Mill Shoals High School

Mill Shoals (population 235) is located in northwestern Wayne County in the far southeastern portion of Illinois. Mt. Vernon is located about 25 miles northwest of Mill Shoals. U.S. Route 45 is the main roadway through town and connects it to Interstate Highway 64 just one mile to the north. The Prairie Trunk Railroad travels through town. A branch of the Skillet Fork creek flows to the west of town.

Mill Shoals was platted in the mid-1850s. Mill Shoals was first known for its barrell making industry. However the trees soon ran out. In the 1930s oil was discovered in the area. This helped Mill Shoals flourish for a few decades. The oil industry faltered (ran out) in the late 1960s and Mill Shoals returned to its agricultural roots.

The history of the Mill Shoals educational system has been difficult to research. Our guess is that a grade school was in place very early in the town’s existence. A high school likely followed in the late 1800s and was certainly in place by the early 1900s. We know that Mill Shoals High School served the community thorugh the late 1940s. It was approximately 1948 when Mill Shoals High School consolidated with nearby Burnt Prairie High School to form the Mills Prairie High School District.

The Mills Prairie High School District existed through 1977 when it, too, was closed. The kids of Mill Shoals today attend high school in nearby Fairfield.

Mill Shoals High School Quick Facts

Year opened:                      late 1800s / early 1900s

Year closed:                       1948 (?)

Consooidated to:                 Mills Prairie High School

Mill Shoals team nickname: ??

Mill Shoals team colors:      ??

Mill Shoals Fight Song:       ??