Signature · 26.8% SNAP (100th pct in IL)
Alexander County, IL
Alexander County stands out on SNAP (26.8%, +14.7 pts vs U.S.) with 49.6% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 49.6%
- low-access pop.
- 3
- food-desert tracts
- 26.8%
- on SNAP
- 5K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Alexander County, IL
LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-SEVERE 49.6% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +27.5 pts vs US
- LILA-POCKET 3 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 26.8% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 10.1% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 75% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Will County ( -5.1 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Alexander County sits in the upper national band (49.6%, #209 of 3,079) with 3 LILA tracts.
- #209
- national by low-access %
- #4
- in IL
- 3
- low-access tracts
- 2K
- 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: 26.8% SNAP (100th pct in IL) (+14.7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Alexander County compares nationally
Alexander County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 49.6% low-access share outpaces 93% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #209 most-affected nationwide.
Alexander County's elevated USDA tier split
4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 3 LILA.
Alexander County is mostly rural by USDA tract type (2 rural, 2 urban), so most tracts are held to the 10-mile test and only the 2 urban tracts face the 1-mile one.
Alexander County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Illinois, not a full county-board reprint
- Scott
Scott 66.5%
66.5 % low-access
- Alexander
Alexander 49.6%
49.6 % low-access
- Will
Will 44.5%
44.5 % low-access
- McHenry
McHenry 44.3%
44.3 % low-access
- Hancock
Hancock 43.2%
43.2 % low-access
- Edgar
Edgar 41.9%
41.9 % low-access
- Putnam 0.1
Putnam 0.1%
0.1 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 4 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 8,238 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 3 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 3 |
| Low-Access Population | 4,086 |
| Low-Access Share | 49.6%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 2,329 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 4,875 |
| Median Household Income | $47,043 |
| Poverty Rate | 19.0%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 511 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 26.8%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 10.1%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.5% |
Slim SNAP store book in Alexander County
Alexander County has 5 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 3 locations (60% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Where the store book sits, by town
2 towns share the 5 authorized stores; Cairo holds 60% of them. 1 of the 2 towns has no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Olive Branch.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo | 3 | 1 |
| Olive Branch | 2 | none |
Combination Grocery/Other · 3
- dollar general 1076, cairo
- dollar general 18886, olive branch
- dollar general 7581, cairo
Convenience Store · 1
- fill-up mart inc, olive branch
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- rise community market, cairo
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Illinois
One of 101 counties in Illinois, 6 are shown here.
Compare Alexander County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →
Illinois among East North Central states
Illinois ranks 5th of 5 East North Central states by population-weighted low-access (20.2%). Alexander County, at 49.6%, runs 29.4 pts above the Illinois rate.
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 Alexander County, IL are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 17003. 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.