PlainFoodAccess
Browse

Signature · 10.0% SNAP (71st pct in IA)

Palo Alto County, IA

Palo Alto County stands out on SNAP (10.0%, -2.1 pts vs U.S.) with 24.4% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.

24.4%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
10.0%
on SNAP
9K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IA

USDA FARA access plate

County Palo Alto County, IA

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ELEVATED 24.4% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +2.3 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 10.0% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 3.4% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Van Buren County ( -0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Palo Alto County ranks #1,337 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #24 of 98 counties in IA (24.4% low-access).

#1,337
national by low-access %
#24
in IA
2
low-access tracts
673
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: 10.0% SNAP (71st pct in IA) (-2.1 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Palo Alto County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Palo Alto County's 24.4% low-access share is elevated, higher than 57% of them and ranked #1,341 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Palo Alto County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Palo Alto County, IA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 4 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (50.0%) 2 tracts limited (50.0%) Adequate 50% Limited 50% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Palo Alto County, IA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Palo Alto 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.

Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts4
Atlas Population (2010 basis)9,421
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population2,303
Low-Access Share24.4%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population673

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Palo Alto County
IndicatorValue
Population8,863
Median Household Income$72,781
Poverty Rate11.6%below the national average
SNAP Households380
SNAP Participation Rate10.0%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.4%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.7%

SNAP retailers in Palo Alto County

Palo Alto County has 9 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 4 locations (44% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 4

  • caseys general store 1684, emmetsburg
  • emmetsburg dollar fresh 7036, emmetsburg
  • kwik star 1119, emmetsburg
  • sparkys one stop 14, mallard

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollar general 20972, graettinger
  • dollar general 22491, ruthven
  • dollar general 7054, emmetsburg

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • graettinger market, graettinger

Super Store · 1

  • fareway stores, inc. 849, emmetsburg

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 Palo Alto County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →

Food access nationally, Iowa in context

Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19147. 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.