The historic images contained in this book provide a unique look into the past, when a slower pace of life existed long before electricity, cars, or computers. The Illinois Valley is located in the southern part of Josephine County, Oregon. Like most of Southern Oregon, mountains and high hills surround the valley on the west, south and east, which in both prehistoric and historic times made getting in and out of our valley a real challenge. We hope that you enjoy this "step back in time" when the horse served as the main mode of transportation and electricity was just an idea.