Signature · 2 LILA tracts (50% of tracts)

Modoc County, CA

Modoc County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (50% of the book) alongside 40.5% low-access.

40.5%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
14.0%
on SNAP
9K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 CA

USDA FARA access plate

County Modoc County, CA

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-SEVERE 40.5% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +18.4 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 14.0% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.7% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 50% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Colusa County ( -1.2 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Modoc County sits in the upper national band (40.5%, #383 of 3,079) with 2 LILA tracts.

#383
national by low-access %
#4
in CA
3
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: 2 LILA tracts (50% of tracts) .

How Modoc County compares nationally

Modoc County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 40.5% low-access share outpaces 88% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #383 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Modoc County's elevated USDA tier split

4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Modoc County, CA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 4 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (25.0%) 1 tracts limited (25.0%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (50.0%) Adequate 25% Limited 25% Severe 50% Food-access tier distribution: Modoc County, CA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Modoc County has 1 urban and 3 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.

Modoc County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in California, 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 Modoc County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts4
Atlas Population (2010 basis)9,686
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population3,927
Low-Access Share40.5%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,664

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Modoc County
IndicatorValue
Population8,600
Median Household Income$59,455
Poverty Rate17.9%above the national average
SNAP Households456
SNAP Participation Rate14.0%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.7%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population6.4%

SNAP retailers in Modoc County

Modoc County has 11 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 4 locations (36% of the total), followed by farmers' market.

Convenience Store · 4

  • alturas fuels, llc 1, alturas
  • don's deli & market, tulelake
  • likely general store, likely
  • modoc mini mart 2, alturas

Farmers' Market · 2

  • modoc certified farmers markets, cedarville
  • modoc certified farmers markets, alturas

Supermarket · 2

  • grocery outlet alturas, alturas
  • holiday market 41, alturas

Combination Grocery/Other · 1

  • dollar general 14747, alturas

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • beam market 1, cedarville

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • adin supply co, adin

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

Other Counties in California

One of 57 counties in California, 6 are shown here.

Compare Modoc County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →

Modoc County inside a higher low-access state context

Modoc County sits inside California (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 Modoc County, CA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 06049. 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.