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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 2019 Census ACS 2024 MT

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 #2,100).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Stillwater County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Stillwater County, MT 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: Stillwater County, MT
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Stillwater 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.

Stillwater County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Montana, 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 Stillwater County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)9,117
Low-Access Tracts2
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population1,395
Low-Access Share15.3%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population365

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Stillwater County
IndicatorValue
Population9,182
Median Household Income$84,732
Poverty Rate8.3%well below the national average
SNAP Households214
SNAP Participation Rate5.6%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.2%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.3%

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.

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.

Beaverhead County
20.1% low-access · 7.2% SNAP
Big Horn County
42.5% low-access · 17.5% SNAP
Blaine County
34.0% low-access · 14.7% SNAP
Broadwater County
15.4% low-access · 3.5% SNAP
Carbon County
14.9% low-access · 6.1% SNAP
Carter County
100.0% low-access · 5.3% SNAP

Compare Stillwater County vs Beaverhead County → · All Montana counties →

Food access nationally, Montana in context

Stillwater County sits inside Montana (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 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.