Sand Ridge State Forest
Encyclopedia
Sand Ridge State Forest is a conservation area
located in the U.S. state
of Illinois
. Containing 7,200 acres (29 km²), it is the largest state forest
in Illinois. It is located in northern Mason County. The nearest town is Manito, Illinois
and the nearest numbered highway is U.S. Highway 136. It is located on a low bluff, or "sand ridge", overlooking the Illinois River
, hence the name.
The Sand Ridge State Forest largely dates back to 1939, when the state of Illinois purchased parcels of submarginal sand
y farmland for conservation purposes. The Civilian Conservation Corps
planted pine
trees on much of the land. Today, the 7200 acres (29 km²) state forest contains 3916 acres (16 km²) of dryland oak
-hickory
woodlands, 2492 acres (10 km²) of pine woodlands, and 792 acres (3.2 km²) of open fields and sand prairie
s, which include Pricky Pear Cactus, Opuntia
.
Sand Ridge is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
as open space for active recreational purposes, especially whitetail deer hunting.
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...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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,...
. Containing 7,200 acres (29 km²), it is the largest state forest
State forest
A state forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign state.The precise application of the term varies by jurisdiction...
in Illinois. It is located in northern Mason County. The nearest town is Manito, Illinois
Manito, Illinois
Manito is a village in Mason County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,733 at the 2000 census, and 1,595 at a 2009 estimate.The village is home to the Manito Popcorn Festival, which started in 1972.-Geography:...
and the nearest numbered highway is U.S. Highway 136. It is located on a low bluff, or "sand ridge", overlooking the Illinois River
Illinois River
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the State of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route...
, hence the name.
The Sand Ridge State Forest largely dates back to 1939, when the state of Illinois purchased parcels of submarginal sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
y farmland for conservation purposes. 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...
planted pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
trees on much of the land. Today, the 7200 acres (29 km²) state forest contains 3916 acres (16 km²) of dryland oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
-hickory
Hickory
Trees in the genus Carya are commonly known as hickory, derived from the Powhatan language of Virginia. The genus includes 17–19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and big nuts...
woodlands, 2492 acres (10 km²) of pine woodlands, and 792 acres (3.2 km²) of open fields and sand prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
s, which include Pricky Pear Cactus, Opuntia
Opuntia
Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus , is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae.Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. Chollas are now separated into the genus Cylindropuntia, which some still consider...
.
Sand Ridge is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is a cabinet-level department of the state government of Illinois. It is headquartered in the state capital of Springfield...
as open space for active recreational purposes, especially whitetail deer hunting.