Signature · 20.4% SNAP (95th pct in IL)
Wabash County, IL
Wabash County stands out on SNAP (20.4%, +8.3 pts vs U.S.) with 16.0% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 16.0%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 20.4%
- on SNAP
- 11K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Wabash County, IL
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-MODERATE 16.0% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -6.1 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-HEAVY 20.4% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 11.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 25% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Livingston County (+ 0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Wabash County ranks #2,029 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #69 of 102 counties in IL (16.0% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #2,029
- national by low-access %
- #69
- in IL
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 397
- food-desert residents
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).
Signature read: 20.4% SNAP (95th pct in IL) (+8.3 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Wabash County compares nationally
Wabash County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.0% low-access share that beats 35% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,030).
Wabash County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Wabash County has 3 urban and 1 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.
Wabash County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Illinois, not a full county-board reprint
- Scott
Scott 66.5%
66.5 % low-access
- Adams 16.5
Adams 16.5%
16.5 % low-access
- Livingston 16.2
Livingston 16.2%
16.2 % low-access
- Wabash 16
Wabash 16%
16 % low-access
- Montgomery 15.8
Montgomery 15.8%
15.8 % low-access
- Jasper 15.7
Jasper 15.7%
15.7 % low-access
- Putnam 0.1
Putnam 0.1%
0.1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 4 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 11,947 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,917 |
| Low-Access Share | 16.0%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 397 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 11,119 |
| Median Household Income | $57,086 |
| Poverty Rate | 16.7%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 966 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 20.4%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 11.0%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.8% |
SNAP retailers in Wabash County
Wabash County has 13 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 6 locations (46% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 6
- casey's general store 2293, mount carmel
- cj's fast stop, allendale
- fastbreak 3, mount carmel
- jumping jimmy 910, mount carmel
- mt. carmel super mart, mount carmel
- vinayaka inc, mount carmel
Combination Grocery/Other · 5
- cvs 6887, mount carmel
- dollar general 1109, mount carmel
- dollartree 8157, mount carmel
- dollar general 23816, mount carmel
- dollar general 30235, mount carmel
Farmers' Market · 1
- pete's produce, mount carmel
Super Store · 1
- buehlers buy low 440, mount carmel
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 Wabash County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →
Nationwide peers for Wabash County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Wabash County (20.4%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Illinois.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside IL (16.0% here).
- Warren County, KY · 16.0% low-access
- Warren County, KY · 16.0% low-access
- Newton County, MS · 16.0% low-access
- Newton County, MS · 16.0% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside IL (20.4% here).
- Thomas County, GA · 20.4% SNAP
- Thomas County, GA · 20.4% SNAP
- Pike County, KY · 20.4% SNAP
- Pike County, KY · 20.4% SNAP
Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.
Food access nationally, Illinois in context
Wabash 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 Wabash County, IL are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 17185. 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.