2015 Map of Birds

About this map

Riddleville and Pinkstaff anchor this 2015 survey of the Illinois borderlands between Crawford and Lawrence counties. The landscape is defined by the wandering path of the Embarras River, including its distinctive Old Channel Embarras River, which creates a complex drainage system alongside Brushy Creek and Otter Pond Ditch. This area serves as a rich resource for genealogists, featuring an unusually high density of small family or community burial grounds including Nuttle Cem, Conover Cem, and Dollahan Cem. The grid of rural roads like Birds Ln and E Lawrence Ave connects these scattered landmarks, while the name Oil Grove suggests the region's historical industrial ties. Local history is etched into the landscape through the numerous named cemeteries and the small settlement of Birds, providing a detailed look at the rural heritage of these two counties.