Signature · 17.4% SNAP (100th pct in IA)
Union County, IA
Union County stands out on SNAP (17.4%, +5.3 pts vs U.S.) with 22.1% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 22.1%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 17.4%
- on SNAP
- 12K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Union County, IA
LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-ELEVATED 22.1% low-access
- PHOTO-FINISH +0.0 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 17.4% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.9% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Dallas County (+ 0.0 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Union County ranks #1,524 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #35 of 98 counties in IA (22.1% low-access).
- #1,524
- national by low-access %
- #35
- in IA
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 739
- 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: 17.4% SNAP (100th pct in IA) (+5.3 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Union County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Union County's 22.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 51% of them and ranked #1,524 most-affected nationwide.
Union County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
By USDA urbanicity classification, Union County has 2 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.
Union County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Iowa, not a full county-board reprint
- Fremont
Fremont 76%
76 % low-access
- Mitchell 22.3
Mitchell 22.3%
22.3 % low-access
- Pocahontas 22.3
Pocahontas 22.3%
22.3 % low-access
- Floyd 22.2
Floyd 22.2%
22.2 % low-access
- Union 22.1
Union 22.1%
22.1 % low-access
- Dallas 22.1
Dallas 22.1%
22.1 % low-access
- Grundy 0
Grundy 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 4 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 12,534 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 2,773 |
| Low-Access Share | 22.1%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 739 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 11,993 |
| Median Household Income | $57,772 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.4%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 890 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 17.4%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.9%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.5% |
SNAP retailers in Union County
Union County has 11 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 5 locations (45% of the total), followed by super store.
Convenience Store · 5
- casey's 3852, creston
- casey's general store 2422, creston
- casey's general store 2626, afton
- casey's general store 3223, creston
- creston fast and fresh express 1095, creston
Super Store · 3
- fareway stores, inc. 597, creston
- hy-vee food store 1095, creston
- walmart sc 1435, creston
Combination Grocery/Other · 2
- dollar general 3280, creston
- dollar tree 6268, creston
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1
- weaver meats llc, afton
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Iowa
One of 98 counties in Iowa, 6 are shown here.
Compare Union County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →
Nationwide peers for Union County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Union County (17.4%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Iowa.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside IA (22.1% here).
- Douglas County, KS · 22.1% low-access
- Douglas County, KS · 22.1% low-access
- Orange County, FL · 22.1% low-access
- Orange County, FL · 22.1% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside IA (17.4% here).
- Mendocino County, CA · 17.4% SNAP
- Mendocino County, CA · 17.4% SNAP
- Mercer County, PA · 17.4% SNAP
- Mercer County, PA · 17.4% SNAP
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, Iowa in context
Union County sits inside Iowa (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 Union County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19175. 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.