Signature · 1 LILA tracts (50% of tracts)

Lake County, CO

Lake County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 1 LILA tracts (50% of the book) alongside 45.2% low-access.

45.2%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
7.6%
on SNAP
7K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 CO

USDA FARA access plate

County Lake County, CO

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-SEVERE 45.2% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +23.1 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 7.6% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.1% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 50% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Moffat County ( -3.1 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Lake County sits in the upper national band (45.2%, #281 of 3,079) with 1 LILA tracts.

#281
national by low-access %
#8
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: 1 LILA tracts (50% of tracts) .

How Lake County compares nationally

Lake County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 45.2% low-access share outpaces 91% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #282 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Lake County's elevated USDA tier split

2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

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

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

Lake 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 Lake County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts2
Atlas Population (2010 basis)7,310
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population3,306
Low-Access Share45.2%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,671

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Lake County
IndicatorValue
Population7,380
Median Household Income$96,575
Poverty Rate7.9%well below the national average
SNAP Households231
SNAP Participation Rate7.6%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.1%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.0%

SNAP retailers in Lake County

Lake County has 8 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 4 locations (50% of the total), followed by small grocery store.

Convenience Store · 4

  • diamond shamrock corner store 274682, leadville
  • fast stop 1161 inc., leadville
  • fast stop 1164 inc., leadville
  • fast stop 1166 inc., leadville

Small Grocery Store · 2

  • envios la pasadita llc, leadville
  • tenderfoot market leadville, leadvill

Combination Grocery/Other · 1

  • family dollar 5166, leadville

Supermarket · 1

  • safeway 2824, leadville

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.

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

Lake County inside a higher low-access state context

Lake County sits inside Colorado (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 Lake County, CO are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 08065. 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.