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Signature · 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts)

Rio Grande County, CO

Rio Grande County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of the book) alongside 17.6% low-access.

17.6%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
17.0%
on SNAP
11K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 CO

USDA FARA access plate

County Rio Grande County, CO

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-MODERATE 17.6% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -4.5 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 17.0% SNAP
  • VEH-TYPICAL 7.2% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 67% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Garfield County (+ 0.0 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Rio Grande County ranks #1,905 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #38 of 63 counties in CO (17.6% low-access; 2 food-desert tracts).

#1,905
national by low-access %
#38
in CO
2
low-access tracts
608
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: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts) .

How Rio Grande County compares nationally

Rio Grande County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.6% low-access share that beats 39% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,907).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Rio Grande County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Rio Grande County, CO USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (33.3%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (66.7%) Adequate 33% Limited 0% Severe 67% Food-access tier distribution: Rio Grande County, CO
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Rio Grande County has 1 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.

Rio Grande County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Colorado, 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 Rio Grande County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)11,982
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population2,109
Low-Access Share17.6%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population608

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Rio Grande County
IndicatorValue
Population11,321
Median Household Income$64,411
Poverty Rate18.0%above the national average
SNAP Households874
SNAP Participation Rate17.0%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle7.2%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.1%

SNAP retailers in Rio Grande County

Rio Grande County has 19 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 7 locations (37% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 7

  • alta 3401, monte vista
  • alta 3502, monte vista
  • alta 5111, center
  • alta 6027, monte vista
  • alta 6657, del norte
  • everyday stores llc 5720, del norte
  • loves country store 30, monte vista

Combination Grocery/Other · 4

  • dollar general 19378, center
  • dollar general 17902, south fork
  • family dollar 5509, monte vista
  • family dollar store 9282, del norte

Supermarket · 3

  • pay and save, inc. dba lowe's 25, del norte
  • safeway 2810, monte vista
  • top value grocery, monte vista

Farmers' Market · 2

  • mercado del norte, del norte
  • monte vista farmers market, monte vista

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • k&j thriftway llc, center
  • rainbow grocery, south fork

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • simple foods market, del norte

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

Other Counties in Colorado

One of 63 counties in Colorado, 6 are shown here.

Adams County
17.9% low-access · 10.3% SNAP
Alamosa County
27.7% low-access · 28.6% SNAP
Arapahoe County
13.6% low-access · 7.7% SNAP
Archuleta County
40.9% low-access · 6.9% SNAP
Baca County
25.2% low-access · 21.3% SNAP
Bent County
12.4% low-access · 21.4% SNAP

Compare Rio Grande County vs Adams County → · All Colorado counties →

Nationwide peers for Rio Grande County's low-access or SNAP share

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Rio Grande County, both outside Colorado so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside CO (17.6% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside CO (17.0% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Food access nationally, Colorado in context

Rio Grande County sits inside Colorado (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 Rio Grande County, CO are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 08105. 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.