County food-access profile · Florida

Manatee County, FL

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

26.7%
low-access pop.
10
food-desert tracts
7.5%
on SNAP
430K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 FL

The food-access picture

26.7% of Manatee County residents live in a low-access area, and 10 of its 78 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

42
low-access tracts
20K
food-desert residents
4.4%
households, no vehicle
9.8%
below poverty line

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, 1-and-10-mile measure).

USDA data puts Manatee County's low-access share at 26.7%, above the national share. 42 of the county's 78 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 86,200 people. 10 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 19,827 low-income residents.

How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts

The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.

How Manatee County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Manatee County's 26.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 62% of them and ranked #1,176 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Manatee County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 78 census tracts in Manatee County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Manatee County, FL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 36 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 32 limited, 10 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 78 tracts evaluated. 36 tracts adequate (46.2%) 32 tracts limited (41.0%) 10 tracts severe / food desert (12.8%) Adequate 46% Limited 41% Severe 13% Food-access tier distribution: Manatee County, FL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Manatee County vs. other Florida counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Florida

% 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 Manatee County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts78
Atlas Population (2010 basis)322,833
Low-Access Tracts42
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)10
Low-Access Population86,200
Low-Access Share26.7%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population19,827

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Manatee County
IndicatorValue
Population429,792
Median Household Income$78,457
Poverty Rate9.8%below the national average
SNAP Households13,315
SNAP Participation Rate7.5%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.4%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.2%
SNAP participation in Manatee County 7.5%

About 7.5% of Manatee County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 26.7% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 7.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 13,315 households here.
  • 4.4% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 10 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).

USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).

What the food-access data shows for Manatee County

above the national share

10 of Manatee County's 78 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 12.8% of all its tracts.

A further 32 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 42.

An estimated 86,200 residents, roughly 26.7% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 19,827 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 36 tracts (46.2%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Manatee County

Manatee County has 262 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 124 locations (47% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 124

  • 7 eleven 30044a, bradenton
  • 7 eleven 32860b, sarasota
  • 7 eleven store 38281a, palmetto
  • 7 eleven store 38565a, bradenton
  • 7-eleven, inc. 32762j, bradenton
  • 7-eleven 16827b, sarasota
  • 7-eleven 16998j, palmetto
  • 7-eleven 25990h, sarasota
  • 7-eleven 26065a, bradenton
  • 7-eleven 33110a, palmetto
  • 7-eleven 33185a, bradenton
  • 7-eleven 34149j, bradenton
  • 7-eleven 38777h, parrish
  • 7-eleven 41101h, palmetto
  • 7-eleven store #41371b 41371b, bradenton
  • 7-eleven store 34328j, bradenton
  • 7-eleven store 34864a, bradenton
  • 7-eleven store 38483a, bradenton
  • 7-eleven store 41712, bradenton
  • 7-eleven #23035c, bradenton
  • 7-eleven 10298a, bradenton
  • 7-eleven 22769b, bradenton
  • 7-eleven 23413b, sarasota
  • 7-eleven 34895a, palmetto
  • 7-eleven 38144a, ellenton
  • 7-eleven 41322a, bradenton
  • 7-eleven store #33107b 33107b, parrish
  • 7-eleven store 38991a, bradenton
  • 7-eleven store 42258a, palmetto
  • 9th st country store, bradenton
  • a plus (bradenton sunoco), bradenton
  • a1a food store & discount beverages, bradenton
  • ali's mini mart llc, palmetto
  • bradenton quick mart, bradenton
  • bradenton quick mart 2, bradenton
  • bud's mini mart, bradenton
  • c store, bradenton
  • circle k 2700075, bradenton
  • circle k 2701683, palmetto
  • circle k 2701686, bradenton
  • circle k 2705097, palmetto
  • circle k 2707231, bradenton beach
  • circle k 2707520, bradenton bch
  • circle k 2707570, ellenton
  • circle k 2707629, parrish
  • circle k 2707683, bradenton
  • cantarero mini store, bradenton
  • chevron 786, bradenton
  • chevron bradenton 6724, bradenton
  • circle k 2709006, palmetto
  • circle k 7217, bradenton
  • circle k 9097, bradenton
  • circle k 9215, palmetto
  • circle k 9711, bradenton
  • circle k 9832, bradenton
  • citgo palmetto, palmetto
  • cottage mini mart, bradenton
  • cummings mini mart, bradenton
  • diamond gas express, sarasota
  • eddie s foor mart llc, bradenton
  • fair mart, bradenton
  • family discount beverage, bradenton
  • flowers bakery outlet 15, sarasota
  • giant food (marathon) store, bradenton
  • in & out- bp inc, bradenton
  • india bazaar, bradenton
  • k and s discount food and beverage, bradenton
  • kabayan oriental market, bradenton
  • kangaroo express 388, bradenton
  • kwik stop, sarasota
  • kwik stop #2009, bradenton
  • kwik stop of bradenton, bradenton
  • la bonanza store, sarasota
  • lit'le country store, bradenton
  • magic discount beverage, bradenton
  • manatee bp, bradenton
  • marina food and fuel lnc 1, bradenton
  • mikes mini mart, bradenton
  • murphy usa 7322, palmetto
  • murphy usa 7670, bradenton
  • nick & moes 2, bradenton
  • nick & moes 5 nick&moes, bradenton
  • om mini mart, bradenton
  • one stop food store, palmetto
  • palmetto sunoco, palmetto
  • pilot travel center 89, ellenton
  • race trac 100, bradenton
  • race trac 2394, brandenton
  • race trac 2402, sarasota
  • race trac 2412, bradenton
  • race trac 549, palmetto
  • racetrac 2381, bradenton
  • racetrac 2472, ellenton
  • rays food mart, bradenton
  • rebel 862, sarasota
  • rose park deli, parrish
  • srq citgo, sarasota
  • sandra food mart, bradenton
  • sandra shell 2658241, bradenton
  • sarasota rally, sarasota
  • somoset food mart, bradenton
  • speedway 6406, bradenton
  • speedway 6595, bradenton
  • speedway 6887, bradenton
  • speedy food mart 0, bradenton
  • sunoco, palmetto
  • sur myakka inc n/a, myakka city
  • thorntons llc 181706, bradenton
  • value king discount beverages, palmetto
  • value king discount beverages ii, bradenton
  • value king discount bevrages, bradenton
  • vp enterprise of bradenton inc, bradenton
  • wawa 5165, bradenton
  • wawa 5177, bradenton
  • wawa 5178, bradenton
  • wawa 5185, lakewood ranch
  • wawa 5203, bradenton
  • wawa 5224, sarasota
  • wawa 5258, bradenton
  • wawa 5271, bradenton
  • wawa store 5346, bradenton
  • wawa store 5413, sarasota
  • xpress food mart, bradenton
  • your market, bradenton

Combination Grocery/Other · 61

  • cvs pharmacy 7937, parrish
  • cvs pharmacy 1047, bradenton
  • cvs pharmacy 3111, palmetto
  • cvs pharmacy 3267, longboat key
  • cvs pharmacy 3953, holmes beach
  • cvs pharmacy 4616, bradenton
  • cvs pharmacy 5229, university park
  • cvs pharmacy 5780, bradenton
  • cvs pharmacy 5823, bradenton
  • cvs pharmacy 5859, bradenton
  • cvs pharmacy 7892, bradenton
  • cvs/pharmacy 11239, bradenton
  • dollar general 4597, bradenton
  • dollar general 6132, ellenton
  • dollar general 8116, bradenton
  • dollar general 9435, bradenton
  • dollar tree 2180, ellenton
  • dollar tree 6573, bradenton
  • dollartree 10277, bradenton
  • dollartree 8126, palmetto
  • dollar general 11440, bradenton
  • dollar general 13316, myakka city
  • dollar general 14735, parrish
  • dollar general 14960, bradenton
  • dollar general 15177, palmetto
  • dollar general 15273, palmetto
  • dollar general 15468, palmetto
  • dollar general 19623, bradenton
  • dollar general 21217, sarasota
  • dollar general 22011, palmetto
  • dollar general 3572, ellenton
  • dollar general 7809, bradenton
  • dollar tree 211, university park
  • dollar tree 2155, bradenton
  • dollar tree 298, bradenton
  • dollar tree 4110, bradenton
  • dollar tree 4392, bradenton
  • dollar tree 4710, bradenton
  • dollar tree 5133, holmes beach
  • dollar tree 6639, palmetto
  • family dollar 11165, bradenton
  • family dollar 8005, bradenton
  • family dollar store 2876, bradenton
  • family dollar store 7704, bradenton
  • family dollar store 7764, bradenton
  • los laureles supermarket, bradenton
  • mp markets bradenton, bradenton
  • walgreen 04812, palmetto
  • walgreens 3613, bradenton
  • walgreens 4282, bradenton
  • walgreens 4841, bradenton
  • walgreens 6515, ellenton
  • walgreens 02083, sarasota
  • walgreens 09980, bradenton
  • walgreens 12102, lakewood ranch
  • walgreens 13850, holmes beach
  • walgreens 3963, bradenton
  • walgreens 4379, bradenton
  • walgreens 5641, bradenton
  • walgreens 6135, lakewood ranch
  • walgreens 7106, bradenton

Supermarket · 29

  • aldi 74054 74054, bradenton
  • aldi 74056, bradenton
  • aldi 74107 74107, palmetto
  • aldi 74145, bradenton
  • aldi 74153, parrish
  • aldi 74240, bradenton
  • acapulco tropical investments inc 2, bradenton
  • aldi 47, bradenton
  • el mariachi market, sarasota
  • gordon food service store mp154, bradenton
  • mp markets palmetto llc, palmetto
  • publix 0491, bradenton
  • publix 0709, lakewood ranch
  • publix 0746, bradenton
  • publix 0780, bradenton
  • publix 0828, sarasota
  • publix 1004, bradenton
  • publix 1152, parrish
  • publix 1153, lakewood ranch
  • publix 1305, parrish
  • publix 1342, palmetto
  • publix 681, holmes beach
  • publix 0798, bradenton
  • publix 1326, bradenton
  • publix 1437, ponte vedra beach
  • publix 1447, bradenton
  • publix 1600, lakewood ranch
  • publix 1723, bradenton
  • publix super markets 1666, palmetto

Super Store · 23

  • acapulco tropical y mas, ellenton
  • bj's wholesale club 128, university park
  • costco wholesale 1364, bradenton
  • detwiler's farm market # 6 6, bradenton
  • detwiler's farm market iv 4, palmetto
  • dollar general market 13685, bradenton
  • f & j family corp/ key food, west bradenton
  • sam's club 8201, bradenton
  • supermarket acapulco tropical, bradenton
  • target store t-2034, sarasota
  • target store t-817, bradenton
  • target store t2927, bradenton
  • target store t3396, bradenton
  • walmart 1004, bradenton
  • walmart 528, bradenton
  • walmart 5727, bradenton
  • walmart neighborhood market 7307, bradenton
  • walmart supercenter 3370, palmetto
  • walmart supercenter 1171, sarasota
  • walmart supercenter 3474, bradenton
  • whole foods market 10642, sarasota
  • winn-dixie 2448, palmetto
  • winn-dixie 2519, bradenton

Medium Grocery Store · 6

  • dans market, bradenton
  • jerusalem gate international food market, bradenton
  • la marketa, bradenton
  • mp markets samoset, bradenton
  • tortilleria la rancherita, palmetto
  • tortilleria la rancherita, bradenton

Small Grocery Store · 3

  • chavela's market, bradenton
  • european foods gourmet deli store, bradenton
  • latino fashions, bradenton

Delivery Route · 1

  • pinch n pinch blue crabs and seafood, bradenton

Farmers' Market · 1

  • bradenton farmers market, bradenton

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • ellenton produce market inc, ellenton

Seafood Specialty · 1

  • ab seafood, ellenton

Showing 250 of 262 authorized retailers, largest categories first.

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Florida

Compare Manatee County vs Alachua County → · All Florida counties →

Food access nationally, Florida in context

Manatee County sits inside Florida (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Manatee County has low food access?
26.7% of residents in Manatee County, FL live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Manatee County?
7.5% of households in Manatee County receive SNAP, covering 13,315 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Manatee County?
The poverty rate in Manatee County, FL is 9.8%, with a median household income of $78,457 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Manatee County a food desert?
10 of Manatee County's 78 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Manatee County households lack a vehicle?
4.4% of households in Manatee County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
Data Sources & Methodology

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →

Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).

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.