Signature · 18.5% SNAP (85th pct in IL)
Hardin County, IL
Hardin County stands out on SNAP (18.5%, +6.4 pts vs U.S.) with 21.1% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 21.1%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 18.5%
- on SNAP
- 4K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Hardin County, IL
LA-ELEVATED · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-ELEVATED 21.1% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -1.0 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 18.5% SNAP
- VEH-TYPICAL 9.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Franklin County ( -0.1 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Hardin County ranks #1,589 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #55 of 102 counties in IL (21.1% low-access).
- #1,589
- national by low-access %
- #55
- in IL
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 268
- 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: 18.5% SNAP (85th pct in IL) (+6.4 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Hardin County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Hardin County's 21.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 49% of them and ranked #1,597 most-affected nationwide.
Hardin County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
By USDA urbanicity classification, Hardin County has 0 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.
Hardin County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Illinois, not a full county-board reprint
- Scott
Scott 66.5%
66.5 % low-access
- Shelby 21.4
Shelby 21.4%
21.4 % low-access
- Whiteside 21.3
Whiteside 21.3%
21.3 % low-access
- Hardin 21.1
Hardin 21.1%
21.1 % low-access
- Franklin 21
Franklin 21%
21 % low-access
- Kane 21
Kane 21%
21 % low-access
- Putnam 0.1
Putnam 0.1%
0.1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 2 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 4,320 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 912 |
| Low-Access Share | 21.1%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 268 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,605 |
| Median Household Income | $54,271 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.0%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 286 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 18.5%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 9.0%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.5% |
Slim SNAP store book in Hardin County
Hardin County has 4 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 2 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 2
- etown riverport express llc, elizabethtown
- riverside mercantile llc, elizabethtown
Combination Grocery/Other · 1
- dollar general 9305, rosiclare
Large Grocery Store · 1
- bobs food market, rosiclare
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 Hardin County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →
Food access nationally, Illinois in context
Hardin County sits inside Illinois (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 Hardin County, IL are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 17069. 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.