PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Iowa

Woodbury County, IA

Woodbury 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.

19.2%
low-access pop.
3
food-desert tracts
12.6%
on SNAP
106K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IA

The food-access picture

19.2% of Woodbury County residents live in a low-access area, and 3 of its 25 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

11
low-access tracts
5K
food-desert residents
6.1%
households, no vehicle
14.0%
below poverty line

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, 1-and-10-mile measure).

Woodbury County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 19.2% per the USDA Atlas. 11 of the county's 25 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 19,603 residents who live far from a supermarket. 3 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 5,483 low-income residents.

How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts

The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.

How Woodbury County compares nationally

Woodbury County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 19.2% low-access share that beats 44% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,755).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Woodbury County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 25 census tracts in Woodbury County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Woodbury County, IA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 14 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 8 limited, 3 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 25 tracts evaluated. 14 tracts adequate (56.0%) 8 tracts limited (32.0%) 3 tracts severe / food desert (12.0%) Adequate 56% Limited 32% Severe 12% Food-access tier distribution: Woodbury County, IA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Woodbury County vs. other Iowa counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Iowa

% 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 Woodbury County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts25
Atlas Population (2010 basis)102,172
Low-Access Tracts11
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)3
Low-Access Population19,603
Low-Access Share19.2%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population5,483

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Woodbury County
IndicatorValue
Population106,247
Median Household Income$73,658
Poverty Rate14.0%near the national average
SNAP Households5,147
SNAP Participation Rate12.6%near the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.1%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.7%
SNAP participation in Woodbury County 12.6%

About 12.6% of Woodbury County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 19.2% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 12.6% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 5,147 households here.
  • 6.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 3 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).

USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).

What the food-access data shows for Woodbury County

near the national share

3 of Woodbury County's 25 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 12.0% of all its tracts.

A further 8 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 11.

An estimated 19,603 residents, roughly 19.2% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 5,483 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 14 tracts (56.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Woodbury County

Woodbury County has 95 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 38 locations (40% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 38

  • 75 pronto express, sioux city
  • abarrotes la esquinita, sioux city
  • brew correctionville 12, correctionville
  • brew floyd 3, sioux city
  • brew riverside 5, sioux city
  • casey's 2607, sioux city
  • casey's 2447, sergeant bluff
  • casey's 2608, sioux city
  • casey's 2889, sioux city
  • casey's 3962, sioux city
  • casey's 50, moville
  • casey's general store 2275, sioux city
  • casey's general store 3009, sioux city
  • casey's general store 3674, sioux city
  • cenex-pump n pak, sergeant bluff
  • circle s riverside, sioux city
  • floyd food & fuel, sioux city
  • hy-vee fast & fresh 5615, sioux city
  • hy-vee gas 5610, sioux city
  • kwik star 1293, sioux city
  • kwik star 1737, sergeant bluff
  • loves travel stop 479, sioux city
  • maverik 5035, sioux city
  • maverik 5036, sioux city
  • maverik 5037, sioux city
  • maverik 5169, sloan
  • maverik 5274, sioux city
  • morningside food and fuel, sioux city
  • murphy usa 6843, sioux city
  • murphy usa 6921, sioux city
  • one stop food & fuel, sioux city
  • pg mini mart, sioux city
  • pilot travel center 594, sioux city
  • sargs mini mart 2, sioux city
  • select mart, sioux city
  • select mart, sioux city
  • select mart, sioux city
  • suarez bakery, sioux city

Combination Grocery/Other · 28

  • abarrotes el arcoiris, sioux city
  • african general grocery, sioux city
  • aimee international foods, sioux city
  • dollar general 18699, sloan
  • dollartree 11029, sioux city
  • dollartree 9238, sioux city
  • delina grocery store llc, sioux city
  • dollar general 0405, sioux city
  • dollar general 16607, correctionville
  • dollar general 16936, moville
  • dollar general 22191, sioux city
  • dollar general 2900, sioux city
  • dollar general 2936, sioux city
  • dollar general 3009, sioux city
  • dollar general 5857, sioux city
  • dollar general 5881, sioux city
  • dollar general 6709, sergeant bluff
  • dollar tree 2513, sioux city
  • dollar tree 3202, sioux city
  • dollar tree 4342, sioux city
  • dollar tree 7637, sioux city
  • family dollar 5720, sioux city
  • fireside meat market, anthon
  • gulela grocery store, sioux city
  • habesha grocery store, sioux city
  • walgreens 15647, sioux city
  • walgreens 5470, sioux city
  • walgreens 910, sioux city

Super Store · 12

  • fareway stores, inc. 019, sioux city
  • fareway stores, inc. 022, sioux city
  • fareway stores, inc. 14, sergeant bluff
  • fareway stores, inc. 829, sioux city
  • hy-vee food store 1610, sioux city
  • hy-vee food store 1614, sioux city
  • hy-vee food store 1615, sioux city
  • hy-vee mainstreet 7070, sioux city
  • sam's club 6432, sioux city
  • target stores t- 1800, sioux city
  • walmart sc 1361, sioux city
  • walmart sc 3590, sioux city

Medium Grocery Store · 9

  • colberts market, danbury
  • global food market llc, sioux city
  • guanajuato market, sioux city
  • hong kong supermarket, sioux city
  • international market, sioux city
  • la pinata, sioux city
  • la plazita latina, sioux city
  • laurances foods inc, sioux city
  • mireille's tropical food market, sioux city

Supermarket · 3

  • aldi 72025, sioux city
  • aldi 72126, sioux city
  • save a lot 24967, sioux city

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • braunger market, sioux city
  • the butcher shop, sioux city

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphy's ia037, sioux city

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • great wall oriental food store, sioux city

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • la victoria llc, sioux city

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Iowa

Adair County
8.0% low-access · 9.8% SNAP
Adams County
6.4% low-access · 9.5% SNAP
Allamakee County
10.9% low-access · 8.3% SNAP
Appanoose County
15.7% low-access · 13.3% SNAP
Audubon County
7.4% low-access · 8.4% SNAP
Benton County
17.0% low-access · 4.8% SNAP

Compare Woodbury County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →

Food access nationally, Iowa in context

Woodbury County sits inside Iowa (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; 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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Woodbury County has low food access? ▼
19.2% of residents in Woodbury County, IA live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Woodbury County? ▼
12.6% of households in Woodbury County receive SNAP, covering 5,147 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Woodbury County? ▼
The poverty rate in Woodbury County, IA is 14.0%, with a median household income of $73,658 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Woodbury County a food desert? ▼
3 of Woodbury County's 25 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Woodbury County households lack a vehicle? ▼
6.1% of households in Woodbury County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
Data Sources & Methodology

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →

Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).

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.