Signature · 19.8% SNAP (92nd pct in IL)

Macon County, IL

Macon County stands out on SNAP (19.8%, +7.7 pts vs U.S.) with 36.0% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.

36.0%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
19.8%
on SNAP
102K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IL

USDA FARA access plate

County Macon County, IL

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-ELEVATED 36.0% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +13.9 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 4 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 19.8% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 9.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 12% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Mason County ( -0.4 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Macon County sits in the upper national band (36.0%, #552 of 3,079) with 4 LILA tracts.

#552
national by low-access %
#17
in IL
17
low-access tracts
9K
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: 19.8% SNAP (92nd pct in IL) (+7.7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Macon County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Macon County's 36.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 82% of them and ranked #554 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Macon County's elevated USDA tier split

34 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 4 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Macon County, IL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 17 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 13 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 34 tracts evaluated. 17 tracts adequate (50.0%) 13 tracts limited (38.2%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (11.8%) Adequate 50% Limited 38% Severe 12% Food-access tier distribution: Macon County, IL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Macon County has 29 urban and 5 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.

Macon 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 Macon County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts34
Atlas Population (2010 basis)110,768
Low-Access Tracts17
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population39,867
Low-Access Share36.0%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population9,390

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Macon County
IndicatorValue
Population101,849
Median Household Income$62,666
Poverty Rate15.0%near the national average
SNAP Households8,595
SNAP Participation Rate19.8%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle9.5%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.0%

Thick SNAP store book in Macon County

Macon County has 114 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 59 locations (52% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 59

  • a1 food and liquor, decatur
  • billingsley's 66 elite wash west, decatur
  • bp decatur, decatur
  • bp one stop, decatur
  • casey's 2203, decatur
  • casey's 2825, maroa
  • casey's general store 1409, argenta
  • casey's general store 1760, blue mound
  • casey's general store 1766, decatur
  • casey's general store 1913, warrensburg
  • casey's general store 1939, decatur
  • casey's general store 2591, mt zion
  • casey's general store 3646, forsyth
  • circle k 45, forsyth
  • circle k 4700151, decatur
  • circle k 4701253, decatur
  • circle k 4701254, decatur
  • circle k 4701302, decatur
  • circle k 4701313, decatur
  • circle k 4701409, decatur
  • circle k 4701441, decatur
  • corner gas station,llc, decatur
  • decatur discount, decatur
  • famous mount zion, mt zion
  • grand discount food and tabacco, decatur
  • haymakers 724, decatur
  • hickory street mini mart, decatur
  • huck's 173, mt zion
  • huck's 287, decatur
  • jb's grocery & liquor, decatur
  • juniors discount, decatur
  • kps mart inc, decatur
  • lakeshore stop, decatur
  • love's travel stop 746, decatur
  • mlk store, decatur
  • macon petroleum, macon
  • melisty mart, oreana
  • monroe quick stop, decatur
  • niantic market, niantic
  • prairie pantry, decatur
  • price rite food and liquor, decatur
  • pilot travel center 368, decatur
  • pinoy asian mart and takeout, decatur
  • price rite food and liquor, decatur
  • quick grab mart, decatur
  • rapid stop discount llc, decatur
  • rays corner mart, decatur
  • sam mini mart, decatur
  • samma market, decatur
  • shell one stop 1, decatur
  • the perfect pair, warrensburg
  • thorntons 381, decatur
  • thorntons 382, decatur
  • tobacco shack, decatur
  • united discount, decatur
  • university liquor, decatur
  • walnut gas inc, decatur
  • wood plaza mart, decatur
  • wyckles fuel mart, decatur

Combination Grocery/Other · 33

  • cvs 4857, decatur
  • cvs pharmacy 8632, decatur
  • cvs pharmacy 8648, decatur
  • dollar general 0146, decatur
  • dollar general 2721, decatur
  • dollar general 4836, mt zion
  • dollar general 4887, decatur
  • dollar general 6327, macon
  • dollar general 6678, decatur
  • dollar general 14924, decatur
  • dollar general 14998, decatur
  • dollar general 15040, maroa
  • dollar general 15856, decatur
  • dollar general 16477, decatur
  • dollar general 2066, decatur
  • dollar general 21625, warrensburg
  • dollar general 21882, decatur
  • dollar general 22086, oreana
  • dollar general 22554, blue mound
  • dollar general 24539, mt zion
  • dollar general 30905, forsyth
  • dollar tree 2499, decatur
  • dollar tree 4806, decatur
  • dollar tree 563, forsyth
  • dollar tree 737, decatur
  • family dollar store 1201, decatur
  • family dollar store 1819, decatur
  • macon county rural king supply 37, decatur
  • walgreens 5545, decatur
  • walgreens 5719, decatur
  • walgreens 9792, decatur
  • walgreens 13921, decatur
  • walgreens 5388, decatur

Super Store · 9

  • county market express 341, decatur
  • kroger 922, decatur
  • kroger 946, decatur
  • kroger j-924, decatur
  • sam's club 6334, decatur
  • save-a-lot 45160, decatur
  • target store 1951, decatur
  • walmart supercenter 1690, decatur
  • walmart supercenter 2728, decatur

Small Grocery Store · 4

  • east side convenient market, decatur
  • homerun general stores inc, decatur
  • in -&- out, decatur
  • maffit mart inc, decatur

Supermarket · 3

  • aldi 68028 68028, decatur
  • aldi 68048 68048, decatur
  • save-a-lot 24088, decatur

Farmers' Market · 2

  • good samaritan inn's mercy market, decatur
  • richland farmers market, decatur

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • notorious meats, decatur
  • the house of meats, decatur

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphys pizza il050, decatur

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • tennessee meat inc, decatur

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 Macon County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →

Counties near Macon County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

SNAP-led peer set first for Macon County (19.8%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Illinois.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside IL (36.0% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside IL (19.8% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Macon County inside a higher low-access state context

Macon 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 Macon County, IL are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 17115. 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.