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South Fork Township building 2026-06-21Photo: User:Visviva · CC BY-SA 4.0
≈ B−Health Grade
Health in South Fork Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, South Fork Township is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns

South Fork Township differs from Illinois on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 6 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 62558, 62568, 62531, 62546. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in South Fork Township

COPD, cancer and arthritis run high in South Fork Township

1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.2%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.2%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. Arthritis is also above the state: 28.9%, vs 24.2% across Illinois. In all, South Fork Township runs above Illinois on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Smoking is more common in South Fork Township

1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.4%), vs 12.1% across Illinois. Habits ↓

Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Illinois figure falls outside South Fork Township’s likely range; South Fork Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 62558, 62568, 62531, 62546, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind South Fork Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Fork Township is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 64% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 31%).

B−Self-rated health19.2% · IL 18.6% · U.S. 19.4%
B−Physical distress14.1% · IL 12.2% · U.S. 13%
C+Mental distress17.4% · IL 15.6% · U.S. 15.9%
CObesity38.6% · IL 34% · U.S. 32.9%
BDiabetes11.7% · IL 11.7% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking15.4% smoke · IL 12.1% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise23.6% · IL 23% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 49%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $57K–$95K (10,815)Healthier than 52%

Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). South Fork Township’s median household income is $76,354; among the 10,815 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.

Where South Fork Township compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 7.6% (U.S. 11%).

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, South Fork Township could be anywhere from C− to A−. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 62558,62568,62531,62546,62540,62570), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 South Fork Township adults…

South Fork Township runs above IL on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

8 of every 100 South Fork Township adults have COPD
Illinois: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 7–9.4%
Better than ILWorseAbout the sameIllinois
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois

Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.

Get no exercise 23.6%IL 23%
Sleep under 7 hours 35.4%IL 35.4%
Binge drink 18.6%IL 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 15.4%IL 12.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
South Fork Township, betterSouth Fork Township, worseAbout the sameIllinois
Where South Fork Township gets moving

3.1 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Getting care

Care in and near South Fork Township

No hospital or community health center in South Fork Township itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERTaylorville Memorial HospitalTaylorville · 8.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMemorial Medical Center★★★★★ · 19.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCentral Counties Health CentersTaylorville · 7.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.8 mi
Central Counties Health Centers
4 sites · nearest in Taylorville
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
8.6 mi
Taylorville Memorial Hospital
Taylorville · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
8.6 mi
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
4 sites · nearest in Taylorville
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
18.8 mi
St. Johns Hospital
Springfield · ★★★★★
ER
19.8 mi
Memorial Medical Center
Springfield · ★★★★★
ER
23.9 mi
Pana Community Hospital
Pana · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers South Fork Township itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers South Fork Township itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers South Fork Township itself

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of South Fork Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of South Fork Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.

78%Yearly checkupIL 78%
63%Dentist visitIL 63%
87%Cholesterol checkIL 87%
64%Colon screeningIL 60%
71%MammogramIL 74%
77%Taking BP medsIL 76%
1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
South Fork Township 7.6% · Illinois 1 in 10 (9.9%)
Mind & connection

How South Fork Township adults are doing

About the same as Illinois on each measure.

1 in 3South Fork Township adults feel lonely
33.3% · IL 33.5% · About the same as IL
1 in 4South Fork Township adults lack social or emotional support
24.2% · IL 25.4% · About the same as IL
1 in 4South Fork Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.7% · IL 19.8% · About the same as IL
1 in 6South Fork Township adults are in frequent mental distress
17.4% · IL 15.6% · About the same as IL
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 South Fork Township adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
South Fork Township adults worry about having enough food
13% · IL 15.9%
Better than IL
1 in 10
South Fork Township adults worry about keeping their housing
10.5% · IL 13.2%
Better than IL
1 in 15
South Fork Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.8% · IL 7.8%
About the same as IL
1 in 14
South Fork Township adults lack reliable transportation
7.1% · IL 8%
About the same as IL

12.6% of South Fork Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.

Around town

South Fork Township and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Taylorville Township: 38.2%Cotton Hill Township: 37.6%Buckhart Township: 37.6%Pawnee Township: 39.4%May Township: 38%Johnson Township: 37.6%Rochester Township: 35.8%Springfield: 41.1%Capital Township: 40.2%Mount Auburn Township: 37.8%Cooper Township: 36.9%Stonington Township: 37.4%Divernon Township: 39.6%Bois D'Arc Township: 37.6%South Fork Township: 38.6%South Fork TownshipTaylorville TownshipCotton Hill TownshipBuckhart TownshipPawnee TownshipTaylorville Memorial Hospital · Taylorville · 8.6 mi · 2★ MedicareHSt. Johns Hospital · Springfield · 18.8 mi · 2★ MedicareHMemorial Medical Center · Springfield · 19.8 mi · 3★ MedicareHCentral Counties Health Centers - Christian County · Taylorville · 7.8 mi+Siu Center for Family Medicine-Taylorville · Taylorville · 8.6 mi+
Healthier than ILNear ILLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#11 of 15 towns on this map, healthiest first
Cotton Hill Township37.6%
Buckhart Township37.6%
Taylorville Township38.2%
South Fork Township38.6%
Pawnee Township39.4%
IL34%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
South Fork TownshipB−38.6%11.7%15.4%ZIP codes
Taylorville Township————
Buckhart TownshipB−37.6%12.1%15.5%ZIP codes
Cotton Hill Township————
Pawnee Township————

Taylorville Township, Cotton Hill Township and Pawnee Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

30.9%

of South Fork Township adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs14.3%
Thinking or memory14%
Hearing7.6%
Errands alone8.4%
Vision4.7%
Dressing or bathing3.7%
Illinois

Every CDC estimate for South Fork Township

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Fork Township is better than Illinois on 3 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside South Fork Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…South Fork TownshipILU.S.vs IL
Overall health
Fair or poor health19.2%16.5–22.318.6%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)14.1%12.3–1612.2%13%Worse
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.4%15.4–19.715.6%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity38.6%31–46.834%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11.7%10.1–13.511.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure36.4%32.3–40.733%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)37%32.7–41.435.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis28.9%25.6–32.424.2%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.6%9.3–129.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.2%8.3–10.27.6%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7%6.2–7.95.9%6.4%Worse
COPD8.2%7–9.46.3%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.6%3.2–43.3%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)12.5%9.9–15.410.3%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.4%12.8–18.112.1%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work23.6%19.4–28.323%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18.6%15.5–22.217.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours35.4%28.6–42.735.4%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.6%6.1–9.39.9%11%Better
Checkup in the past year77.8%74.1–81.377.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year62.7%58.7–66.663.4%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.5%84.5–88.587.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)76.7%73.6–79.675.7%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)63.7%58.1–6960.2%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)70.8%61.6–78.873.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression22.7%19.3–26.419.8%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely33.3%28.3–38.633.5%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support24.2%20.4–2825.4%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food13%10.6–15.715.9%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing10.5%8.8–12.513.2%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.8%5.8–87.8%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.1%6–8.28%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)12.6%10.3–15.413.8%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability30.9%26.6–35.527.6%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.3%12.3–16.712.8%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14%12.1–1612.6%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7.6%6.7–8.66.2%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4.7%4.2–5.24.8%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.4%7.3–9.67.6%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.7%3.3–4.23.5%3.8%About the same

Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Illinois figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in South Fork Township

Is South Fork Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Fork Township is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 52%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in South Fork Township?

CDC estimates 38.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 31% and 46.8%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to South Fork Township?

Taylorville Memorial Hospital in Taylorville, 8.6 miles in a straight line from South Fork Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.

How many people in South Fork Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–9.3%), against 9.9% across Illinois.

How accurate are these numbers?

They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in South Fork Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South Fork Township.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Illinois figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.