Signature · 1 LILA tracts (50% of tracts)

Musselshell County, MT

Musselshell County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 1 LILA tracts (50% of the book) alongside 31.9% low-access.

31.9%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
10.2%
on SNAP
5K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MT

USDA FARA access plate

County Musselshell County, MT

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 31.9% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +9.8 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 10.2% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.9% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 50% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Sanders County ( -0.8 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Musselshell County sits in the upper national band (31.9%, #818 of 3,079) with 1 LILA tracts.

#818
national by low-access %
#28
in MT
1
low-access tracts
580
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: 1 LILA tracts (50% of tracts) .

How Musselshell County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Musselshell County's 31.9% low-access share is elevated, higher than 74% of them and ranked #820 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Musselshell County's elevated USDA tier split

2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Musselshell County, MT USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 2 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (50.0%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (50.0%) Adequate 50% Limited 0% Severe 50% Food-access tier distribution: Musselshell County, MT
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Musselshell County has 0 urban and 2 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.

Musselshell County vs nearby high low-access peers

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

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Musselshell County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts2
Atlas Population (2010 basis)4,538
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population1,447
Low-Access Share31.9%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population580

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Musselshell County
IndicatorValue
Population5,152
Median Household Income$58,920
Poverty Rate17.0%above the national average
SNAP Households220
SNAP Participation Rate10.2%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.9%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.3%

Slim SNAP store book in Musselshell County

Musselshell County has 4 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 1 locations (25% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 1

  • family dollar 13158, roundup

Convenience Store · 1

  • express stop-roundup, roundup

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • van dykes supermarket, roundup

Supermarket · 1

  • picchionis iga, roundup

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.

Compare Musselshell County vs Beaverhead County → · All Montana counties →

Musselshell County inside a higher low-access state context

Musselshell County sits inside Montana (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 Musselshell County, MT are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 30065. 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.