1996 Map of Carrier Mills

About this map

Strip mines and extensive reclaimed lands dominate this Southern Illinois landscape, revealing a region deeply shaped by the coal industry along the Bankston Fork and South Fork Saline River. The map documents the industrial footprint of the Sahara Mine No 7 and Sahara Mine No 5, including a prominent Conveyor system crossing the southern terrain. Amidst these large-scale operations, the rural social fabric of Saline Co is preserved through namesake institutions like Spring Grove Church, Providence Church, and the Dykersburg School. The area's genealogical record is well-represented by numerous family burial grounds, including the Jenny Ridge Cemetery and Henshaw Cemetery. While modern surface mining has altered much of the topography, original settlement patterns remain visible at Carrier Mills, Dykersburg, and Newcastle, as well as the northern fringes of the Shawnee National Forest.