Signature · 13.4% low-access (28th pct)

Menard County, IL

Menard County lands in the lower national band on low-access (13.4%); supermarket distance is less binding than in the upper band, though local tracts can still diverge.

13.4%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
14.5%
on SNAP
12K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IL

USDA FARA access plate

County Menard County, IL

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-MODERATE 13.4% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -8.7 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 14.5% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Marshall County ( -0.2 pts)

Lower-band low-access

Menard County lands in the lower national band (13.4%, #2,246 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,246
national by low-access %
#78
in IL
1
low-access tracts
272
food-desert residents

Lower-band county means still leave tract outliers on the table below.

Signature read: 13.4% low-access (28th pct) (-8.7 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Menard County compares nationally

Menard County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 13.4% low-access share that beats 28% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,249).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Menard County's lower-band USDA tier split

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Menard County, IL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (66.7%) 1 tracts limited (33.3%) Adequate 67% Limited 33% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Menard County, IL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Menard County has 1 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.

Menard County vs nearby low 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 · lower low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Menard County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)12,705
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population1,699
Low-Access Share13.4%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population272

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Menard County
IndicatorValue
Population12,095
Median Household Income$82,176
Poverty Rate10.1%below the national average
SNAP Households759
SNAP Participation Rate14.5%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.5%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.9%

SNAP retailers in Menard County

Menard County has 8 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 4 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 4

  • ayerco convenience center 8, petersburg
  • casey's general store 1716, athens
  • casey's general store 2333, petersburg
  • casey's general store 2617, greenview

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollar general 12057, athens
  • dollar general 21349, greenview
  • dollar general 2275, petersburg

Super Store · 1

  • county market 239, petersburg

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 Menard County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →

Counties near Menard County's lower low-access or SNAP band

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Menard County, both outside Illinois so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside IL (13.4% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside IL (14.5% 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.

Menard County inside a lower low-access state context

Menard 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 Menard County, IL are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 17129. 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.