Big Muddy River the sides of hills, exposing coal deposits. The first coal mine in Illinois is believed to have been opened in 1810 on the banks of the Big Muddy in Jackson County. The Big Muddy cuts through the Shawnee Hills south of Murphysboro near the confluence with its smaller tributary, Kinkaid Creek. From there, it runs southward roughly twenty miles and meets the Mississippi directly south of Grand Tower. Near its mouth, a small portion of the Big Muddy acts as the dividing line between Jackson and Union counties. Major tributaries of the Big Muddy include Beaucoup Creek, the Little Muddy
Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference approached by Benton, Herrin, Harrisburg, and West Frankfort for membership; these four schools were concerned over their small size relative to the other members of the South Seven Conference (where all four were then located) and sought out a conference more in line with their size. Massac County (then an independent school) was approached about becoming a member, and in 1993 the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference was formed. At the start of the 2010-2011 school year Carterville left the Black Diamond Conference to join the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference. Chester High School has taken their place in the Black Diamond