Peabody River State Fish and Wildlife Area

Peabody River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Randolph County, Illinois, encompasses about 2,200 acres on land once mined by the Peabody Coal Company. The site emerged from reclaimed mine lands worked from the late 1950s into the late 1980s, linking it closely to the region’s industrial past. Land formerly used for coal extraction was restored and designated as a state fish and wildlife area, transforming a former mining district into public habitat and outdoor space. It remains significant as an example of reclaimed industrial land adapted for conservation and recreation.

Illinois · United States