Saline River (Illinois)
Encyclopedia
The Saline River is a tributary
of the Ohio River
, approximately 27 miles (43.5 km) long, in the Southern Illinois region of the U.S. state
of Illinois
. The river drains a large section of southeast Illinois, with a drainage basin of 1762 square miles (4,564 km²). The major tributaries include the South Fork, Middle Fork and North Fork, all lying within the Saline Valley. The river was important among Native Americans
and early settlers as a source of salt from numerous salt springs
where it was commercially extracted in the early 19th century.
The last concessionaire of the Saline Springs was John Crenshaw, then owner of what became known as the Old Slave House.
During the colonial period the river had heavy barge traffic, it was navigable for keel
s and batteaux for 30 miles (48.3 km) inland from the mouth at the Ohio River
. The farthest point west still capable of accommodating flat boats and barges if necessary is the largest city on the river Harrisburg, Illinois
, but the river hasn't been used for navigation of any kind in almost a century. The starting of coal mining and milling in Saline County
heavily polluted and silted the river and it is now used primarily as an oversized drainage ditch with little interest by the locals besides flood control.
On June 18, 1888, an act declaring the Saline River navigable approved January 25, 1849, was repealed by the Illinois General Assembly
. The river was deemed "impractical" for navigation due to the "anxiousness" off County residents to build bridges across it.
of the South Fork and the Middle Fork east of Harrisburg
. The South Fork is 49.2 miles (79.2 km) long and rises in northern Johnson County within the Lake of Egypt
reservoir. The Middle Fork is 24.9 miles (40.1 km) long and rises in southwestern Hamilton County. The North Fork of the Saline River is 33.7 miles (54.2 km) long and joins the main stem east of Equality
, having risen in central Hamilton County southeast of McLeansboro
.
In 1995, stream quality was rated as "Fair" to "Good". Causes of pollution include inorganics, nutrients, siltation, organic enrichment (low dissolved oxygen) and other habitat alterations attributed to agricultural runoff, hydrologic/habitat modification and resource extraction. The North and Middle forks of the Saline River system have a degraded Indiana crayfish population due to threats to water quality from pollution, coal mining, oil extraction, siltation, stream channelization. and clearing.
The Saline River watershed is located in southern Illinois and flows in an easterly direction encompassing over 754942 acres (3,055.1 km²). The watershed covers land within Hamilton, White
, Franklin
, Williamson
, Gallatin
, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, and Saline
Counties. The mainly agricultural landscape has many small streams, creeks, and man-made lakes that flow into the Saline River which eventually enters the Ohio River
where it is 450 feet (137.2 m) wide. The Lake of Egypt
, an impoundment on the upper end of the South Fork Saline River, is the largest lake in the watershed, and covers 2300 acres (9.3 km²).
The population of the watershed is mostly rural, but there are many small cities and villages found throughout the area then passes through the eastern section of the Shawnee National Forest
. The largest population centers are the cities of Harrisburg (pop. 9,628), Eldorado (pop. 4,416), McLeansboro (pop. 2,945), and Carrier Mills (pop. 1,886). Agriculture, mining, and manufacturing are the major components of the regional economy. The cities of Equality
and Harrisburg, Illinois
were built on sandstone
bluffs
overlooking the Saline River Middle Fork Valley.
South Fork
Middle Fork
North Fork
The watershed includes all or part of the following counties:
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, approximately 27 miles (43.5 km) long, in the Southern Illinois region of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The river drains a large section of southeast Illinois, with a drainage basin of 1762 square miles (4,564 km²). The major tributaries include the South Fork, Middle Fork and North Fork, all lying within the Saline Valley. The river was important among Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and early settlers as a source of salt from numerous salt springs
Salt lick
A mineral lick is a natural mineral deposit where animals in nutrient-poor ecosystems can obtain essential mineral nutrients...
where it was commercially extracted in the early 19th century.
History
From 1807 to 1818 Illinois paid the United States Treasury $28,160.25. During the same time Ohio paid $240 and Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri paid nothing. One third of the State of Illinois revenue came from the salt industry coming from freed slaves working on the Saline River in 1818.The last concessionaire of the Saline Springs was John Crenshaw, then owner of what became known as the Old Slave House.
During the colonial period the river had heavy barge traffic, it was navigable for keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
s and batteaux for 30 miles (48.3 km) inland from the mouth at the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The farthest point west still capable of accommodating flat boats and barges if necessary is the largest city on the river Harrisburg, Illinois
Harrisburg, Illinois
Harrisburg is a city and township in Saline County, Illinois, United States. It is located about southwest of Evansville, Indiana, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The 2010 population was 9,017, with a township population of 10,790. It is the county seat of Saline County...
, but the river hasn't been used for navigation of any kind in almost a century. The starting of coal mining and milling in Saline County
Saline County, Illinois
Saline County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 24,913, which is a decrease of 6.8% from 26,733 in 2000. Its county seat is Harrisburg. Saline County is home to the smallest post office and the largest KFC in the United States....
heavily polluted and silted the river and it is now used primarily as an oversized drainage ditch with little interest by the locals besides flood control.
On June 18, 1888, an act declaring the Saline River navigable approved January 25, 1849, was repealed by the Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
. The river was deemed "impractical" for navigation due to the "anxiousness" off County residents to build bridges across it.
Watershed
The main stem of the Saline River is 26.9 miles (43.3 km) long and drains 1128300 acres (4,566.1 km²). The river is formed by the confluenceConfluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the South Fork and the Middle Fork east of Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Illinois
Harrisburg is a city and township in Saline County, Illinois, United States. It is located about southwest of Evansville, Indiana, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The 2010 population was 9,017, with a township population of 10,790. It is the county seat of Saline County...
. The South Fork is 49.2 miles (79.2 km) long and rises in northern Johnson County within the Lake of Egypt
Lake of Egypt
Lake of Egypt is a reservoir in the Little Egypt region of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located six miles south of Marion, Illinois and covers 2,300 acres with of shoreline. The lake has an average depth of with a maximum depth of...
reservoir. The Middle Fork is 24.9 miles (40.1 km) long and rises in southwestern Hamilton County. The North Fork of the Saline River is 33.7 miles (54.2 km) long and joins the main stem east of Equality
Equality, Illinois
Equality is a village in Gallatin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 721 at the 2000 census. Near the village are two points of interest, the Crenshaw House and the Garden of the Gods Wilderness.-History:...
, having risen in central Hamilton County southeast of McLeansboro
McLeansboro, Illinois
McLeansboro is a city in Hamilton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,883 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Hamilton County. Located in Southern Illinois, the town was named for Dr. William B. McLean, who donated the land for its founding...
.
In 1995, stream quality was rated as "Fair" to "Good". Causes of pollution include inorganics, nutrients, siltation, organic enrichment (low dissolved oxygen) and other habitat alterations attributed to agricultural runoff, hydrologic/habitat modification and resource extraction. The North and Middle forks of the Saline River system have a degraded Indiana crayfish population due to threats to water quality from pollution, coal mining, oil extraction, siltation, stream channelization. and clearing.
The Saline River watershed is located in southern Illinois and flows in an easterly direction encompassing over 754942 acres (3,055.1 km²). The watershed covers land within Hamilton, White
White County, Illinois
White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 14,665, which is a decrease of 4.6% from 15,371 in 2000...
, Franklin
Franklin County, Illinois
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 39,561, which is an increase of 1.4% from 39,018 in 2000. Its county seat is Benton.-History:...
, Williamson
Williamson County, Illinois
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Gallatin
Gallatin County, Illinois
Gallatin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 5,589, which is a decrease of 13.3% from 6,445 in 2000...
, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, and Saline
Saline County, Illinois
Saline County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 24,913, which is a decrease of 6.8% from 26,733 in 2000. Its county seat is Harrisburg. Saline County is home to the smallest post office and the largest KFC in the United States....
Counties. The mainly agricultural landscape has many small streams, creeks, and man-made lakes that flow into the Saline River which eventually enters the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
where it is 450 feet (137.2 m) wide. The Lake of Egypt
Lake of Egypt
Lake of Egypt is a reservoir in the Little Egypt region of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located six miles south of Marion, Illinois and covers 2,300 acres with of shoreline. The lake has an average depth of with a maximum depth of...
, an impoundment on the upper end of the South Fork Saline River, is the largest lake in the watershed, and covers 2300 acres (9.3 km²).
The population of the watershed is mostly rural, but there are many small cities and villages found throughout the area then passes through the eastern section of the Shawnee National Forest
Shawnee National Forest
The Shawnee National Forest, located in the Ozark and Shawnee Hills of Southern Illinois, consists of approximately 280,000 acres of federally managed lands. In descending order of land area it is located in parts of Pope, Jackson, Union, Hardin, Alexander, Saline, Gallatin, Johnson, and Massac...
. The largest population centers are the cities of Harrisburg (pop. 9,628), Eldorado (pop. 4,416), McLeansboro (pop. 2,945), and Carrier Mills (pop. 1,886). Agriculture, mining, and manufacturing are the major components of the regional economy. The cities of Equality
Equality, Illinois
Equality is a village in Gallatin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 721 at the 2000 census. Near the village are two points of interest, the Crenshaw House and the Garden of the Gods Wilderness.-History:...
and Harrisburg, Illinois
Harrisburg, Illinois
Harrisburg is a city and township in Saline County, Illinois, United States. It is located about southwest of Evansville, Indiana, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The 2010 population was 9,017, with a township population of 10,790. It is the county seat of Saline County...
were built on sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
bluffs
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
overlooking the Saline River Middle Fork Valley.
Cities and counties
The following cities and towns are drained by the Saline River:South Fork
- Carrier MillsCarrier Mills, IllinoisCarrier Mills, formerly Carriers Mills and Morrilsville, also known as Catskin, is a village in Saline County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,886 at the 2000 census. Carrier Mills was named after George Washington Carrier and his saw and grist mill, and was one of the early Cairo...
- GorevilleGoreville, IllinoisGoreville is a village in Johnson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 938 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Goreville is located at ....
- LakeviewLakeview, IllinoisLakeview is an unincorporated dominantly African American community in the Carrier Mills township, Saline County, Illinois, United States. Lakeview was originally called "The Pond Settlement" It was named after the Cypress swampland and wetlands that surrounds the area of Carrier Mills...
- StonefortStonefort, IllinoisStonefort is a village in Saline and Williamson counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 297 at the 2010 census. Stonefort school system merged with Carrier Mills, and is platted on the face of a bluff or Stonefort Bluff.-Geography:...
- New BurnsideNew Burnside, IllinoisNew Burnside is a village in Johnson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 242 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Burnside is located at ....
Middle Fork
- EldoradoEldorado, IllinoisEldorado is a city in Saline County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,122 at the 2010 census, with a 1925 peak of 8,000. Although the city's name is spelled as if it were Spanish, the name was originally "Elder-Reado" -- a combination of the last names of the town's two founders,...
- EqualityEquality, IllinoisEquality is a village in Gallatin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 721 at the 2000 census. Near the village are two points of interest, the Crenshaw House and the Garden of the Gods Wilderness.-History:...
- GalatiaGalatia, IllinoisGalatia is a village in Saline County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 933.-Geography:Galatia is located at ....
- HarrisburgHarrisburg, IllinoisHarrisburg is a city and township in Saline County, Illinois, United States. It is located about southwest of Evansville, Indiana, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The 2010 population was 9,017, with a township population of 10,790. It is the county seat of Saline County...
- RaleighRaleigh, IllinoisRaleigh is a village in Saline County, Illinois, United States. The population was 330 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Raleigh is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
North Fork
- McLeansboroMcLeansboro, IllinoisMcLeansboro is a city in Hamilton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,883 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Hamilton County. Located in Southern Illinois, the town was named for Dr. William B. McLean, who donated the land for its founding...
- Norris CityNorris City, IllinoisNorris City is a village in White County, Illinois. The population was 1,057 at the 2000 census.Norris City was incorporated in 1901.-Geography:Norris City is located at ....
The watershed includes all or part of the following counties:
- Franklin CountyFranklin County, IllinoisFranklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 39,561, which is an increase of 1.4% from 39,018 in 2000. Its county seat is Benton.-History:...
- Hardin County
- Johnson County
- Saline CountySaline County, IllinoisSaline County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 24,913, which is a decrease of 6.8% from 26,733 in 2000. Its county seat is Harrisburg. Saline County is home to the smallest post office and the largest KFC in the United States....
- White CountyWhite County, IllinoisWhite County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 14,665, which is a decrease of 4.6% from 15,371 in 2000...
- Hamilton County
- Williamson CountyWilliamson County, Illinois-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
- Gallatin CountyGallatin County, IllinoisGallatin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 5,589, which is a decrease of 13.3% from 6,445 in 2000...
- Pope County