Economy

Power Down: The Former Mining Towns of Illinois

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Peter van Agtmael Flying over coal mines in Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. In the last few d (...)
Peter van Agtmael An abandoned coal mine in Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. In the last few de (...)
Peter van Agtmael Mercury run off in a stream near an abandoned coal mine in Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prospe (...)
Peter van Agtmael Mercury run off in a stream near an abandoned coal mine in Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosper (...)
Peter van Agtmael Flying over Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. In the last few decades the num (...)
Peter van Agtmael World War II era ordinance bunkers seen while flying over Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosper (...)
Peter van Agtmael World War II era ordinance bunkers seen while flying over Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosper (...)
Peter van Agtmael The Frankfort Area Historical Museum in West Frankfort, Illinois. The museum showcases local historical artifacts, with an emphasis on mining. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in South (...)
Peter van Agtmael Flying over Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. In the last few decades the num (...)
Peter van Agtmael Steve Sawalich at Dixie Cream Donuts in West Frankfort. Sawalich is the organizer of the Old King Coal festival. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past cen (...)
Peter van Agtmael Mining related decorations at Dixie Cream Donuts in West Frankfort. McReynolds is a retired coal miner and President of Retired Miners. Sawalich is the organizer of the Old King Coal festival. Mini (...)
Peter van Agtmael Susan Hubbard, Steve Sawalich and Jack McReynolds at Dixie Cream Donuts in West Frankfort. McReynolds is a retired coal miner and President of Retired Miners. Sawalich is the organizer of the Old K (...)
Peter van Agtmael The Frankfort Area Historical Museum in West Frankfort, Illinois. The museum showcases local historical artifacts, with an emphasis on mining. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Sou (...)
Peter van Agtmael The Frankfort Area Historical Museum in West Frankfort, Illinois. The museum showcases local historical artifacts, with an emphasis on mining. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in South (...)
Peter van Agtmael Closed store in downtown West Frankfort. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. In the last few decade (...)
Peter van Agtmael On the road out of Kairo, Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. In the last few decades the (...)
Peter van Agtmael Alex Paull, a writer in Southern Illinois, and part of the small, Native American community that still lives in the region. Illinois, USA. 2017. © Peter van Agtmael | Magnum Photos
Peter van Agtmael Barbecue joint in Kairo, Illinois, a nearly abandoned town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi River. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past centu (...)
Peter van Agtmael Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Herrin, Illinois, a mining town that was home to the Herrin Massacre. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a sou (...)
Peter van Agtmael A basketball game at Zeigler-Royalton High School in the heart of coal country. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosp (...)
Peter van Agtmael A basketball game at Zeigler-Royalton High School in the heart of coal country. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosp (...)
Peter van Agtmael The Bald Knob cross in coal mining country, Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. (...)
Peter van Agtmael Cairo, Illinois, a nearly abandoned town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi River. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of s (...)
Peter van Agtmael Kairo, Illinois, a nearly abandoned town at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi River. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of s (...)
Peter van Agtmael The Eagle River Coal Mines-Franks LLC in Harrisburg, Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. (...)
Peter van Agtmael The Garden of the Gods, a wilderness area in the Shawnee National Forest. A sacred area to the Shawnee Indians, that history is largely whitewashed in favor of descriptions of its geological founda (...)
Peter van Agtmael Alex Paull, a writer in Southern Illinois, and part of the small, Native American community that still lives in the region. Illinois, USA. 2017. © Peter van Agtmael | Magnum Photos
Peter van Agtmael The Garden of the Gods, a wilderness area in the Shawnee National Forest. A sacred area to the Shawnee Indians, that history is largely whitewashed in favor of descriptions of its geological founda (...)
Peter van Agtmael The Garden of the Gods, a wilderness area in the Shawnee National Forest. A sacred area to the Shawnee Indians, that history is largely whitewashed in favor of descriptions of its geological founda (...)
Peter van Agtmael Bingo night at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Zeigler, Illinois, a coal mining town. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stabilit (...)
Peter van Agtmael Pete, a worker at the Eagle River Coal Mines-Franks LLC in Harrisburg, Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, pros (...)
Peter van Agtmael Road kill in coal mining country, Southern Illinois. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stability, prosperity and pride. In the las (...)
Peter van Agtmael Georgia de la Garza, a local environmental activist in Southern Illinois. She is pictured from inside an abandoned house near the Eagle River Coal Mines-Franks LLC in Harrisburg, Illinois. Mining (...)
Peter van Agtmael Bingo night at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Zeigler, Illinois, a coal mining town. Mining jobs have been the core of the economy in Southern Illinois for the past century, a source of stabilit (...)