2012 Map of Shields

About this map

Skillet Fork and its numerous tributaries, including Paddy Creek and Possum Cr, define the drainage of this southern Illinois landscape near the settlements of Shields and Stratton. The map reveals a high density of family and community burial grounds, such as Jacob Chapel Cem, McConnaughhay Cem, and the uniquely named Ten Post Oak Cem, providing a rich resource for genealogical research. The region's 20th-century economic history is marked by energy extraction, visible through the Orchardville Oil Field and Coil Oil Field. In addition to the river crossings like Garrison Bridge and Gettins Bridge, the presence of Greathouse Ford indicates long-established transit points across the often-winding waterways. Terrain features like Little Potatoe Hill rise above the alluvial plains, while Horseshoe Slough illustrates the natural shifts in the river's course over time.