38,850
Median Household Income$51,896
Poverty Rate24.7%well above the national average
SNAP Households3,190
SNAP Participation Rate24.0%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.9%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.0%

Thick SNAP store book in Jim Wells County

Jim Wells County has 48 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 26 locations (54% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 26

  • 7-eleven 42620h, premont
  • alice food mart, alice
  • circle k 1867, alice
  • circle k 2706972, alice
  • circle k 2706977, alice
  • circle k 2709056, premont
  • el mesquite country store, alice
  • green acres mart, alice
  • kwik pantry alice, alice
  • lagarto convenience store 00001, sandia
  • micha's stop n go, alice
  • mikes quick bites and more, sandia
  • murphy usa 7826, alice
  • neighborhood mart, alice
  • oriental enterprises inc, san diego
  • prime stop, alice
  • silver star food store, alice
  • stripes 40816, alice
  • stripes 40819, orange grove
  • speedy mart, alice
  • stripes 42626h, alice
  • times market 777, alice
  • tex best travel center 519, alice
  • tex best travel center 524, alice
  • texas corner store, alice
  • yu mi's, alice

Combination Grocery/Other · 14

  • dollar general 10488, orange grove
  • dollar general 18663, alice
  • dollar general 3143, alice
  • dollar general 3200, alice
  • dollar general 17708, sandia
  • dollar general 23304, alice
  • dollar general 25570, alice
  • dollar general 9916, premont
  • dollar tree 2910, alice
  • family dollar 11699, alice
  • family dollar 12809, premont
  • family dollar 13107, sandia
  • family dollar 2145, alice
  • walgreens 10231, alice

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • alice meat market 1, alice
  • mario's grocery & market, inc., alice

Supermarket · 2

  • heb 223, alice
  • lowes 110, orange grove

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • west's model market, premont

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • dan's processing center, alice

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • alice cash & carry wholesale, alice

Super Store · 1

  • walmart supercenter 791, alice

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

Other Counties in Texas

One of 253 counties in Texas, 6 are shown here.

Compare Jim Wells County vs Anderson County → · All Texas counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside TX (21.2% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside TX (24.0% 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, Texas in context

Jim Wells County sits inside Texas (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 Jim Wells County, TX are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 48249. 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.