Signature · 15.3% low-access (33rd pct)
Stillwater County, MT
Stillwater County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.
- 15.3%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 5.6%
- on SNAP
- 9K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Stillwater County, MT
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-MODERATE 15.3% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -6.8 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 5.6% SNAP
- VEH-OK 3.2% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Broadwater County (+ 0.1 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Stillwater County ranks #2,098 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #49 of 56 counties in MT (15.3% low-access).
- #2,098
- national by low-access %
- #49
- in MT
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 365
- 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: 15.3% low-access (33rd pct) (-6.8 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How Stillwater County compares nationally
Stillwater County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 15.3% low-access share that beats 33% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,098).
Stillwater County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
All 3 of Stillwater County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
Stillwater County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Montana, not a full county-board reprint
- Wibaux
Wibaux 100%
100 % low-access
- Lewis and Cla… 17.1
Lewis and Cla… 17.1%
17.1 % low-access
- Gallatin 16.6
Gallatin 16.6%
16.6 % low-access
- Broadwater 15.4
Broadwater 15.4%
15.4 % low-access
- Stillwater 15.3
Stillwater 15.3%
15.3 % low-access
- Carbon 14.9
Carbon 14.9%
14.9 % low-access
- Ravalli 2.7
Ravalli 2.7%
2.7 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 3 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 9,117 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,395 |
| Low-Access Share | 15.3%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 365 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 9,182 |
| Median Household Income | $84,732 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.3%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 214 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 5.6%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 3.2%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.3% |
SNAP retailers in Stillwater County
Stillwater County has 7 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 3 locations (43% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
3 towns share the 7 authorized stores; Columbus holds 57% of them. 1 of the 3 towns has no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Park City.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 4 | 1 |
| Park City | 2 | none |
| Absarokee | 1 | 1 |
Convenience Store · 3
- cenex zip trip 50, park city
- kwik stop, park city
- town pump of columbus #1 5100, columbus
Combination Grocery/Other · 1
- family dollar store 10669, columbus
Large Grocery Store · 1
- stillwater market, absarokee
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1
- emmett's meats, columbus
Supermarket · 1
- columbus iga plus, columbus
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 Stillwater County vs Beaverhead County → · All Montana counties →
Montana among Mountain states
Montana ranks 7th of 8 Mountain states by population-weighted low-access (22.3%). Stillwater County, at 15.3%, runs 7.0 pts below the Montana rate.
- New Mexico 31.7%
- Wyoming 29.7%
- Arizona 26.8%
- Idaho 25.8%
- Utah 23.9%
- Nevada 23.0%
- Montana 22.3%
- Colorado 21.5%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 Stillwater County, MT are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 30095. 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.