Trail of Tears State Forest
Encyclopedia
Trail of Tears State Forest is a State of Illinois conservation area
on 5114 acres (20.7 km²) in Union County, Illinois
, United States
.
Trail of Tears was established in 1929 when Illinois purchased 3000 acres (12.14 km²) acres of Shawnee Hills
land and used the resulting land to create the Kohn-Jackson Forest (later Union County State Forest). Soon afterwards, the state park was improved with work performed by the Civilian Conservation Corps
. Subsequent land acquisitions created the 5114 acres (20.7 km²) Trail of Tears State Forest of today. The forest occupies land near the route followed by the Cherokee
in December 1838 during their forced relocation in the Trail of Tears
.
Today's state forest contains a state tree nursery, the 222 acre (0.89840292 km²) Ozark Hills Nature Preserve, and 22 miles of trails for hiking and equestrian use. The nearest town of any size is Jonesboro, Illinois
.
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
on 5114 acres (20.7 km²) in Union County, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Trail of Tears was established in 1929 when Illinois purchased 3000 acres (12.14 km²) acres of Shawnee Hills
Shawnee Hills
The Shawnee Hills is a region of Southern Illinois that rests mainly in an east-west arc roughly following the outline of the southern end of the Illinois Basin. Whereas Mississippian and Pennsylvania Age rock layers are deep beneath the surface in central Illinois, these strata pierce the surface...
land and used the resulting land to create the Kohn-Jackson Forest (later Union County State Forest). Soon afterwards, the state park was improved with work performed by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
. Subsequent land acquisitions created the 5114 acres (20.7 km²) Trail of Tears State Forest of today. The forest occupies land near the route followed by the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
in December 1838 during their forced relocation in the Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
.
Today's state forest contains a state tree nursery, the 222 acre (0.89840292 km²) Ozark Hills Nature Preserve, and 22 miles of trails for hiking and equestrian use. The nearest town of any size is Jonesboro, Illinois
Jonesboro, Illinois
Jonesboro is a city in Union County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,853 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Union County, and was the location of the third of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, on 15 September 1858.-Geography:...
.