PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Illinois

Jackson County, IL

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Jackson County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).

34.9%
low-access pop.
7
food-desert tracts
18.5%
on SNAP
53K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IL

The food-access picture

34.9% of Jackson County residents live in a low-access area, and 7 of its 14 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

9
low-access tracts
9K
food-desert residents
11.5%
households, no vehicle
21.0%
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).

USDA data puts Jackson County's low-access share at 34.9%, above the national share. 9 of the county's 14 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 21,031 people. 7 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 9,114 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 Jackson County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Jackson County's 34.9% low-access share is elevated, higher than 81% of them and ranked #596 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Jackson County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 14 census tracts in Jackson 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 Jackson County, IL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 7 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 14 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (35.7%) 2 tracts limited (14.3%) 7 tracts severe / food desert (50.0%) Adequate 36% Limited 14% Severe 50% Food-access tier distribution: Jackson County, IL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Jackson County vs. other Illinois counties

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

% 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 Jackson County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts14
Atlas Population (2010 basis)60,218
Low-Access Tracts9
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)7
Low-Access Population21,031
Low-Access Share34.9%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population9,114

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Jackson County
IndicatorValue
Population53,064
Median Household Income$48,763
Poverty Rate21.0%above the national average
SNAP Households4,243
SNAP Participation Rate18.5%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle11.5%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population7.8%
SNAP participation in Jackson County 18.5%

About 18.5% of Jackson County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 34.9% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 18.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 4,243 households here.
  • 11.5% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 7 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 Jackson County

above the national share

7 of Jackson County's 14 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 50.0% of all its tracts.

A further 2 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 9.

An estimated 21,031 residents, roughly 34.9% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 9,114 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 5 tracts (35.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Jackson County

Jackson County has 49 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 18 locations (37% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 18

  • am star, murphysboro
  • ava store, ava
  • casey's general store 3559, carbondale
  • cardinal corner, grand tower
  • casey's general store 1727, elkville
  • casey's general store 1891, murphysboro
  • casey's general store 2091, carbondale
  • circle k 4701231, murphysboro
  • circle k 4701357, murphysboro
  • circle k 4701592, carbondale
  • circle k 4701597, carbondale
  • huck's 204, murphysboro
  • huck's food & fuel 344, carbondale
  • main street liquors and tobacco, carbondale
  • marketplace shell, carbondale
  • murphysboro motomart 3137, murphysboro
  • the cupboard, campbell hill
  • the cupboard, campbell hill

Combination Grocery/Other · 14

  • dollar general 14043, de soto
  • dollar general 18736, elkville
  • dollar general 7180, carbondale
  • dollar general 9297, carbondale
  • dollar general 1112, murphysboro
  • dollar general 15849, ava
  • dollar general store 16875, carbondale
  • dollar tree 1317, carbondale
  • dollar tree 7692, murphysboro
  • one hot cookie, murphysboro
  • taste buds snacks llc, carbondale
  • walgreens 04219, carbondale
  • walgreens 12890, murphysboro
  • walgreens 13004, carbondale

Super Store · 5

  • kroger 714, carbondale
  • kroger l-660 660, murphysboro
  • schnucks carbondale #722 00722, carbondale
  • walmart supercenter #196 00196, carbondale
  • walmart supercenter 302, murphysboro

Medium Grocery Store · 3

  • el paisano grocery store, carbondale
  • farm fresh store, murphysboro
  • raawis store 1, carbondale

Farmers' Market · 2

  • carbondale community farmers market, carbondale
  • farmers market of carbondale, carbondale

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • daveli farms natural food market, elkville
  • elkville meat market, elkville

Supermarket · 2

  • aldi 41040 41040, carbondale
  • neighborhood coop grocery, carbondale

Delivery Route · 1

  • food works mobile farmers market, carbondale

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • fresh foods, carbondale

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • tienda y taqueria la paloma, carbondale

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Illinois

Adams County
16.5% low-access · 12.4% SNAP
Alexander County
49.6% low-access · 26.8% 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

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

Food access nationally, Illinois in context

Jackson County sits inside Illinois (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 Jackson County has low food access? ▼
34.9% of residents in Jackson County, IL 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 Jackson County? ▼
18.5% of households in Jackson County receive SNAP, covering 4,243 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Jackson County? ▼
The poverty rate in Jackson County, IL is 21.0%, with a median household income of $48,763 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Jackson County a food desert? ▼
7 of Jackson County's 14 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 Jackson County households lack a vehicle? ▼
11.5% of households in Jackson 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.