Signature · 9.1% SNAP (10th pct in IL)

Pope County, IL

Pope County sits in the upper national band on low-access (29.1%, +7 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

29.1%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
9.1%
on SNAP
4K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IL

USDA FARA access plate

County Pope County, IL

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ELEVATED 29.1% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +7.0 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 9.1% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Iroquois County (+ 0.0 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Pope County sits in the upper national band (29.1%, #994 of 3,079).

#994
national by low-access %
#34
in IL
1
low-access tracts
479
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: 9.1% SNAP (10th pct in IL) (-3 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Pope County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Pope County's 29.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 68% of them and ranked #999 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Pope County's elevated USDA tier split

2 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Pope County, IL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 1 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 2 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts adequate (50.0%) 1 tracts limited (50.0%) Adequate 50% Limited 50% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Pope County, IL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Pope 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.

Pope 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 Pope County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts2
Atlas Population (2010 basis)4,470
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population1,301
Low-Access Share29.1%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population479

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Pope County
IndicatorValue
Population3,739
Median Household Income$60,050
Poverty Rate13.3%near the national average
SNAP Households126
SNAP Participation Rate9.1%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.5%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.0%

Slim SNAP store book in Pope County

Pope County has 3 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 1 locations (33% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 1

  • dollar general 15621, golconda

Convenience Store · 1

  • golconda gas n go, golconda

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • cornerstone grocery, golconda

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 Pope County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →

Pope County inside a higher low-access state context

Pope 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 Pope County, IL are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 17151. 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.