Here's an interactive map, from Moody Analytics, documenting the economic and recovery status of each state, and each major town with statistics
Shows the recovery is slow, but definitely doing well and improving.
Recovery Status Map - Tracking the business cycle across U.S. states and metropolitan areas.
http://www.economy.com/dismal/us-map/default.aspx
Having food stamps use high, when unemployment is high, isn't any great surprise. It shows we're helping people and keeping them from starving. That's a good thing. Not a bad thing.