Author: John Mitchler
This county has four areas east of Peoria in western IL coal mining country, although the highest land is an industrial waste pond. Dick Ellsworth's report was great. I believe you only need to visit two areas in this county. For the HP in Farmington, go to the main intersection (Fort Street and Main Street) and go east on Fort Street for 0.7 mile to N. Hedden Avenue and turn left (north). Go a block to the water tower. For the southern area, go to Norris and at the main intersection (Main Street and Division Street) go west on Division Street.(CO17) for 2.3 miles to Coal Road. Turn right (north) and go a half mile. The HP is a rise on the south side of the fence line extending east (right) from Coal Road. For the southern areas, I spent some time wandering the fields with my hand level. I walked from CO39 to Coal Road and south and back again. The barn along the west edge of section 32 is gone. The fence through the center of east half of section 32 is there. The highest ground is just east of "32" on the topo. A high ridge extends south of it along Coal Road. A cement post is on the east side of Coal Road about 0.1 mile south of "32". I back-sighted with my level at all sights. The berms of the industrial waste pond in section 33 is higher than the HP (levels about 3/4 way up the berm). I back-sighted from Karen Johnston's yard (with the windmills in section 20). Note: Karen suggested that Mt. Pisgah north of Ellisville was higher. I looked at this feature and of course it is lower. However, the relative relief is much greater than the flat tabletop south of Farmington. Often, owners believe relative relief signifies higher elevations. Their tips are worth checking out though as an isolated feature may have missed detection by our list makers.