Signature · 44.8% low-access (91st pct)
Wells County, ND
Wells County sits in the upper national band on low-access (44.8%, +22.7 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 44.8%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 6.5%
- on SNAP
- 4K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Wells County, ND
LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-SEVERE 44.8% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +22.7 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 6.5% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.8% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: McKenzie County (+ 0.0 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Wells County sits in the upper national band (44.8%, #288 of 3,079).
- #288
- national by low-access %
- #22
- in ND
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 420
- 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: 44.8% low-access (91st pct) (+22.7 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How Wells County compares nationally
Wells County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 44.8% low-access share outpaces 91% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #288 most-affected nationwide.
Wells County's elevated USDA tier split
2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
All 2 of Wells 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.
Wells County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in North Dakota, not a full county-board reprint
- Nelson
Nelson 100%
100 % low-access
- Pembina
Pembina 45.9%
45.9 % low-access
- Emmons
Emmons 45.7%
45.7 % low-access
- Bottineau
Bottineau 45.4%
45.4 % low-access
- Wells
Wells 44.8%
44.8 % low-access
- McKenzie
McKenzie 44.8%
44.8 % low-access
- Rolette 9.6
Rolette 9.6%
9.6 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 2 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 4,207 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,884 |
| Low-Access Share | 44.8%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 420 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,890 |
| Median Household Income | $66,114 |
| Poverty Rate | 9.1%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 117 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 6.5%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.8%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.6% |
Slim SNAP store book in Wells County
Wells County has 5 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Supermarket lead with 2 locations (40% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
3 towns share the 5 authorized stores; Harvey holds 60% of them. 1 of the 3 towns has no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Bowdon.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey | 3 | 2 |
| Bowdon | 1 | none |
| Fessenden | 1 | 1 |
Supermarket · 2
- hinrichs super value, harvey
- leevers foods 14005, harvey
Combination Grocery/Other · 1
- dollar general 23473, harvey
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- tracy's market, fessenden
Small Grocery Store · 1
- bowdon community cooperative, bowdon
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in North Dakota
One of 52 counties in North Dakota, 6 are shown here.
Compare Wells County vs Adams County → · All North Dakota counties →
North Dakota among West North Central states
North Dakota ranks 2nd of 7 West North Central states by population-weighted low-access (28.9%). Wells County, at 44.8%, runs 15.9 pts above the North Dakota rate.
- South Dakota 29.1%
- North Dakota 28.9%
- Minnesota 27.4%
- Kansas 26.4%
- Missouri 24.9%
- Nebraska 21.9%
- Iowa 20.0%
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 Wells County, ND are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 38103. 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.