60 topographic sheets cover 16 settlements here, and 2 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
2 National Register listings published here · the county-history sources tell 1 story and name 4 people · people the book names include James Elliott (Jackson Precinct, 1900) (machine-read).
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
Among them: Capt. And Mrs. T.J, Moseley. These passages come from the identified county-history source books. Each inset names its own source and opens the exact section it comes from.
He was mustered into the service at Oamp Butler, aad soon after was sent to Cairo, 111., under command of General John A. McClernand. He participated in the battles of Belmont, Missouri; Paducah, Ky.; Port Henry, Tenn.; Fort Donaldson and Pittsburg Ijanding. Soon after the last named battle he was attacked with typhoid fever and was sent to the hospital in a dying condition, when all trace of him was lost.
Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
| Photograph | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Elijah P. Curtis House | building | 1978 | 78001172 |
 | Fort Massac Site | site | 1971 | 71000293 |
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 95 of them, burning about 239 acres. 2 started naturally and 2 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 53 |
| Debris and open burning | 29 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 7 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 2 |
| Natural | 2 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 1 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 March 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 75 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | CROCKETT |
| 20 September 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 12 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | WALQUIST |
| 6 March 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 10 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 1617 |
| 19 March 2010 | Debris and open burning | 8.0 acres | Shawnee National Forest | WESTVIEW |
| 23 August 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | BRAMER |
| 12 November 2010 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | HUNT |
| 7 July 2012 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | MORRIS |
| 6 August 2012 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | BUNTING |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 304 reports for this county, causing 5 deaths, 70 injuries and about $24,062,550 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 124 |
| Flood | 68 |
| Hail | 52 |
| Flash Flood | 19 |
| Tornado | 18 |
| Heavy Rain | 11 |
| Funnel Cloud | 6 |
| Lightning | 6 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2013 | Tornado (EF3) | Brookport | 3 killed, 33 hurt, $5,500,000 | The tornado crossed the Ohio River from McCracken County, Kentucky into Massac County, Illinois. Video of the tornado taken by a barge operator as it crossed the Ohio River indicated it was completely rain-wrapped. This long-track tornado attained its peak intensity as it came onshore into Brookport, a small community along the Ohio River. Peak winds here were estimated near 145 mph. About a half dozen mobile homes were obliterated. Dozens of mobile homes were destroyed, many of which were blown 100 feet or more. Three mobile home residents were killed. A 62-year-old woman died at a local hospital within hours of sustaining blunt force trauma injuries in the tornado. A 58-year-old woman died at her residence as a result of blunt force trauma injuries. A 56-year-old man also died of blunt force trauma injuries sustained at his residence. An exact injury count was unavailable, but local hospitals reported over two dozen injuries. The Metropolis hospital reported 15 victims were brought to the emergency room, with no patient admissions. Three patients were transferred to other hospitals by air or ambulance. Injuries ranged from cuts and scrapes to broken bones and head injuries. One home was leveled. Dozens of homes, garages, storage buildings, businesses, and other buildings were structurally damaged. Emergency management officials reported 233 residences were affected from Brookport east to the Pope County line. 130 of those homes were habitable with minor to moderate damage, 27 were uninhabitable, and 76 homes were destroyed. 184 were located in the city of Brookport, and 49 were outside the city limits. Several cars and a school bus were tossed around. Hundreds if not thousands of trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado caused some minor damage to guard rails on the Ohio River bridge that carries traffic from Paducah to Brookport on U.S. Highway 45. The tornado continued east along Unionville Road, eventually crossing into Pope County. The total path length of this tornado was 42 miles. The parent supercell tracked from southeast Missouri across the Mississippi River through the Paducah area, then east to the Kentucky Lake area of western Kentucky. |
| May 2003 | Tornado (F4) | Hillerman | 1 killed, 20 hurt, $10,000,000 | The tornado was near its maximum F-4 intensity as it crossed the Pulaski County line into western Massac County near the community of Hillerman. Estimated winds of 210 MPH disintegrated mobile homes and levelled several modern frame homes. One frame house was swept clean off its foundation, with only the roof left intact in a creek about 200 yards away. Many vehicles were lifted, rolled, or thrown up to 100 yards or more. Numerous cases of missiling were observed, including glass embedded in trees. Tree destruction in forested areas was nearly complete, and a few trees were debarked. The only fatality in Massac County was a 65-year-old female who was killed when her mobile home disintegrated. The official cause of death was blunt trauma to the head. She was found in a water-filled ravine about 100 yards from the former site of her mobile home. The frame of the mobile home was wrapped around the trunks of two trees that were stripped of all their limbs. Most of the levelled frame homes were concentrated on Boaz Road and Rolling Hills Road, in or near Hillerman. After passing through Hillerman, the tornado overturned dozens of railroad cars of a train just west of the Mermet Lake Conservation Area, which is off U.S. Route 45. The Mermet Lake Conservation Area was extensively damaged. An estimated 300 acres of forest were destroyed, boat docks were destroyed, and bathing facilities were destroyed. Dozens of waterfowl were found dead. After destroying additional residences and high tension power lines, the tornado crossed Interstate 24 near mile marker 28, about a mile south of the New Columbia exit. Tractor-trailer rigs and a tour bus were overturned on the interstate, injuring the drivers. The interstate was closed due to grain bins, tree limbs, and some building debris on the highway. Additional residences were destroyed between the interstate and the Pope County line. The tornado crossed into Pope County near where Illinois Route 145 crosses the county line. In Massac County, a total of 15 single-family houses and 13 mobile homes were destroyed. About 20 other single-family houses and 15 mobile homes received major damage. Several dozen other residences had some type of minor damage. Numerous vehicles and farming implements were destroyed, including combines. About 20 persons were injured in Massac County, but only one or two were hospitalized in serious or critical condition. Most of the injuries involved lacerations, bruises, broken bones, and internal injuries. Near Hillerman, a deputy sheriff escaped unhurt after his patrol car was thrown about 50 yards and struck by a flying tree and telephone pole. |
| May 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 1 killed | no account filed |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | 5 hurt, $250,000 | Numerous trees were downed across roads, houses, cars, and power lines. Some roads were blocked. Two people sustained bumps and bruises at an outdoor festival in Metropolis when a large tent was blown away. Winds estimated between 70 and 80 mph across much of the county downed power poles, power lines, and trees. Just northeast of Metropolis, a barn roof was blown off, and the doors were blown in. An historic gazebo in Fort Washington Park was destroyed. Shingles were ripped off buildings and awnings were blown off in Metropolis. Sheet metal roofs were blown off sheds near Metropolis. At the Massac County High School, a building under construction was destroyed, and the football scoreboard was blown over. Power was out 22 to 24 hours in parts of the county. At the outdoor festival in Metropolis, mobile homes were blown off blocks, tents were blown away, and a carnival ride was damaged. About 15 vendors lost all their merchandise being sold from tents. Two miles north of Metropolis, a tree fell on a passing car, and three people were taken to a local hospital. |
| September 2006 | Tornado (F3) | Metropolis Muni Arpt | 2 hurt, $500,000 | This tornado, which contained peak winds near 160 MPH, struck between Joppa and the Metropolis airport. The damage path started about a mile from the Ohio River, where F-1 winds uprooted numerous trees. As the tornado crossed U.S. Highway 45 near Joppa Road, a barn was destroyed. The tornado then strengthened to F-3 intensity, destroying a log home. The roof and an exterior wall of the well-constructed log home were blown about one-half mile. Another house nearby sustained major damage. Four mobile homes were destroyed, along with garages and outbuildings. Part of a double wide mobile home blew into a church sanctuary. Six vehicles were tossed up to 100 yards. At least one of the vehicles landed in a pond. The only two persons injured were residents of a destroyed mobile home. The worst of the injuries was a broken arm. Hundreds of trees were broken or uprooted, and numerous trees fell on cars. Numerous power poles were downed. A seriously injured dog was found in a ditch one quarter mile away. The most intense damage, where vehicles were tossed, occurred about two-thirds of the way along the damage path near Red Oak Road. The tornado was witnessed by the general public. The average path width was 100 yards. |
| July 2016 | Tornado (EF1) | Metropolis | 2 hurt, $350,000 | A funnel cloud crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky, then touched down on the southwest edge of Metropolis a few blocks from the Ohio River. The most significant damage occurred along a residential street next to the city's elementary school. The school had window and roofing damage. The primary school received more serious structural damage, likely in excess of 100,000 dollars. Nearby homes sustained roof damage, and numerous large trees were uprooted or snapped. Power poles were down. The city fire department responded to six fire calls and three medical calls directly related to the storm. A tree fell on a car, resulting in minor injuries to the driver. On the east edge of Metropolis, the tornado ripped the roof off of a maintenance shed. The tornado moved through Fort Massac State Park and exited the park on U.S. Highway 45 just west of Interstate 24. A motel just west of the interstate sustained minor to moderate roof damage. The path ended near the intersection of Highway 45 and I-24. A photograph was taken of the funnel cloud over Metropolis, but the bottom part of the funnel was behind trees and buildings. Widespread power outages lasted for at least 12 hours. Peak winds were estimated near 105 mph. |
| May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Joppa | 2 hurt, $100,000 | no account filed |
| June 2011 | Lightning | New Columbia | 2 hurt | Lightning struck a moving motorcycle on Interstate 24 near exit 27. The motorcycle crashed in the median. The two people on the motorcycle were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. |
| July 2007 | Lightning | Metropolis | 2 hurt | Two persons were injured when lightning struck as they baled hay. The first person was hooking up a tractor to another piece of equipment when the lightning struck, causing burns on the arm. A second person standing further away was knocked unconscious. Neither person was critically injured. |
| January 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | 1 hurt, $40,000 | A mobile home was overturned, injuring an elderly female inside. The victim was trapped inside her home for about 20 minutes until fire officials cut an opening to reach her. She was treated and released from a local hospital with bruises and scratches. The trailer was tied down with anchors. In addition, a shed and home in the nearby area sustained damage. Numerous trees were down. The damage path appeared to cross Interstate 24 midway between Metropolis and Round Knob. |
| April 1999 | Tornado (F0) | Metropolis | 1 hurt, $10,000 | A weak tornado briefly touched down in the vicinity of U.S. 45 between Joppa and Metropolis. The tornado occurred just outside of a coal terminal. A 9-by-9 foot guard shack on the coal terminal property was destroyed when the roof was blown off followed by the walls collapsing. A guard inside the shack was treated at a hospital for cuts caused by flying glass. A house across the street had very minor structural damage on its east side, with debris blown from the north to the west side of the house. The tornado was likely at tree-top level. A coal terminal worker reported seeing a "funnel." This tornado was associated with a severe thunderstorm complex that originated over the Mississippi River counties of western Kentucky and moved northeast. |
| May 2011 | Flood | Brookport | $2,000,000 | Major flooding continued on the Ohio River from April. At the Brookport river gage, the flood crest of 57.00 feet on the night of May 5 was about 3.5 feet higher than the 1997 flood. This was still several feet lower than the record crest set in 1937. The activation of the New Madrid Floodway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spared Massac County from an even higher crest that would have inundated even larger areas of Metropolis. With the detonation of the Mississippi River levee at Birds Point, Missouri, the Ohio River stopped rising or rose much more slowly at the Brookport gage. A voluntary evacuation of the city of Brookport was requested due to potential problems with its levees. Most residents east of downtown Metropolis living between U.S. Highway 45 and the river were forced to evacuate as their homes flooded. Some dwellings on the other side of Route 45 were flooded. Several businesses along U.S. Highway 45, mostly car dealerships and restaurants, were forced to close as water crept across the highway near Fort Massac State Park. The highway remained open but reduced to two lanes. A massive sandbagging operation was conducted to attempt to protect many homes and businesses along U.S. 45 from Interstate 24 to the downtown area of Metropolis, as well as Joppa. A couple of nursing homes were evacuated. Schools were closed. Shelters were opened for those who were displaced. A hotel-casino along the Metropolis riverfront was closed for over a month. |
| February 2019 | Flood | Joppa | $750,000 | A prolonged major river flood affected at least 50 homes in Metropolis. At Paducah, across the river from Metropolis, the Ohio River crested at 53.27 feet on the 25th. This was tied with the 1950 flood for the second worst flood since the Flood of 1937. Since 1937, only the flood crest of 2011 was higher. The flood crest reached 60.60 feet in the winter of 1937. Metropolis is not protected by a levee or flood wall, so river floodwater impacted the city directly. Heavy rainfall events combined with backwater from the Ohio River caused widespread flooding along the eastern limits of Metropolis. Numerous roads were closed around the county. In the city of Metropolis, portions of 27 city streets were closed. The governor of Illinois toured the flooded area. The riverboat casino in Metropolis was closed for an extended period of time. Outside the city limits, 17 to 20 additional homes were affected in the county. About six of those homes were flooded. At least three water rescues were conducted. The Red Cross opened a shelter in Brookport. Floodgates were installed around Brookport, blocking access to the city from the east. |
| March 2008 | Flood | Big Bay | $500,000 | A few basements were flooded in Metropolis. Street flooding occurred in Metropolis. Several roads were closed. U.S. Highway 45 was covered with water in several areas. Thousands of acres of farmland were flooded. Some roads were damaged. |
| April 2011 | Tornado (EF1) | Choat | $450,000 | The tornado began along the Ohio River, where power poles were damaged at a barge-loading facility. Further east along the track, the roof was blown off a trailer, and some roof and utility pole damage occurred at an industrial complex. Portable buildings were destroyed and a trailer was overturned just east of the industrial complex. On the north end of Metropolis, several trees were blown down. There was tree damage to at least one garage, two homes, and two vehicles. There was minor roof damage to two other homes. Several utility poles were snapped. Near Interstate 24, part of the metal roof was torn off a large building in an industrial park. One trailer was overturned. One barn was heavily damaged. Peak winds were estimated near 110 mph. The average path width was 225 yards. |
| March 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $400,000 | Numerous trees were blown down and widespread minor roof damage occurred, mainly in the southern part of the county. Between Metropolis and Brookport, a large metal shed was blown apart, and a tree landed on a house. The house roof sustained minor to moderate damage. In Metropolis, a window was blown out of a downtown museum. A portion of the roof was blown off a Metropolis city business, and a shed was destroyed. There were numerous reports of downed tree limbs on Metropolis city streets and some county roads. The west part of Metropolis was without power. One tree fell onto a house in Brookport. The house was heavily damaged, and the family was displaced. A mobile home was partially unroofed in Brookport. |
| November 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $250,000 | A microburst with wind speeds of 60-70 mph damaged a one-block area at 4th and Ferry Streets in downtown Metropolis. One brick wall of a large commercial structure crumbled, and the roof was damaged. The structure, which was built in 1867, was damaged beyond repair and torn down. An adjacent store suffered roof damage. A building across the street received some roof damage, and a window was blown out. A nearby church received roof damage. A carport was blown into a church. |
| July 2023 | Flash Flood | Round Knob | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis Muni Arpt | $200,000 | Approximately two dozen homes received minor damage. Shingles were torn off, and there was some damage to eaves. Windows and walls from a bath house were blown out and moved three feet. A metal storage trailer was separated from the foundation and moved 50 to 70 feet. One storage trailer was rolled on its side. Several sheds and barns were damaged or destroyed. Several trees were uprooted or snapped. The majority of the damage was observed within the first mile of the damage path. The path width of this microburst was about one-half mile. |
| March 2011 | Flood | Brookport | $200,000 | no account filed |
| May 2011 | Tornado (EF2) | Hillerman | $150,000 | The tornado gained strength after crossing into Massac County from Pulaski County. North of the Mermet Lake Conservation Area, the tornado reached peak intensity. A barn was destroyed, and debris was thrown several hundred yards. Two grain bins were destroyed, including one that was thrown over 265 yards. Other small outbuildings were destroyed. There was minor to moderate damage to four homes from falling trees and strong winds. As the tornado moved northeast, it damaged a house near the Massac/Johnson County line. The back porch was ripped off. Trees were snapped and thrown into a vehicle and garage. There was roof, siding, soffit, and shutter damage to the home as well. In a nearby field, an irrigation system was overturned. The tornado funnel was photographed from a residence near Round Knob. Peak winds were estimated near 115 mph. The average path width was 300 yards. The tornado continued northeast into Johnson County. |
| April 2018 | Tornado (EF1) | Metropolis Muni Arpt | $130,000 | This tornado touched down just half a mile southwest of the Metropolis airport, then moved east along the northern city limit of Metropolis. Numerous buildings sustained shingle damage. Large tree limbs were blown down, and Bradford pear trees were snapped. A grain bin was destroyed. At the end of the damage track, most of the metal roof was blown off a barn. This location is where the tornado reached its peak intensity, which was estimated near 90 mph. The tornado lifted only about a mile before reaching the Pope County line in national forestland. |
| March 2018 | Flood | Brookport | $100,000 | Moderate flooding continued on the Ohio River from late February. At the Brookport river gage, the river crested at 52.8 feet on the 2nd. Flood stage there is 37 feet. This flood crest was less than a foot below the March, 1997 flood. Isolated evacuations of some lowland residents were conducted. In the city of Metropolis, several streets were closed, a few residences were evacuated, and a casino riverboat was closed for a week or more. The closure of the casino had a significant impact on the local economy. Flooding of the casino's parking lot and entrance prompted the closure. There was little property damage to the casino itself. Some riverside parks were flooded, including large parts of Fort Massac State Park. |
| January 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mermet | $100,000 | In Metropolis, some roofing was blown onto streets. Boats on trailers were overturned. In the Mermet area, windows were blown out of a house. Shingles were blown off houses. In and around Brookport, metal sheds were blown into trees. Two mobile homes were flipped over. At least three other mobile homes were damaged. Widespread tree damage occurred countywide. |
| April 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | New Columbia | $100,000 | An spotter estimated a wind gust to 70 MPH occurred on Interstate 24, about one mile south of the Johnson County line. Highway construction signs were blown down. Extensive damage occurred at a nearby farm, where damage was estimated around a quarter million dollars. |
| May 2003 | Tornado (F2) | Metropolis | $80,000 | The roofs of several houses were severely damaged or blown off. One business was destroyed. Several barns and outbuildings were destroyed. Numerous large trees were blown down, along with seven power poles. Peak winds were estimated near 125 MPH. The damage path began due north of Metropolis and crossed Illinois Route 145 about 7 miles north-northeast of Metropolis. Route 145 and several smaller roads were closed due to large trees blown across them. This damage was located in nearly the exact location where damaging thunderstorm winds occurred about 48 hours earlier, on the evening of May 4. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | New Columbia | $70,000 | Widespread damaging winds occurred across the county. Numerous trees and power lines were down. The roof was lifted off a business in Metropolis. Trees landed on some structures, including a carport near Brookport, a trailer near Round Knob, and a house in Metropolis. |
| January 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $70,000 | The rubber roof was lifted from the county courthouse. The roof was partially removed from a second structure. Power lines were blown down. A large awning was blown off, and two plate glass windows were blown out in the downtown area. A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 68 mph. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $60,000 | In Metropolis, large tree limbs were blown down. A metal carport was blown over. A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 60 mph on the Interstate 24 bridge over the Ohio River. The most concentrated area of damage appeared to be on the north side of Metropolis, where numerous large limbs were down, some whole trees were uprooted, and sections of a large fence were blown down. On Interstate 24 at the Metropolis exit, a tractor-trailer rig hauling half of a mobile office was blown off the road. The half of the mobile office was destroyed. |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Boaz | $50,000 | A swath of damaging winds crossed northern and central Massac County. Wind speeds estimated up to 80 mph broke utility poles, snapped numerous trees, and blew down a barn. On the western side of the county, power poles were snapped near the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 12. On the eastern side of the county, a barn was blown down east of Highway 145 near County Road 2. Some of the most concentrated damage was in the New Columbia area, where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Shingles were blown off a house on the northwest side of New Columbia. Large tree limbs were blown down on U.S. Highway 45 north of Mermet. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $50,000 | A severe storm crossed the Ohio River from Paducah, Kentucky. Numerous large tree limbs were blown down in Metropolis, from near Fort Massac State Park to a few miles north of Metropolis. The top of a pine tree fell onto a car. A few trees were uprooted. The damage path appeared to be several miles wide. One residence had shingles blown off the house. |
| August 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Joppa | $50,000 | Numerous large trees were blown down. The most concentrated damage was between Joppa and U.S. Route 45 along County Road 900N. Snapped trees were up to two feet in diameter. |
| February 2012 | Tornado (EF2) | Metropolis Muni Arpt | $50,000 | The tornado crossed the Ohio River from McCracken County, Kentucky. The tornado crossed U.S. Highway 45 before it lifted near the airport. Trees were uprooted and snapped. Barns and sheds were damaged or destroyed. The average path width was 125 yards. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. |
| February 2011 | Heavy Rain | Metropolis | $50,000 | Viaducts were flooded along three streets in Metropolis, and one of them was impassable. A partially underground home near Joppa gave way to floodwaters and was deemed a total loss. A spotter near Round Knob measured over 4 inches, most of which fell in the previous twelve hours. |
| March 2006 | Tornado (F0) | Boaz | $50,000 | The continuous path of damage that began near Ullin in Pulaski County became tornadic as it crossed into Massac County. The damage path extended only about a mile into extreme northwest Massac County. The damage ended near State Route 169 at Boaz Road. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted. Two barns were destroyed, and a side wall of a third barn was blown out. Power poles were snapped or blown down along Highway 169. A mobile home near Boaz was unroofed and severely damaged. A citizen reported seeing the tornado. Peak winds were estimated near 70 MPH. |
| April 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Round Knob | $50,000 | A thunderstorm downburst with winds estimated near 100 MPH damaged roofs and metal barns. Scattered trees were down, along with some power lines. Most of the homes in the path of the downburst sustained only minor roof damage. The most severely damaged house had its roof peeled back and thrown 200 yards into a field. The path of the microburst was about 1 mile wide and at least 2.5 miles long. |
| March 1997 | Flash Flood | Metropolis | $50,000 | no account filed |
| August 2023 | Lightning | Midway | $40,000 | A lightning strike started a fire at a church. |
| March 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Round Knob | $40,000 | Near Round Knob, a large section of shingles was removed from a home. Trees and power poles were down in the Unionville area. |
| July 2015 | Lightning | New Columbia | $40,000 | A lightning strike started a house fire that caused major damage. |
| June 2012 | Lightning | Metropolis | $40,000 | Lightning struck the Metropolis Police Department, causing extensive damage to radio equipment and other electronics. |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis Muni Arpt | $40,000 | This microburst was only about 0.3 miles long and 0.3 miles wide. A couple of large trees were uprooted. Five houses had roof damage, mainly to shingles. Tin on roofs of outbuildings curled up. One garage sustained minor roof and siding damage. |
| January 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Brookport | $40,000 | no account filed |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Brookport | $35,000 | A mobile home was destroyed a few miles north of Brookport. The occupants escaped safely. Numerous trees were blown down east of Brookport, resulting in some impassable roads. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Round Knob | $30,000 | A church under construction was blown down. Most of the framing had been erected. |
| October 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $30,000 | A large tree fell against a house, severely damaging trusses separating the front wall of the house from the side wall. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $30,000 | In Metropolis, a window was blown out of a house. Power lines and tree limbs were blown down. An awning was torn off a cafe, and there was siding and gutter damage to houses. A large tree was down across a main street just north of town. |
| May 2011 | Flood | Big Bay | $30,000 | no account filed |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Joppa | $25,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were down. The majority of the damage was along the northern city limits of Metropolis, from the airport area eastward. Some roads were blocked by the damage. A tree and power line were down over the road near Joppa. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis Muni Arpt | $25,000 | A few miles north of Metropolis, a church steeple was blown off. The steeple was about three to four feet at the base and twelve feet in height. A trained spotter estimated 70 mph wind gusts in Metropolis. A house roof was damaged in Metropolis. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $25,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Shingles were blown off a number of homes. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $20,000 | A semi was blown over on the Interstate 24 bridge over the Ohio River. Near Brookport, at least a half-dozen trees were snapped along the Ohio River. |
| May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $20,000 | Numerous large trees were blown down. Four telephone poles were broken. Minor damage occurred to less than a dozen homes. Nearly the exact same locations were struck by a considerably more destructive tornado about 48 hours later, on May 6. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Metropolis | $20,000 | A tree 2 to 3 feet in diameter fell on a house. Two trailers were damaged by wind. |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $20,000 | no account filed |
| July 2025 | Lightning | Round Knob | $15,000 | Lightning struck a barn on Mermet Rd, which resulted in a fire that fully engulfed the barn and burned it down. |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | New Columbia | $15,000 | A home had roughly 40% of roof shingles blown off as a thunderstorm moved through. |
| January 2023 | Tornado (EF0) | Hillerman | $15,000 | A weakening tornado crossed the Ohio River from McCracken County, Kentucky. About 50 percent of the metal roofing of a barn was blown off. A carport was destroyed. A shed was heavily damaged. There was shutter and siding damage to a home. Some trees were damaged. The tornado dissipated near the small community of Hillerman. |
| July 2020 | Tornado (EF0) | Metropolis Muni Arpt | $15,000 | A very small tornado caused some minor damage at a country club on the northeast edge of Metropolis. The entire event was captured on video. The narrow funnel appeared to develop from the ground upward. The funnel briefly came in contact with the cloud base before it dissipated. There was no apparent large-scale parent mesocyclone. At the country club, tree limbs and a medium sized tree were blown over. A wood fence surrounding a port-a-potty was blown over, and another port-a-potty was blown over. Nobody was occupying the port-a-potty at the time of the tornado. Peak winds were estimated at 65 to 75 mph based on damage photos. |
| January 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Unionville | $15,000 | At Hohman Lake, trees and power lines were blown down. A johnboat sank. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 11 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 10 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 5 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 4 |
| Fire Clay (Refractory) | 1 |
| Calcium | 1 |
| Stone | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joppa Cement Plant | Calcium | Producer | ||
| Massac County Pit | Stone, Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Shawnee Medium Interest Refractory Clay Deposit | Fire Clay (Refractory) | Occurrence | Sedimentary | |
| Limestone Prospect | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Occurrence | ||
| Limestone Prospect | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Occurrence | ||
| Mermet Quarry No. 10 | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unnamed Limestone Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Anderson Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Delta Materials, Inc. Dredge | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Federal Sand & Gravel Dredge | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Metropolis Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
History of Massac County, Illinois; with Life Sketches and Portraits devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. The one chapter is reproduced here in full. Each row shows the township's own shape and where it lies in the county, drawn from the Census Bureau's boundary. Which settlements belong to which township is computed from that same boundary, not taken from the book.
| Shape and position in the county | Township | Settlements in it | Length | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Precinct | Shady Grove, Unionville | 4,381 words | 15 |
One book written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 15 chapters in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1: Preliminary Events | 599 words |
| Chapter 2: Fort Massac and Concurrent Events | 6,710 words |
| Chapter 3: Fort Massac | 1,570 words |
| Chapter 4: Physical Geography | 1,823 words |
| Chapter 6: Political History | 3,023 words |
| Chapter 7: County Organization | 3,404 words |
| Chapter with an unread heading (no. 7 of those read) | 2,190 words |
| Chapter 9: Massac County Bar | 1,825 words |
| Chapter 10: Regulators and Flatheads | 1,379 words |
| Chapter 12: Secret Orders | 1,782 words |
| Chapter 13: Medicine | 873 words |
| Chapter 14: Items of Interest | 1,290 words |
| Chapter 17: Religious History | 8,025 words |
| Chapter 18: Metropolis Chy | 2,754 words |
| Chapter 19: Pope County Historical Reminiscences | 54,164 words in 4 parts |
Everyone History of Massac County, Illinois; with Life Sketches and Portraits stops to write about, with the section that describes them. Among them are the men who founded the place and governed the Territory. Each name opens the passage itself, in the words of 1900.
Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
East Brooklyn precinct · 62910 · On Mud Creek · Paducah West quadrangle
22 sheets, 1926 to 1987
Metropolis No. 4 precinct · 62960 · On Massac Creek · Metropolis quadrangle
23 sheets, 1926 to 1996
Metropolis No. 2 precinct · 62960 · On Mud Creek · Metropolis quadrangle
23 sheets, 1926 to 1996
Georges Creek precinct · 62943 · By New Columbia Bluffs · Mermet quadrangle
17 sheets, 1918 to 1987
Jackson precinct · 62910 · On Crenshaw Creek · Paducah East quadrangle
24 sheets, 1926 to 1987
Jackson precinct · 62910 · On Crenshaw Creek · Paducah East quadrangle
24 sheets, 1926 to 1987
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