 |
| |
| Cobden,
Illinois |
 |
Cobden is located in Union County
along US Highway 51 near the Mississippi River.
The small village is nestled in the hills of the
Shawnee National Forest and surrounded by Illinois'
most wild and scenic attractions. The area within
and around Cobden produces some of Illinois' finest
fruit including apples, peaches, blueberries and
strawberries. These crops are harvested mainly through
the labor of migrant farmworkers who have been working
in this area for more than 50 years. |
|
| Nestled in the purple hills of the
Illinois Ozarks, Union County was at one time the bottom
of the Gulf of Mexico. Limestone caves and underground
streams honeycomb the area. Indian tribes used to mine
flint near Mill Creek. |
| Union County is part of the National
Trail of Tears that marks the tragic removal of the Cherokees
in 1838-39 to Oklahoma. |
| There are many bluffs and wilderness
areas scattered among the sprawling Shawnee National Forest
and state parks that are ideal for camping, hiking, horseback
riding, and numerous other outdoor activities. Wild game
species such as deer, squirrel, rabbit, fox, raccoon,
and turkey are hunted throughout the county. |
 The
Shawnee was designated in August 1933 as the Illini and
Shawnee Purchase Units. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
proclaimed the area as the Shawnee National Forest in
September 1939. The Forest consists of more than 268,400
acres and protects at least seven federally listed threatened
and endangered species listed as regionally sensitive,
and over 114 Forest-listed species of plants and animals.
There are 81 natural areas, including 10 Research Natural
Areas and a system of 338 miles of equestrian/hiking trails,
454 campsites at 16 designated campgrounds, and 27 designated
picnic areas. Recreation opportunities range from primitive
dispersed campsites and trails to developed campgrounds
with beaches and electricity. |
 |
|
|
|
