Signature · 38.5% low-access (85th pct)

Shelby County, MO

Shelby County sits in the upper national band on low-access (38.5%, +16.4 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

38.5%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
8.4%
on SNAP
6K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MO

USDA FARA access plate

County Shelby County, MO

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

  • LA-ELEVATED 38.5% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +16.4 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 8.4% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.8% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: St. Charles County (+ 0.7 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Shelby County sits in the upper national band (38.5%, #460 of 3,079).

#460
national by low-access %
#12
in MO
2
low-access tracts
970
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: 38.5% low-access (85th pct) (+16.4 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Shelby County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Shelby County's 38.5% low-access share is elevated, higher than 85% of them and ranked #461 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Shelby County's elevated USDA tier split

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

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

By USDA urbanicity classification, Shelby County has 0 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.

Shelby County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Missouri, 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 Shelby County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)6,373
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population2,455
Low-Access Share38.5%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population970

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Shelby County
IndicatorValue
Population5,986
Median Household Income$51,594
Poverty Rate15.9%above the national average
SNAP Households200
SNAP Participation Rate8.4%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.8%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.7%

SNAP retailers in Shelby County

Shelby County has 9 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 5 locations (56% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 5

  • 7th heaven, shelbina
  • ayerco 36, shelbina
  • casey's 1016, shelbina
  • casey's 1286, shelbyville
  • casey's 1281, clarence

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollar general 1244, shelbina
  • dollar general 24492, shelbyville
  • dollar general 24884, clarence

Supermarket · 1

  • shelbina 41, shelbina

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

Other Counties in Missouri

One of 114 counties in Missouri, 6 are shown here.

Compare Shelby County vs Adair County → · All Missouri counties →

Shelby County inside a higher low-access state context

Shelby County sits inside Missouri (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 Shelby County, MO are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 29205. 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.