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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 2019 Census ACS 2024 IL

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 #210 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Alexander County's elevated USDA tier split

4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 3 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Alexander County, IL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 3 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 4 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (25.0%) 3 tracts severe / food desert (75.0%) Adequate 25% Limited 0% Severe 75% Food-access tier distribution: Alexander County, IL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Alexander 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.

Alexander County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Illinois, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Alexander County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts4
Atlas Population (2010 basis)8,238
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)3
Low-Access Population4,086
Low-Access Share49.6%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population2,329

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Alexander County
IndicatorValue
Population4,875
Median Household Income$47,043
Poverty Rate19.0%above the national average
SNAP Households511
SNAP Participation Rate26.8%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle10.1%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.5%

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.

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.

Adams County
16.5% low-access · 12.4% SNAP
Bond County
20.8% low-access · 12.9% SNAP
Boone County
31.5% low-access · 14.3% SNAP
Brown County
34.5% low-access · 12.1% SNAP
Bureau County
36.6% low-access · 13.5% SNAP
Calhoun County
14.4% low-access · 7.7% SNAP

Compare Alexander County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →

Alexander County inside a higher low-access state context

Alexander County sits inside Illinois (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 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.