Vermilion County

Vermilion County, located in the eastern part of the state of Illinois, was named after the Vermilion River that runs through it. The saline springs and the rich silt loam soil attracted a farming community, while the plentiful abundance of game offered a way to feed families as homes were built and land cleared for planting. The Vermilion County Conservation District operates four conservation district parks: Forest Glenn Preserve, Heron County Park, Kennekuk Cove County Park, and Lake Vermilion County Park. Three more areas are managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources: Kickapoo State Recreation Area, Harry Babe Woodyard State Natural Area, and the Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area. Besides being a huge agricultural area, many notable people were born in Vermilion County–Dick and Jerry Van Dyke, Donald O'Conner, Gene Hackman, Bobby Short, astronaut Joseph R. Tanner, Frank Gustine, and Thad Matta, to name a few.