County food-access profile · Illinois
St. Clair County, IL
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of St. Clair 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).
- 36.8%
- low-access pop.
- 20
- food-desert tracts
- 16.2%
- on SNAP
- 254K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
36.8% of St. Clair County residents live in a low-access area, and 20 of its 60 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 36
- low-access tracts
- 35K
- food-desert residents
- 7.5%
- households, no vehicle
- 13.6%
- 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 St. Clair County's low-access share at 36.8%, above the national share. 36 of the county's 60 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 99,253 people. 20 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 35,090 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 St. Clair County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, St. Clair County's 36.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 83% of them and ranked #526 most-affected nationwide.
St. Clair County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 60 census tracts in St. Clair County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
St. Clair County vs. other Illinois counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Illinois
- St. Clair
St. Clair County, IL
36.8 % low-access
- Adams 16.5
Adams County, IL
16.5 % low-access
- Alexander
Alexander County, IL
49.6 % low-access
- Bond
Bond County, IL
20.8 % low-access
- Boone
Boone County, IL
31.5 % low-access
- Brown
Brown County, IL
34.5 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 60 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 270,056 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 36 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 20 |
| Low-Access Population | 99,253 |
| Low-Access Share | 36.8%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 35,090 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 253,694 |
| Median Household Income | $73,854 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.6%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 16,293 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 16.2%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 7.5%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.9% |
About 16.2% of St. Clair County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 36.8% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 16.2% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 16,293 households here.
- 7.5% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 20 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 St. Clair County
above the national share
20 of St. Clair County's 60 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 33.3% of all its tracts.
A further 16 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 36.
An estimated 99,253 residents, roughly 36.8% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 35,090 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 24 tracts (40.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in St. Clair County
St. Clair County has 217 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 12 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 115 locations (53% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 115
- 1 in al, east saint louis
- 18th st market inc, east saint louis
- arena liquor and gas 607, belleville
- belleville moto mart 3102, belleville
- bp amoco gas mart, belleville
- bac motomart 3146, belleville
- belleville fish & chicken chicago style, belleville
- belleville one stop shop, belleville
- beltline wine & liquor, belleville
- bhagat's mart inc, east saint louis
- bp food shop, belleville
- bretts caytown convenience, caseyville
- c & h package liq st, east saint louis
- casey's 2045, millstadt
- cc food mart 15, o fallon
- cc food mart 2, lebanon
- cc food mart 3, o fallon
- cc food mart 7, new baden
- circle k 4701461, belleville
- crown mart, east saint louis
- cahokia motomart 3154, east saint louis
- cahokia one stop, east saint louis
- casey's general store 1689, smithton
- casey's general store 1986, marissa
- casey's general store 2094, freeburg
- casey's general store 2195, o fallon
- casey's general store 2227, lebanon
- casey's general store 2277, belleville
- casey's general store 2897, mascoutah
- casey's general store 3252, new athens
- circle k 4701343, o fallon
- circle k 4701344, fairview heights
- circle k 4701345, caseyville
- circle k 4701347, belleville
- circle k 4701348, o fallon
- circle k 4701353, belleville
- circle k 4701356, belleville
- circle k 4701361, belleville
- circle k 4701362, millstadt
- circle k 4701448, shiloh
- circle k 4701463, belleville
- circle k 4701590, belleville
- circle k 4701591, belleville
- circle k 4701593, belleville
- circle k 4701594, fairview heights
- circle k 4701595, o fallon
- circle k 4701598, belleville
- crown mart, east saint louis
- da village shop & go llc, east saint louis
- dandy moto 3141, fairview heights
- dave's quick shop, inc., east saint louis
- e & j market, east saint louis
- esl gas mart, east saint louis
- empyre convenience mart, east saint louis
- fairmont minimart 1, east saint louis
- fairview motomart 3109, fairview heights
- farm fresh, belleville
- flying j 642, east saint louis
- freeburg motomart 3111, freeburg
- fullerton moto 3140, belleville
- green mount motomart 3151, o fallon
- harsh food, east saint louis
- huck's 281, swansea
- huck's 310, dupo
- huck's 315, fairview heights
- huck's 326, caseyville
- hwy 50 motomart 3156, o fallon
- johnny's mart, east saint louis
- kings liquor 7, east saint louis
- kings mart, belleville
- knj liqour and lottery, dupo
- la tiendita mexican grocery store, fairmont city
- love's travel stop 583, new baden
- love's travel stop 758, sauget
- mm market corp, east saint louis
- mascoutah moto 3119, mascoutah
- max one stop, belleville
- mega super market 1, east saint louis
- midwest petroleum 31, belleville
- midwest petroleum 32, belleville
- midwest petroleum 33, belleville
- midwest petroleum 34, belleville
- midwest petroleum 35, belleville
- midwest petroleum 60, east saint louis
- moe 1 inc, east saint louis
- o'fallon motomart 3134, lebanon
- og super rainbow, east saint louis
- one stop liquor 1, east saint louis
- pilot travel center 313, east saint louis
- pop's food mart 1, belleville
- pops fish and chicken market, fairview heights
- pops' 6, washington park
- quick stop 0, mascoutah
- quick stop food shop inc, east saint louis
- quik stop 2, east carondelet
- r sax inc, mascoutah
- r&j liquor, belleville
- rte 203 food mart, fairmont city
- route 3 food & fuel, cahokia heights
- route 3 liquor inc, east saint louis
- swansea motomrt 3125, swansea
- sauget moto 3123, sauget
- savon liquor & wine 2, o fallon
- shell food mart-belleville, belleville
- shiloh spins & spirits, belleville
- six stars quick stop, inc., east saint louis
- speed trip fuel mart, inc., dupo
- st clair mart inc, east saint louis
- state street convenience mart, east saint louis
- stop n save llc, belleville
- store 1225, mascoutah
- swansea bp, belleville
- valens management inc, east saint louis
- william and sons mini mart, east saint louis
- wings and things market, fairview heights
Combination Grocery/Other · 56
- cvs 2713, o fallon
- cvs 6830, belleville
- dollar general 1071, belleville
- dollar general 1074, cahokia
- dollar general 1107, mascoutah
- dollar general 1115, o fallon
- dollar general 1387, lebanon
- dollar general 18242, belleville
- dollar general 2078, marissa
- dollar general 4583, belleville
- dollar general 6963, smithton
- dollar general 7256, freeburg
- dollartree 9447, freeburg
- dollar general 11796, dupo
- dollar general 11882, fairview heights
- dollar general 12409, millstadt
- dollar general 13035, caseyville
- dollar general 13183, east saint louis
- dollar general 13310, new athens
- dollar general 13887, fairview heights
- dollar general 14541, east saint louis
- dollar general 16112, belleville
- dollar general 17108, belleville
- dollar general 18107, saint libory
- dollar general 25066, caseyville
- dollar general 30578, belleville
- dollar general 30587, smithton
- dollar general 30736, mascoutah
- dollar general 864, belleville
- dollar tree 3301, fairview heights
- dollar tree 4311, east saint louis
- dollar tree 5409, belleville
- dollar tree 685, fairview heights
- dollar tree 7319, shiloh
- dollar tree 7330, swansea
- dollar tree 747, belleville
- dollar tree 767, belleville
- eckerts country store, belleville
- farmers market, belleville
- family dollar 11873, belleville
- family dollar 1635, east saint louis
- family dollar 2674, east saint louis
- family dollar store 3615, belleville
- family dollar store 4092, belleville
- family dollar store 7744, belleville
- la tapatia mexican grocery store, east saint louis
- walgreens 3907, swansea
- walgreens 4024, belleville
- walgreens 4599, o fallon
- walgreens 03136, cahokia
- walgreens 04602, east saint louis
- walgreens 04832, fairview heights
- walgreens 04865, belleville
- walgreens 07672, belleville
- walgreens 12303, belleville
- wings n things #1, o fallon
Super Store · 16
- dierbergs green mount 20, shiloh
- fresh thyme market 103fvh, fairview heights
- gateway 2, east saint louis
- ruler 277, fairview heights
- schnucks 148, cahokia
- schnucks belleville west 15, belleville
- schnucks fairview store 144, fairview heights
- schnucks swansea store 120, swansea
- sam's club 8285, o fallon
- schnucks 177, o fallon
- schnucks 205, belleville
- target store 1539, shiloh
- target store 2330, belleville
- target store 2414, fairview heights
- walmart 1418, o fallon
- walmart supercenter 201, belleville
Supermarket · 15
- aldi 41009 41009, swansea
- aldi 41013, fairview heights
- aldi 41014 41014, o fallon
- aldi 41033 41033, cahokia
- aldi 41065, belleville
- betty ann market, inc., mascoutah
- don's iga, lebanon
- freeburg country mart 2963, freeburg
- gordon food service store mp175, fairview heights
- millstadt iga, millstadt
- new baden market center, new baden
- save a lot 30220, belleville
- save a lot 61367, east saint louis
- save a lot 61371, belleville
- wenneman country store, saint libory
Small Grocery Store · 4
- la jerezana mexican market, fairview heights
- mi tierra bonita, east saint louis
- soul 1, fairview heights
- tq international grocery llc, fairview heights
Farmers' Market · 3
- fresh farmer's market, east saint louis
- royal persia garden, washington park
- vine street market, o fallon
Medium Grocery Store · 3
- farmer's market, belleville
- switzer foods outlet, belleville
- tienda el ranchito, fairmont city
Bakery Specialty · 1
- papa murphy' o'fallon il il031 il031, o fallon
Large Grocery Store · 1
- gateway supermarket, east saint louis
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1
- schubert's smokehouse and meat packing company, millstadt
Military Commissary · 1
- scott afb commissary 2626, scott afb
Seafood Specialty · 1
- maui seafood market, east saint louis
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Illinois
Compare St. Clair County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →
Food access nationally, Illinois in context
St. Clair County sits inside Illinois (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context
Understand the Data
Frequently Asked Questions
What share of St. Clair County has low food access? ▼
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What is the poverty rate in St. Clair County? ▼
Is St. Clair County a food desert? ▼
What share of St. Clair County households lack a vehicle? ▼
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.