BlockFrom the record
5 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
Williamson County, Illinois
83 topographic sheets cover 67 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 1,271 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings and 1 district.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 67 populated places in this county; 67 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
5Every 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Willis Allen House | building | 1982 | 82002606 |
 | Goddard Chapel | building | 1986 | 86003157 |
 | Marion Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District | district | 2013 | 12001146 |
 | Ed. M. Stotlar House | building | 2002 | 02001354 |
 | Williamson County Jail | building | 2007 | 07000476 |
Wildfire, 1992 to 2020
224 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 224 of them, burning about 926 acres. 4 started naturally and 20 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 118 |
| Smoking | 32 |
| Debris and open burning | 26 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 20 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 11 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 8 |
| Other causes | 4 |
| Natural | 4 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 September 2019 | Debris and open burning | 97 acres | Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge | MONROE |
| 11 November 2005 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 73 acres | Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge | BALD EAGLE |
| 21 September 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 60 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 10206 |
| 26 February 1995 | Smoking | 51 acres | Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge | GRASSYPT#1 |
| 23 September 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 50 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 10208 |
| 26 February 1998 | Arson/incendiarism | 44 acres | Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge | PROPELLERN |
| 13 February 1996 | Debris and open burning | 40 acres | Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge | NORTHPASTR |
| 11 November 2005 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 33 acres | Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge | BROKEN HANDLE |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
Storms, 1957 to 2025
60 of 378 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 378 reports for this county, causing 11 deaths, 215 injuries and about $495,654,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 140 |
| Hail | 120 |
| Flash Flood | 40 |
| Flood | 23 |
| Tornado | 22 |
| Heavy Rain | 20 |
| Funnel Cloud | 10 |
| Lightning | 3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1982 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | 10 killed, 181 hurt, $250,000,000 | no account filed |
| August 2000 | Flood | Marion | 1 killed | Very heavy rain from a slow-moving thunderstorm caused streets to flood and ditches to run full. A 9-year-old boy attempting to retrieve an object from a culvert was swept into it by rushing water. He later died at a hospital in St. Louis. |
| November 1991 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 16 hurt, $25,000,000 | no account filed |
| December 1957 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | 10 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 2025 | Tornado (EF4) | Wolf Creek | 7 hurt, $25,000,000 | A violent EF-4 tornado with peak winds of 190 mph impacted southern Williamson County, IL, during the early evening hours of Friday, May 16, 2025. The tornado began near the intersection of Spillway Road and Grassy Road doing mainly tree damage. As it moved eastward, the tornado intensified as it approached I-57. The tornado strengthened to EF-3 levels, where it removed the roofs of several homes of the staff of the U.S. Penitentiary just south of the main prison complex. The tornado debarked, and reduced to stubs, numerous trees adjacent to I-57. Multiple videos of this tornado were taken around the time it crossed I-57. The tornado continued at EF-3 strength as it damaged homes along IL-37 and north of Hudgens Road. The tornado reached peak intensity after crossing Market Road and into a subdivision just east of Andrew Road and north of Quarter Horse Road. Four homes on Kyler Court and Leslie Court sustained EF-3 damage. In addition, a newer two-story home with standard construction was completely swept off its foundation at the end of Kyler Court, which supported a rating of EF-4 with peak winds of 190 mph. The wooded area just east of Kyler Court saw extreme stubbing and some debarking of trees. The tornado continued eastward, destroying or severely damaging several homes at EF-2 or EF-3 strength on Wards Mill Road. Additional homes were destroyed at EF-3 damage levels a couple miles to the east on Highway 166. After crossing Highway 166, the tornado turned to the east-southeast and began to weaken, eventually lifting near the intersection of Mauseyville Road and Tyler Bridge Road. There were no fatalities, but seven people sustained non-life-threatening injuries. |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carterville | 1 hurt, $175,000,000 | Widespread wind damage occurred countywide. Extensive tree and power line damage resulted in power outages up to several days long. Many power poles were snapped. Countywide, efforts to restore power were complicated by swampy fields, mud, and downed trees. Ninety-five percent of the county was without power at the peak of the outages. Numerous permanent structures were damaged, including major businesses in downtown Marion and Herrin. A total of 33 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed. It is estimated that over 10,000 homes in the county received minor damage (less than 50,000 dollars per house). Gas leaks were common. Most communication by phone was impossible, including cell phones. Stores were closed, making groceries and gas very difficult to obtain locally in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Travel was nearly impossible due to debris and trees blocking roads. While about two dozen people were treated for storm-related injuries at local hospitals, all but one of them was due to post-storm cleanup. Many school facilities were damaged. The roof of Carterville High School was severely damaged. Several windows were blown out of the school. Minor damage occurred at athletic facilities, including the roof blown off a baseball dugout. Many outbuildings and small structures were destroyed across the county. In Carterville, a garage was lifted and dropped on a vehicle. Many vehicles countywide were damaged or destroyed by falling tree and building debris. A state disaster declaration was granted. A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed, and a state of emergency was declared. The Williamson County airport near Marion reported a peak gust of 86 mph. Based on the most severe structural damage east of the airport, peak winds were estimated by storm surveyors close to 100 mph. There was extensive damage at the airport, including hangar buildings. A television station on Route 13 was knocked off the air due to structural and roof damage. All along Route 13, signs were blown down, power poles were down, and windows were smashed. Car dealerships along Route 13 sustained damage due to signs falling on vehicles and windows being blown out. Numerous structures sustained varying degrees of roof damage. A large hotel near the Interstate 57 interchange sustained major roof damage. Many trees were down along Interstate 57 from the Route 13 interchange northward, blocking the southbound lanes. Semis on the interstate were overturned or blown off the highway, causing extended traffic delays. One of the drivers of the semis was seriously injured. A tree fell on a van on the interstate. Damaged or destroyed trees were too numerous to count. Cleanup was expected to last through Labor Day, according to the Mayor of Marion. |
| June 2023 | Hail | Crainville | $10,000,000 | Giant hail occurred in a swath of Williamson County along Illinois Route 13. The swath of large hail began near the Marion/Williamson County airport, just east and southeast of Crainville. Hail slightly larger than baseballs pounded the area in the immediate vicinity of the Marion/Williamson County Regional Airport. Hail damage was reported to planes at the airport, including broken windows. Numerous vehicles were damaged by hail from quarter size to golf-ball size. Hail damage occurred at the baseball stadium near Interstate 57 at Route 13. There was major damage to multiple vehicles at a car dealership on Route 13 between the Marion airport and the downtown Marion area. The large hail swath continued into the north side of the city of Marion, where hail the size of golf balls occurred. |
| May 2002 | Hail | Marion | $2,000,000 | no account filed |
| May 1996 | Flash Flood | Marion | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Flash Flood | Marion | $500,000 | no account filed |
| March 2008 | Flood | Cambria | $375,000 | In Marion, firefighters used boats to rescue 13 residents of the city's housing project. Water was up to a foot deep in some apartments. Five stranded motorists were rescued by Marion firefighters. A total of 21 persons were rescued by boat by firefighters in the city of Marion. At least a few vehicles were submerged up to their headlights. Victims were transported to a Red Cross shelter. A Marion official stated this was the worst flood since May of 1996, before the flood control project was completed. Many streets were underwater, including the main access road to Marion High School. An SUV was stranded in floodwaters. In Johnston City, most roadways were closed. A bridge was taken out by floodwaters on a side street. Route 148 was closed north of the Crab Orchard bridge. Numerous county roads were closed. Ten basements were flooded in Herrin. |
| April 2024 | Tornado (EF2) | Neilson | $300,000 | An EF-2 tornado impacted the Lake Of Egypt community in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2nd. The tornado began near Highway 148, just west of Interstate 57, damaging limbs on several trees. Roof shingle damage and a snapped tree occurred on Teske Rd with tree trunks snapped on Whitecotton Rd and IL-37. After crossing IL-37 east of Interstate 57, the tornado passed along Lake of Egypt Rd, significantly damaging the roof of a home. The most severe damage occurred near the intersection of Lake of Egypt Rd and Market Rd, where severe roof and structural damage occurred to three businesses. The Lake of Egypt Fire Protection building nearby had one of its windows blown out. Paralleling Lake of Egypt Rd, the tornado did damage to homes and outbuildings before lifting just to the west of Wagon Creek Rd. Hundreds of trees were uprooted, snapped at the base, or suffered damage to large limbs along the path. Peak winds were estimated at 130 mph. |
| May 2002 | Hail | Herrin | $300,000 | no account filed |
| April 2018 | Tornado (EF1) | Crainville | $250,000 | The tornado touched down in Carterville and tracked east-northeast across Energy to Interstate 57. One to two dozen homes received roof and siding damage. Some of the roof damage was considerable, including loss of the roof decking. One business in Energy sustained major damage, with considerable roof loss and blown out windows. Several barns, sheds, and other structures sustained roof damage. Hundreds of trees were damaged or uprooted. Some downed trees blocked roads. Power poles were snapped. About 400 utility customers lost power throughout the county. The tornado lifted a couple miles northeast of Spillertown, where it was reported by state police. Peak winds were estimated near 105 mph. |
| June 1973 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 2024 | Tornado (EF1) | Creal Spgs | $130,000 | An EF-1 tornado impacted the Stonefort community during the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2nd. The tornado began just east of Creal Springs along Saltpetre Road. Damage was mainly to trees as the tornado moved parallel to Pleasant Valley Road. The tornado moved directly through the community of Stonefort, causing extensive tree damage. Most damage to buildings was caused by trees falling onto the building. However, a couple of homes had portions of their roofs removed. The tornado continued east into Saline County in the middle of Stonefort. Estimated peak wind gusts for the tornado as a whole and in Williamson County were 110 mph. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $125,000 | Several miles east-southeast of Marion, six homes were damaged, power poles were snapped, and large tree branches were snapped. Around 600 utility customers were without power. A trained spotter three miles south of Marion estimated the wind gusted to 70 mph. |
| August 2022 | Flash Flood | Marion | $100,000 | There were numerous reports of street flooding in Marion. Significant street flooding occurred across the city of Johnston City, where over four inches of rain fell from midnight to late morning. Poor Farm Road was washed out north of Johnston City, leaving a trench large enough to swallow a car. On the north side of Marion, fire and rescue crews assisted residents of a flooded trailer park. The park was entirely flooded, and some residents were advised to remain indoors. Main Street on the east side of the Marion square was nearly impassable. A Marion day care center was evacuated due to flooding. Several inches of water were in the classrooms and hallway. A Cocorahs observer at Marion measured 5.63 inches in a 48-hour period. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Herrin | $100,000 | Widespread wind damage occurred throughout the county. Numerous trees and power lines were down, causing widespread power outages. Some structural damage was reported, mainly due to trees falling on structures. Shingles were blown off a roof in Carterville. A boat dock was damaged at Lake of Egypt, near the Johnson County line. |
| February 2012 | Tornado (EF2) | Wolf Creek | $100,000 | The tornado was spawned by the same supercell that produced an EF-2 tornado in Union and extreme southeast Jackson Counties. The tornado touched down in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, just southeast of Little Grassy Lake. The tornado moved east-northeast across Interstate 57, passing south of Marion. A large metal warehouse building was heavily damaged. Numerous homes sustained mainly minor roof damage. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted, and many power lines were blown down. Several barns and outbuildings were destroyed or heavily damaged. The peak EF-2 intensity estimate was based on damage southeast of Marion, near the location where the tornado crossed Highway 166. Peak winds were estimated near 120 mph. The average path width was 250 yards. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hafer | $100,000 | Wind gusts were estimated from 60 to 70 mph in the Carterville area. A gas station canopy was damaged. A communications tower was blown down. Trees were uprooted, and several homes received damage in Crainville. Tree limbs fell on a car. The area was without power. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Herrin | $100,000 | A microburst averaging about one mile wide tracked seven miles from the southeast side of Herrin eastward across the Johnston City area. The primary damage consisted of numerous trees and tree limbs down, along with some power lines. Several power poles were broken just east of Herrin. One of the downed power poles caused power lines to fall on a moving car, trapping the occupants of the car until the power company arrived. Rail traffic was halted by a tree across a railroad track. A porch roof was damaged between Herrin and Johnston City. There were numerous power outages, prompting a nighttime curfew for Johnston City. Trees were down across streets. There was minor damage to a few homes in Johnston City, primarily due to downed trees and limbs. A chimney was blown onto a pickup truck in Johnston City, shattering the windshield and denting it. Peak winds were estimated near 75 mph. |
| January 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cambria | $100,000 | Thunderstorm winds estimated near 90 MPH severely damaged a wood frame home and partially unroofed several other homes. This thunderstorm downburst originated just northeast of Carbondale in Jackson County, and caused extensive damage in the Cambria area before dissipating. |
| January 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $100,000 | A thunderstorm microburst caused extensive damage to a machinery company in Marion. A wind gust estimated near 100 MPH damaged roof sections of two buildings. A survey by National Weather Service personnel indicated the damage path was only about 150 feet long. One employee sustained minor back injuries. The main damage area was in the middle of the roof of a warehouse building. A smaller building adjacent to the warehouse had roofing peeled off. The damage area on the roof of the smaller building was roughly 16 by 20 feet and consisted of roofing and steel I beams. The damage to the roof of the larger building was about 30 by 50 feet in area. |
| June 1998 | Tornado (F1) | Marion | $100,000 | The tornado touched down half a mile east of Illinois Route 37 in the community of Hudgens and moved east-southeast for 2 miles. Damage occurred at several residences in Hudgens. At the first residence, several trees were uprooted, a couple of which were 50 feet tall. Siding on a barn was damaged by flying debris. At a second residence, decking was ripped off a porch, and shingles were blown off. Several large trees were snapped, and a dog house was blown about 40 feet. At a third residence, a barn was demolished with debris scattered in all directions. A vehicle was damaged by flying lawn furniture. At a fourth residence, the fascia on the west eave of the house was found about 300 feet northwest of the house wrapped around a tree trunk. At the fifth residence in Hudgens, a huge oak tree fell on top of a camper, and two other large oak trees were snapped. The only other damage, which occurred at a residence near the end of the track, was significant. A tree caused major roof damage to the house, and a nearby barn lost siding and roofing. Loose objects such as trash cans, lawn chairs, and child's toys were found up to a quarter mile away. Witnesses reported seeing rotating clouds about the time the damage occurred. Peak wind speeds were estimated between 90 and 100 MPH. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $80,000 | On the east edge of Marion near the fairgrounds, a roof was blown off a plumbing business. Metal roof debris was entangled in power lines. The plumbing business was in a large metal shed-type structure. Trees were blown down on a street on the south end of town. Numerous power outages were reported. Portable stop signs were placed at intersections where traffic lights were not functioning. A power pole fell on a car on Old Route 13. About 3,500 utility customers were without power at the peak of the storm. |
| June 2011 | Lightning | Carterville | $80,000 | A local television station was knocked off the air for about eight hours by a lightning strike. Besides damaging the broadcast equipment, the lightning disrupted internet and phone service. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cambria | $75,000 | Approximately 40 trees were downed in and around Cambria as a surging storm line moved northeastward. One tree fell onto a manufactured home. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Johnston City | $75,000 | Widespread damaging winds continued moving eastward across central and eastern Williamson County, including the city of Marion. Wind gusts were estimated from 60 to 75 mph. Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down, causing power outages. In Johnston City, trees were down on a few vehicles and one home. The home did not sustain any structural damage, but gutters were damaged. At least 5,000 utility customers were without power. |
| May 2011 | Flood | Freeman Spur | $75,000 | Record flooding occurred on the Big Muddy River. At the Murphysboro river gage, the river crested at 40.42 feet on the early morning of May 2. This exceeded the old record set in 1961 by over a foot. At least a few homes at the edge of Herrin sustained major flooding damage. A bridge near Hurst was threatened by the rising river, prompting schools to dismiss early. Water was flowing over the bridge, and the stability of the bridge was uncertain. |
| May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cambria | $75,000 | no account filed |
| January 1999 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $70,000 | no account filed |
| April 2017 | Flash Flood | Johnston City | $50,000 | Numerous roads on the northwest side of Herrin were completely flooded and impassable. Water rescues were executed in town. In Marion, numerous roads and at least a few buildings were flooded. In Crainville, a large sinkhole opened up, forcing the evacuation of two homes. The road to the spillway at Devils Kitchen Lake was closed. |
| January 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pulleys Mill | $50,000 | About one-third of the roof decking was blown off a mobile home. Almost the entire roof was ripped off another home. A 20-foot metal pole was snapped in half and blown into a neighbor's yard. Windows were blown out of a nearby home. Some trees were snapped. Debris was wrapped around a few trees. The damage was reported in and around the Lake of Egypt. |
| February 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wolf Creek | $50,000 | A downburst averaging 1/2 mile wide resulted in thousands of trees being snapped or uprooted in the Devil's Kitchen Lake area, around and east of the Giant City State Park area. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Herrin | $50,000 | Trees were snapping, and power was out. Two trees landed on houses. Two trees in the front yards of houses landed on a chain link fence. |
| June 2011 | Lightning | Marion | $50,000 | In Marion, a lightning strike shattered an antenna into three pieces. The antenna was located on top of a tower at the sheriff's department. The sheriff office's 911 telephone capability and radio system were both damaged. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Hudgens | $50,000 | A supercell thunderstorm entered southern Williamson County near the Lake of Egypt. Hail up to baseball size occurred on the north side of Lake of Egypt, near Hudgens. In the city of Marion, hail up to the size of quarters fell. |
| June 1998 | Flash Flood | Crab Orchard | $50,000 | no account filed |
| April 2018 | Tornado (EF1) | Pittsburg | $40,000 | At least a half dozen homes lost shingles. Windows were blown out of one home. A couple of barns lost parts of their roofs. A fence was blown over. There were dozens of trees with broken limbs or snapped trunks. Peak winds were estimated near 95 mph. |
| April 2017 | Flood | Johnston City | $40,000 | Flooding continued from the torrential rains that occurred during the overnight and early morning hours. In Johnston City, four feet of water covered an intersection, and water rescues were taking place in the area. Some residents of Johnston City were forced to evacuate their homes and relocate to a Red Cross shelter in Marion. A television station at Carterville measured 7.34 inches in the previous 24 hours, and 5.82 inches during the morning hours. |
| October 2013 | Tornado (EF1) | Creal Spgs | $40,000 | This tornado contained estimated peak winds near 100 mph. Three barns and two homes were damaged. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped. Power lines were blown down. The tornado crossed into Saline County near the southern outskirts of Stonefort. |
| April 1998 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $40,000 | Strong to severe thunderstorms repeatedly moved across the county. One inch of rain was measured at Hurst within 45 minutes. A school in Marion sustained minor damage when water seeped into the hallways. Marion fire crews closed several city streets after cars became stranded. |
| June 2018 | Tornado (EF0) | Johnston City | $35,000 | A brief weak tornado occurred, with peak winds estimated near 85 mph. Two garage buildings were blown off their foundations. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped. Several shingles were blown off a roof. An eyewitness reported watching the tornado destroy the garage buildings and then continue on the ground a few hundred yards. |
| April 2017 | Tornado (EF1) | Carterville | $35,000 | A brief EF-1 tornado touched down, damaging two residences and taking down a few trees. The first residence received minor shingle damage, and there was substantial roof damage at the second residence. Insulation and building debris was blown several hundred yards. The small tornado was captured on security camera video at a very close distance, less than 50 yards away. Peak winds were estimated near 105 mph. A trained spotter reported a rotating wall cloud south of Carbondale shortly before the tornado occurred. |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $35,000 | Numerous tree limbs and a few large trees were blown down. One large tree fell on a house. Streets and roads were blocked by fallen trees, mainly in the southern and eastern portions of the city. Several thousand utility customers were without power for 24 hours or more. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $30,000 | Power lines were downed by thunderstorm winds in Marion and around the county. |
| July 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $30,000 | Several miles southeast of Marion, trees and large limbs were down. There was shingle damage to a house. Several trees were snapped. A greenhouse was flipped and rolled. The hvac unit of a house was moved off its concrete pad a few feet. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carterville | $30,000 | Widespread damaging winds entered northwestern Williamson County. Trees were snapped in Herrin, causing power outages. A tree landed on a home. In Carterville, trees were blown down along Grand Avenue. |
| April 2017 | Flash Flood | Johnston City | $30,000 | Numerous roads were closed, including Highway 37 south of Johnston City. Some homes in Marion were flooded. The American Red Cross opened a shelter in Marion, where 22 evacuees spent the night. |
| May 2011 | Flood | Carterville | $30,000 | no account filed |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pulleys Mill | $25,000 | Sporadic trees and power poles snapped in the North Shoreline subdivision. This straight line wind damage was likely from the rear flank downdraft from the tornado tracking along Lake of Egypt Rd. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Herrin | $25,000 | Shingles were blown off roofs. Three to six-inch diameter limbs were blown out of trees at the north end of town. |
| October 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $25,000 | Downed trees were reported in Johnston City. Winds were measured at 62 mph. In Marion, a storm chaser reported limbs down due to estimated wind gusts around 60 mph. |
| October 2004 | Tornado (F1) | Pulleys Mill | $25,000 | The tornado entered Williamson County from Johnson County where Interstate 57 crosses the county line. The tornado passed less than a half mile south of the junction of Interstates 24 and 57. The tornado was only on the ground for about a mile in Williamson County before turning back southeast into Johnson County near Route 37. In the community of Pulleys Mill, dozens of large trees were topped or uprooted, one home received partial roof damage, and a garage roof was peeled. Utility poles and lines were downed. Peak winds along this segment of the tornado were estimated near 80 MPH. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $25,000 | Numerous large trees were blown down along Illinois Route 37. A metal roof was completely torn off an antique shop. A retired airline pilot estimated gusts were up to 70 MPH. |
| July 2023 | Flash Flood | Carterville | $25,000 | no account filed |
| April 1968 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Stiritz | $20,000 | Trees and power lines were downed as a thunderstorm moved southeastward across Johnston City. A portable carport was lifted up and wrapped around a garage. One house had some soffit damage. |
| May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Marion | $20,000 | Several trees and cable television lines were down near Route 37. A very large tree limb landed on a house. |
Mines and quarries
4 recordedThe Survey's mineral resources record lists 4 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 3 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 3 |
| Calcium | 1 |
| Clay | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crab Orchard Pit & Lime Plant | Stone, Crushed/Broken, Calcium | Plant | ||
| Treadwater Shale Quarry | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Herrin City Eng. | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Williamson Co. Hwy. Dept. | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
The county's history books
303,915 words3 books written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 3 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.
History of Williamson County, Illinois. From the Earliest Times, Down to the Present, 1876, with an Accurate Account of the Secession Movement, Ordinances, Raids, Etc., Also, a Complete History of Its "bloody Vendetta," Includding All Its Recondite Causes, Results, Etc., Etc. (1876)
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| The whole text | 63,852 words in 5 parts |
Historical Souvenir of Williamson County, Illinois : Being a Brief Review of the County from Date of Founding to the Present (1905)
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| The whole text | 135,544 words in 9 parts |
Williamson County, Illinois, in the World War : Containing a Brief Review of the World War--complete History of Williamson County's Activities--photographs and Service Records of Williamson County's Soldiers, Sailors and Marines--industrial Review of Business and Professional Firms Who Have Made This History Possible (1919)
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| The whole text | 104,519 words in 7 parts |
Every populated place in the county
67Named 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.
-
Chamness
Southern precinct · 62959 · Marion quadrangle
20 sheets, 1925 to 1996
No longer a settlement
-
Clifford
Blairsville precinct · 62918 · On Little Hurricane Creek · Herrin quadrangle
18 sheets, 1910 to 1987
-
Colp
Blairsville precinct · 62921 · On Little Hurricane Creek · Herrin quadrangle
18 sheets, 1910 to 1987
-
Crab Orchard Estates
Carterville precinct · 62901 · Near McKinney Hill · Carbondale quadrangle
22 sheets, 1922 to 1996
-
Creal Springs
Creal Springs precinct · 62922 · On Maple Branch · Creal Springs quadrangle
19 sheets, 1925 to 1996
-
Fredonia
Carterville precinct · 62918 · Herrin quadrangle
18 sheets, 1910 to 1987
No longer a settlement
-
Freeman Spur
Herrin precinct · 62896 · On Lake Creek · Johnston City quadrangle
18 sheets, 1909 to 1987
-
Hurst
Blairsville precinct · 62949 · On Hurricane Creek · De Soto quadrangle
18 sheets, 1910 to 1987
-
Lake Estates
Southern precinct · 62959 · On Little Saline Creek · Goreville quadrangle
20 sheets, 1925 to 1996
-
Neilson
Southern precinct · 62959 · On Little Saline Creek · Marion quadrangle
20 sheets, 1925 to 1996
-
New Dennison
East Marion precinct · 62959 · On Cana Creek · Crab Orchard quadrangle
20 sheets, 1925 to 1996
-
Rodgersville
Stonefort precinct · 62922 · On Sugar Creek · Crab Orchard quadrangle
20 sheets, 1925 to 1996
-
Sulphur Springs
Creal Springs precinct · 62922 · On Maple Branch · Creal Springs quadrangle
19 sheets, 1925 to 1996
No longer a settlement
-
Sunset Harbor
Southern precinct · 62959 · On Little Saline Creek · Goreville quadrangle
20 sheets, 1925 to 1996
-
Willeford
Creal Springs precinct · 62922 · On Little Cana Creek · Crab Orchard quadrangle
20 sheets, 1925 to 1996
-
Woodland Hills
Southern precinct · 62959 · On Little Saline Creek · Goreville quadrangle
20 sheets, 1925 to 1996
The vanished settlements of Williamson County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
Provenance
- Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
- Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
- Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
- Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
- Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
- Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.