PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Iowa

Pottawattamie County, IA

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Pottawattamie County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).

30.6%
low-access pop.
5
food-desert tracts
9.8%
on SNAP
93K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IA

The food-access picture

30.6% of Pottawattamie County residents live in a low-access area, and 5 of its 30 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

12
low-access tracts
9K
food-desert residents
6.3%
households, no vehicle
12.1%
below poverty line

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, 1-and-10-mile measure).

USDA data puts Pottawattamie County's low-access share at 30.6%, above the national share. 12 of the county's 30 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 28,526 people. 5 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 8,684 low-income residents.

How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts

The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.

How Pottawattamie County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Pottawattamie County's 30.6% low-access share is elevated, higher than 71% of them and ranked #901 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Pottawattamie County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 30 census tracts in Pottawattamie County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Pottawattamie County, IA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 18 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 7 limited, 5 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 30 tracts evaluated. 18 tracts adequate (60.0%) 7 tracts limited (23.3%) 5 tracts severe / food desert (16.7%) Adequate 60% Limited 23% Severe 17% Food-access tier distribution: Pottawattamie County, IA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Pottawattamie County vs. other Iowa counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Iowa

% 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 Pottawattamie County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts30
Atlas Population (2010 basis)93,158
Low-Access Tracts12
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)5
Low-Access Population28,526
Low-Access Share30.6%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population8,684

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Pottawattamie County
IndicatorValue
Population93,424
Median Household Income$73,602
Poverty Rate12.1%below the national average
SNAP Households3,693
SNAP Participation Rate9.8%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.3%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.9%
SNAP participation in Pottawattamie County 9.8%

About 9.8% of Pottawattamie County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 30.6% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 9.8% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 3,693 households here.
  • 6.3% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 5 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).

USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).

What the food-access data shows for Pottawattamie County

above the national share

5 of Pottawattamie County's 30 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 16.7% of all its tracts.

A further 7 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 12.

An estimated 28,526 residents, roughly 30.6% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 8,684 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 18 tracts (60.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Pottawattamie County

Pottawattamie County has 75 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 43 locations (57% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 43

  • 7 days mart, council bluffs
  • avenue g store, council bluffs
  • casey's 38, treynor
  • casey's 2835, avoca
  • casey's 6116, council bluffs
  • casey's 6117, council bluffs
  • casey's 6122, council bluffs
  • casey's 6127, council bluffs
  • casey's 6127, council bluffs
  • casey's 6134, council bluffs
  • casey's general store 1569, oakland
  • casey's general store 2284, council bluffs
  • casey's general store 3050, council bluffs
  • casey's general store 3509, carter lake
  • caseys general store 3201, council bluffs
  • caseys general store 3202, crescent
  • caseys general store 3203, council bluffs
  • caseys general store 3204, minden
  • caseys general store 3205, council bluffs
  • hy-vee c-store 5092, council bluffs
  • kwik shop 350520, carter lake
  • kwik shop 350527, council bluffs
  • love's travel stop 426, shelby
  • maverik 5065, neola
  • maverik 5363, walnut
  • mega saver 24, council bluffs
  • mega saver 34, council bluffs
  • mega saver 37, council bluffs
  • mega saver 48, council bluffs
  • mega saver 76, council bluffs
  • moes mart, council bluffs
  • pilot travel center 329, council bluffs
  • sapp bros travel center, council bluffs
  • speedee mart 1515 1515, council bluffs
  • speedy gas n shop, council bluffs
  • speedy gas n shop, council bluffs
  • super convenience store, council bluffs
  • super quik stop, council bluffs
  • the hut, council bluffs
  • the hut discount store 20, council bluffs
  • travelcenters of america 066, council bluffs
  • fas mart 552, council bluffs
  • fas mart 553, council bluffs

Combination Grocery/Other · 15

  • cvs pharmacy 4816, council bluffs
  • dollartree 8172, council bluffs
  • dollar general 1574, council bluffs
  • dollar general 22238, crescent
  • dollar general 23565, treynor
  • dollar general 6040, oakland
  • dollar general 7290, avoca
  • dollar general 9365, carter lake
  • dollar tree 4087, council bluffs
  • dollar tree 9437, council bluffs
  • family dollar 4414, council bluffs
  • iowa international market, council bluffs
  • walgreens 03700, council bluffs
  • walgreens 4405, council bluffs
  • walgreens 5306, council bluffs

Super Store · 7

  • fareway stores, inc. 73, council bluffs
  • hy-vee food store 1092, council bluffs
  • hy-vee food store 1101, council bluffs
  • sam's club 6472, council bluffs
  • target stores t- 2454, council bluffs
  • walmart sc 1965, council bluffs
  • walmart supercenter 3150, council bluffs

Supermarket · 3

  • aldi 46074, council bluffs
  • family fare 3791, council bluffs
  • super saver 12, council bluffs

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • avoca food land, avoca
  • rjr corp/rubacks food center, oakland

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • blue cow market, neola
  • latino market llc 1535, council bluffs

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphys take & bake pizza, council bluffs

Farmers' Market · 1

  • farmers market council bluffs, council bluffs

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • valentino family market, council bluffs

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Iowa

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 Pottawattamie County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →

Food access nationally, Iowa in context

Pottawattamie County sits inside Iowa (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; 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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Pottawattamie County has low food access? ▼
30.6% of residents in Pottawattamie County, IA live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Pottawattamie County? ▼
9.8% of households in Pottawattamie County receive SNAP, covering 3,693 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Pottawattamie County? ▼
The poverty rate in Pottawattamie County, IA is 12.1%, with a median household income of $73,602 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Pottawattamie County a food desert? ▼
5 of Pottawattamie County's 30 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Pottawattamie County households lack a vehicle? ▼
6.3% of households in Pottawattamie County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
Data Sources & Methodology

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →

Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).

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.