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Signature · 16.3% low-access (36th pct)

Monona County, IA

Monona 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.

16.3%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
8.8%
on SNAP
9K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IA

USDA FARA access plate

County Monona County, IA

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-MODERATE 16.3% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -5.8 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 8.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.2% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Jasper County ( -0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Monona County ranks #2,004 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #50 of 98 counties in IA (16.3% low-access).

#2,004
national by low-access %
#50
in IA
1
low-access tracts
463
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: 16.3% low-access (36th pct) (-5.8 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Monona County compares nationally

Monona County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.3% low-access share that beats 36% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,006).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Monona County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Monona County, IA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 3 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 4 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts adequate (75.0%) 1 tracts limited (25.0%) Adequate 75% Limited 25% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Monona County, IA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Monona 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.

Monona County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Iowa, 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 Monona County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts4
Atlas Population (2010 basis)9,243
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population1,511
Low-Access Share16.3%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population463

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Monona County
IndicatorValue
Population8,557
Median Household Income$68,377
Poverty Rate10.6%below the national average
SNAP Households340
SNAP Participation Rate8.8%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.2%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.2%

SNAP retailers in Monona County

Monona County has 11 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 5 locations (45% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 5

  • casey's 3442, mapleton
  • casey's general store 2697, onawa
  • cubby's onawa 2301, onawa
  • sparky's one stop 21, onawa
  • the hut 23, onawa

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollar general 16109, mapleton
  • dollar general 24928, onawa
  • dollar general 4617, onawa

Supermarket · 2

  • mapleton food land, mapleton
  • sunshine foods 9754, onawa

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • kirby's corner market, whiting

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

Other Counties in Iowa

One of 98 counties in Iowa, 6 are shown here.

Adair County
8.0% low-access · 9.8% SNAP
Adams County
6.4% low-access · 9.5% SNAP
Allamakee County
10.9% low-access · 8.3% SNAP
Appanoose County
15.7% low-access · 13.3% SNAP
Audubon County
7.4% low-access · 8.4% SNAP
Benton County
17.0% low-access · 4.8% SNAP

Compare Monona County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →

Food access nationally, Iowa in context

Monona County sits inside Iowa (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 Monona County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19133. 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.