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Signature · 44 SNAP-authorized stores

Lewis and Clark County, MT

Lewis and Clark 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.

17.1%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
7.8%
on SNAP
73K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MT

USDA FARA access plate

County Lewis and Clark County, MT

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

  • LA-MODERATE 17.1% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -5.0 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 7.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.3% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-THIN 7% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Gallatin County ( -0.5 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Lewis and Clark County ranks #1,935 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #46 of 56 counties in MT (17.1% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,935
national by low-access %
#46
in MT
7
low-access tracts
3K
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: 44 SNAP-authorized stores .

How Lewis and Clark County compares nationally

Lewis and Clark County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.1% low-access share that beats 38% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,937).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Lewis and Clark County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

14 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Lewis and Clark County, MT USDA-defined food-access tiers: 7 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 6 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 14 tracts evaluated. 7 tracts adequate (50.0%) 6 tracts limited (42.9%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (7.1%) Adequate 50% Limited 43% Severe 7% Food-access tier distribution: Lewis and Clark County, MT
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Lewis and Clark 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.

Lewis and Clark County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Montana, 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 Lewis and Clark County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts14
Atlas Population (2010 basis)63,395
Low-Access Tracts7
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population10,825
Low-Access Share17.1%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population2,705

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Lewis and Clark County
IndicatorValue
Population73,464
Median Household Income$78,237
Poverty Rate8.1%well below the national average
SNAP Households2,432
SNAP Participation Rate7.8%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.3%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.2%

Thick SNAP store book in Lewis and Clark County

Lewis and Clark County has 44 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 19 locations (43% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 19

  • b & b market, helena
  • canyon ferry mini basket, east helena
  • cenex zip trip 42, helena
  • cenex zip trip 43, helena
  • dave's express lube, helena
  • friendlys inc, helena
  • holiday stationstore 2746270, helena
  • maverik, inc 731, helena
  • south country store, helena
  • thriftway super stops 9, helena
  • town pump of east helena #2 8303, east helena
  • town pump of helena #2 2810, helena
  • town pump of helena #6 8917, helena
  • town pump of helena 3 2920, helena
  • town pump of east helena #1 1177, east helena
  • town pump of east helena 1 2100, east helena
  • town pump of helena #5 8959, helena
  • town pump of helena 1, helena
  • town pump of helena 8 1255, helena

Combination Grocery/Other · 7

  • cvs pharmacy 4278, helena
  • cvs pharmacy 8617, helena
  • dinners done right, helena
  • dollar tree 2880, helena
  • family dollar 13446, helena
  • heritage food store, east helena
  • walgreens 10084, helena

Super Store · 5

  • costco wholesale 0633, helena
  • super 1 foods 3350, helena
  • target stores t- 1282, helena
  • town & country foods, helena
  • walmart sc 1872, helena

Supermarket · 5

  • albertsons 4008, helena
  • real food store, helena
  • safeway 1486, helena
  • vitamin cottage natural food market u062, helena
  • winco foods 152, helena

Bakery Specialty · 3

  • franz family bakery outlet 9064, helena
  • papa murphy's take n bake pizza 10369, helena
  • papa murphys take n bake pizza 1, helena

Farmers' Market · 1

  • helena farmers market, helena

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • d & d foodtown, lincoln

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • tizer meats, helena

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • bobs valley service inc, helena

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • allens manix store, augusta

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

Other Counties in Montana

One of 55 counties in Montana, 6 are shown here.

Beaverhead County
20.1% low-access · 7.2% SNAP
Big Horn County
42.5% low-access · 17.5% SNAP
Blaine County
34.0% low-access · 14.7% SNAP
Broadwater County
15.4% low-access · 3.5% SNAP
Carbon County
14.9% low-access · 6.1% SNAP
Carter County
100.0% low-access · 5.3% SNAP

Compare Lewis and Clark County vs Beaverhead County → · All Montana counties →

Nationwide peers for Lewis and Clark County's low-access or SNAP share

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside MT (17.1% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside MT (7.8% 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, Montana in context

Lewis and Clark County sits inside Montana (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 Lewis and Clark County, MT are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 30049. 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.