Signature · 103 SNAP-authorized stores

Mesa County, CO

Mesa County sits in the upper national band on low-access (32.5%, +10.4 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

32.5%
low-access pop.
6
food-desert tracts
11.3%
on SNAP
159K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 CO

USDA FARA access plate

County Mesa County, CO

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-TYPICAL · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-ELEVATED 32.5% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +10.4 pts vs US
  • LILA-CLUSTER 6 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-TYPICAL 11.3% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.0% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 21% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Las Animas County ( -0.7 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Mesa County sits in the upper national band (32.5%, #777 of 3,079) with 6 LILA tracts.

#777
national by low-access %
#16
in CO
15
low-access tracts
13K
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: 103 SNAP-authorized stores .

How Mesa County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Mesa County's 32.5% low-access share is elevated, higher than 75% of them and ranked #778 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Mesa County's elevated USDA tier split

29 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 6 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Mesa County, CO USDA-defined food-access tiers: 14 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 9 limited, 6 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 29 tracts evaluated. 14 tracts adequate (48.3%) 9 tracts limited (31.0%) 6 tracts severe / food desert (20.7%) Adequate 48% Limited 31% Severe 21% Food-access tier distribution: Mesa County, CO
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Mesa County has 23 urban and 6 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.

Mesa 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 Mesa County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts29
Atlas Population (2010 basis)146,723
Low-Access Tracts15
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)6
Low-Access Population47,675
Low-Access Share32.5%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population12,976

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Mesa County
IndicatorValue
Population158,601
Median Household Income$73,658
Poverty Rate10.7%below the national average
SNAP Households7,468
SNAP Participation Rate11.3%near the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.0%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.8%

Thick SNAP store book in Mesa County

Mesa County has 103 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 53 locations (51% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 53

  • alta 6311, grand junction
  • alta 6312, grand junction
  • alta 6315, grand junction
  • alta 6316, grand junction
  • alta 6317, fruita
  • alta 6124, grand junction
  • alta 6125, grand junction
  • alta 6151, grand junction
  • c & f food stores inc 1, grand junction
  • c & f food stores inc 10, clifton
  • c & f food stores inc 2, grand junction
  • c & f food stores inc 4, grand junction
  • c & f food stores inc 8, palisade
  • c & f food stores inc 9, grand junction
  • carniceria el baron rojo, grand junction
  • carniceria snoyta ii, grand junction
  • circle k 2744061, clifton
  • circle k 2744115, grand junction
  • citizen sheepdog llc, palisade
  • de beque country store, de beque
  • euromart, grand junction
  • golden gate gas 70, palisade
  • golden gate petroleum 73, grand junction
  • golden gate petroleum 74, grand junction
  • good 2 go 1st and grand 706, grand junction
  • good 2 go 1st and grand 706, grand junction
  • good 2 go fruitvale 704, grand junction
  • good 2 go horizon 705, grand junction
  • good 2 go store 707, grand junction
  • good 2 go store 708, fruita
  • happy country store llc 0720490, loma
  • happy stop market llc 0720490, fruita
  • happy stop superstore, grand junction
  • love's travel stop 517, grand junction
  • lucky me, grand junction
  • marigold market, collbran
  • maverik 482, grand junction
  • maverik 5200, de beque
  • maverik, inc 400, fruita
  • maverik, inc 417, clifton
  • maverik, inc 418, grand junction
  • maverik, inc 500, grand junction
  • maverik, inc 653, clifton
  • pilot travel center 592, grand junction
  • rodeo market, grand junction
  • san jose bakery, grand junction
  • stinker store 320, clifton
  • stinker store 321, grand junction
  • stinker store 322, grand junction
  • stinker store 323, grand junction
  • ta express grand junction, grand junction
  • vt, llc - dba super c convenience store, grand junction
  • you are lucky convenience store, grand junction

Combination Grocery/Other · 18

  • carols oriental foods inc, grand junction
  • dollar general 13952, palisade
  • dollartree 10137, grand junction
  • dollartree 8205, grand junction
  • dollar general 23456, grand junction
  • dollar general store 13246, fruita
  • dollar tree 3782, grand junction
  • dollar tree 3946, grand junction
  • dollar tree 6364, clifton
  • dollar tree 7641, grand junction
  • family dollar 10579, grand junction
  • family dollar 11558, clifton
  • family dollar 7356, fruita
  • family dollar 7580, grand junction
  • walgreens 06108, clifton
  • walgreens 09769, grand junction
  • walgreens 10307, grand junction
  • walgreens 11187, fruita

Super Store · 11

  • city market 401, grand junction
  • city market 413, fruita
  • city market 425, grand junction
  • city market 44, grand junction
  • city market 451, grand junction
  • sam's club 6360, grand junction
  • shamrock foodservice warehouse 573, grand junction
  • target stores t- 0093, grand junction
  • walmart neighborhood market 4491, grand junction
  • walmart sc 1280, grand junction
  • walmart sc 5099, grand junction

Supermarket · 5

  • natural grocers by vitamin cottage u018, grand junction
  • safeway 1533, grand junction
  • safeway 2625, grand jct
  • safeway 897, grand junction
  • sprouts farmers market 324, grand junction

Small Grocery Store · 4

  • el torito carniceria, grand junction
  • la milpa tortilla factory, llc, grand junction
  • la pasadita supermarket, clifton
  • skip's farm to market, fruita

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 3

  • fisher's market, grand junction
  • old world meat, grand junction
  • quality meat co inc, grand junction

Medium Grocery Store · 3

  • asian market, grand junction
  • gj mart, grand junction
  • orchard mesa market, grand junction

Bakery Specialty · 2

  • papa murphy's take & bake pizza co 001, grand junction
  • papa murphy's take & bake pizza co 018, grand junction

Farmers' Market · 2

  • downtown grand junction farmers market, grand junction
  • fruita farmer's market, fruita

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • carniceria sonoyta, clifton
  • family food town, palisade

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 Mesa County vs Adams County → · All Colorado counties →

Counties near Mesa County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside CO (32.5% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside CO (11.3% 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.

Mesa County inside a higher low-access state context

Mesa 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 Mesa County, CO are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 08077. 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.