Bartlett Woods facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bartlett's Woods Nature Preserve |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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 Bartlett's Woods Nature Preserve
Location in Illinois
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| Location | Lee County, Illinois, USA |
| Nearest city | Sublette, Illinois |
| Area | 23 acres (9.3 ha) |
| Established | July 1987 |
| Governing body | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Bartlett Woods (which used to be called Knox Grove) is a special natural area in Lee County, Illinois, USA. It covers about 23 acres (9.3 ha) and is located right next to the Big Bureau Creek. This preserve is a small part of a much bigger forest that used to cover this land a long time ago. It's a protected space where nature can thrive.
A Look Back in Time
The area we now call Bartlett Woods was once known as Knox Grove. It was named after William Knox, who was one of the first people to settle here around 1830.
By 1846, Knox Grove was a small community with about 14 families. It covered an area of roughly 2–3 square miles (5.2–7.8 km2). The very next year, in 1847, the first schoolhouse was started in Mr. Knox's old home, which is no longer standing today.
In 1848, a large American black bear weighing about 400 pounds (180 kg) was reported to have been seen and killed by a group of men in the northern part of the grove. That same year, a post office opened in the area, and it was called Ovid.
By 1855, the Illinois Central Railroad decided to build its tracks nearby. This led to the creation of the town of Sublette. Most of the people living in Knox Grove soon moved to the new town of Sublette.
Nature and Wildlife
Bartlett Woods is located in a flat area between two old hills called moraines. These moraines were formed by giant glaciers during the Ice Age. Inside the woods, there are several small, shallow valleys. These valleys help drain extra water from the moist forest into Bureau Creek.
The most common trees you'll find here are sugar maple, red oak, white oak, red elm, and basswood. You might also spot black walnut, butternut, and hophornbeam in certain parts of the preserve.
On the forest floor, you can see many beautiful wildflowers. Some common ones include doll's eyes, columbine, trout lily, and miterwort. This untouched forest is also home to many White-tailed Deer. You might also see smaller animals like pheasants and groundhogs living here.
