Vermilion Valley Conference
The Vermilion Valley Conference is a high school conference in east-central Illinois, in the United States. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association. The conference comprises 13 small public high schools and one small private school, with enrollments between 100 and 400 students in Edgar, Iroquois and Vermilion counties.
History
The original Vermilion Valley Conference was founded in 1933 with schools from Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Livingston, and Kankakee counties in east-central Illinois. The five charter members included: Chatsworth, Cullom, Forrest Township, Herscher, and Saunemin. This version of the Vermilion Valley disbanded in 1989.The Vermilion Valley Conference was resurrected in 2003 with a new group of high schools. The charter members of the "new" Vermilion Valley included: Armstrong, Bismarck Henning, Chrisman, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Hoopeston Area, Oakwood, Rossville-Alvin, Salt Fork, Schlarman and Westville High Schools. In 2005, Rossville-Alvin High School closed and with the students attending Bismarck Henning, however, Milford joined the league the following year.
In 2020, the conference expanded its football presence by adding several schools from other conferences into a "football only", two division league. Schools from the Tri-County Conference; including Dwight and Seneca, as well as Clifton Central, Iroquois West and Watseka from the Sangamon Valley Conference united under the Vermilion Valley moniker. The two divisions included a North Division of Seneca, Momence, Dwight, Clifton Central, Watseka and Iroquois West and a South Division of Hoopeston Area, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Westville, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin, Salt Fork and Oakwood. This unusual mix of three conferences only lasted two years with the development of the Chicago Prairie Football League.
In 2021, the Sangamon Valley Conference disbanded, therefore, Cissna Park, Iroquois West, and Watseka Community High Schools joined as full members of the Vermilion Valley, taking the total number of teams up to 13.
Currently, the league consists of the following teams: Armstrong, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin, Catlin-Salt Fork, Chrisman, Cissna Park, Danville-Schlarman, Fithian-Oakwood, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Gilman-Iroquois West, Hoopeston Area, Milford, Watseka and Westville
Member schools
| School | Location | County | Mascot | Colors | Joined | Enrollment | IHSA Classes 1/2/3/4 | IHSA Football Class | IHSA Football Type | Coop/Team |
| Armstrong Township | Armstrong, IL | Vermilion | Trojans | Purple, Gold | 2003 | 136 | A/1A/1A | 3A | 11-Man | Yes Hoopeston |
| Bismarck Henning Rossville-Alvin | Bismarck, IL | Vermilion | Blue Devils | Blue, Silver, White | 2003 | 338 | A/1A/1A | 2A | 11-Man | - |
| Salt Fork | Catlin, IL | Vermilion | Storm | Black, Silver, White | 2003 | 254 | A/1A/1A | 1A | 11-Man | - |
| Chrisman | Chrisman, IL | Edgar | Cardinals | Red, Black | 2003 | 100 | A/1A/1A | 2A | 11-Man | Yes Georgetown-Ridge Farm |
| Cissna Park | Cissna Park, IL | Iroquois | Timberwolves | Navy Blue, Silver, Columbia Blue | 2021 | 99 | A/1A/1A | 1A | 8-Man | Yes Milford |
| Schlarman | Danville, IL | Vermilion | Hilltoppers | Blue, Gold | 2003 | 145 | A/1A/1A | 1A | 8-Man | - |
| Oakwood | Fithian, IL | Vermilion | Comets | Purple, White | 2003 | 305 | A/1A/1A | 1A/2A | 11-man | - |
| Georgetown-Ridge Farm | Georgetown, IL | Vermilion | Buffaloes | Purple, Gold, White | 2003 | 277 | A/1A/1A | 2A | 11-Man | Yes Chrisman |
| Hoopeston Area | Hoopeston, IL | Vermilion | Cornjerkers | Blue, White | 2003 | 320 | A/1A/1A | 3A | 11-Man | Yes Armstrong |
| Iroquois West | Gilman, IL | Iroquois | Raiders | Blue, Red, White | 2021 | 310 | A/1A/1A | 1A/2A | 11-man | - |
| Milford | Milford, IL | Iroquois | Bearcats Lady Bearcats | Blue, White | 2006 | 174 | A/1A/1A | 1A | 8-Man | Yes Cissna Park |
| Watseka | Watseka, IL | Iroquois | Warriors | Maroon, White | 2021 | 300 | A/1A/1A | 1A/2A | 11-man | - |
| Westville | Westville, IL | Vermilion | Tigers Lady Tigers | Orange, Black | 2003 | 370 | A/1A/1A | 2A | 11-man | - |
Previous Members
| School | Location | Mascot | Colors | Year Joined | Year Exited | School In Use | Consolidated Closed | Current District/Conference |
| Chatsworth | Chatsworth, IL | Bluebirds | Blue, Orange | 1933 | 1985 | No | Consolidated | Prairie [Central High School|Prairie Central] |
| Cullom Community | Cullom, IL | Ramblers | Blue, White | 1933 | 1968 | Yes | Consolidated | Tri-Point |
| Forrest Township | Forrest, IL | Eskimos | Red, Black, White | 1933 | 1949 | No | Consolidated Forrest-Strawn-Wing | Prairie Central |
| Herscher | Herscher, IL | Tigers | Gold, Black | 1933 | 1956 | Yes | Left the Conference | Illinois Central Eight Conference |
| Saunemin | Saunemin, IL | Eagles | Purple, White | 1933 | 1987 | No | Closed | Pontiac Township |
| Kempton | Kempton, IL | Red Devils | Red, White | 1939 | 1946 | No | Consolidated Kempton-Cabery | Tri-Point |
| Piper City | Piper City, IL | Blue Streaks | Blue, White | 1939 | 1974 | Yes | Consolidated Ford Central | Tri-Point |
| Ford Central | Piper City, IL | Cougars | Columbia Blue, Gold | 1939 | 1983 | Yes | Consolidated | Tri-Point |
| Reddick | Piper City, IL | Bulldogs | Orange, Black, White | 1939 | 1944 | No | Left the Conference | Herscher |
| Onarga | Onarga, IL | Indians | Maroon, White | 1941 | 1983 | Yes | Consolidated | Iroquois West |
| Kempton-Cabery | Kempton, IL | Komanches | Red, Black, White | 1946 | 1968 | Yes | Consolidated | Tri-Point |
| Forrest-Strawn-Wing | Forrest, IL | Eskimos | Red, Black, White | 1949 | 1985 | No | Consolidated | Prairie Central |
| Roberts-Thawville | Roberts, IL | Leprechauns | Green, White | 1953 | 1974 | No | Consolidated Ford Central | Tri-Point |
| Melvin-Sibley | Melvin, IL | Rams | Orange, Black | 1956 | 1988 | No | Consolidated | Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley |
| Onarga Military | Onarga, IL | YellowJackets Spartans | Purple, Gold | 1956 | 1970 | No | Closed | Iroquois West |
| Reddick R.U.C.E. | Piper City, IL | Bulldogs | Orange, Black, White | 1962 | 1988 | No | Consolidated | Herscher |
| Gilman | Gilman, IL | Owls | Red, Blue | 1962 | 1983 | Yes | Consolidated | Iroquois West |
| Tri-Point | Cullom, IL | Chargers | Scarlet, White, Royal | 1968 | 1988 | Yes | Conference Disbanded | River Valley Conference |
| Cornell | Cornell, IL | Cardinals | Maroon, White | 1972 | 1987 | No | Consolidated | Flanagan-Cornell |
| Milford | Milford, IL | Bearcats Lady Bearcats | Blue, White | 1972 | 1982 | Yes | Left the Conference | Vermilion Valley Conference |
| Gardner-South Wilmington | Gardner, IL | Panthers Lady Panthers | Orange, Black | 1986 | 1988 | Yes | Conference Disbanded | River Valley Conference |
| Mazon-Verona-Kinsman | Mazon, IL | Red Devils | Red, White | 1986 | 1988 | Yes | Consolidated | Seneca |
''Sources:IHSA Conferences, and IHSA Member Schools Directory''
Membership timeline
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:1250 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1933 till:2023
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
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Colors = id:barcolor
id:line value:pink
id:bg value:white
id:Full value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
id:FullxF value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football
id:AssocF value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member with 8-man football
id:AssocOS value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in a football coop
id:OtherC1 value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference
id:OtherC2 value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that has consolidated
id:OtherC3 value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in some sports, but not all
PlotData=
width:15 textcolor:black shift: anchor:from fontsize:s
bar:1 color:OtherC2 from:1933 till:1949 text:Forrest Township
bar:1 color:White from:1949 till:end text:Consolidated with Strawn and Wing to form Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School
bar:2 color:OtherC2 from:1933 till:1956 text:Herscher
bar:2 color:White from:1956 till:end text:Left for the Kankakee Valley Conference
bar:3 color:OtherC2 from:1933 till:1968 text:Cullom Community
bar:3 color:White from:1968 till:end text:Consolidated with Kempton-Cabery to form Tri-Point High School
bar:4 color:OtherC2 from:1933 till:1985 text:Chatsworth
bar:4 color:White from:1985 till:end text:Consolidated with Forrest-Strawn-Wing to become Prairie Central High School
bar:5 color:OtherC2 from:1933 till:1987 text:Saunemin
bar:5 color:White from:1987 till:end text:School Closed - Students now attend Pontiac Township High School
bar:6 color:OtherC2 from:1939 till:1983 text:Ford Central
bar:6 color:White from:1983 till:end text:Annexed into Tri-Point High School
bar:7 color:OtherC2 from:1939 till:1944 text:Reddick
bar:7 color:White from:1947 till:end text:Left for the Northeast Conference
bar:7 color:OtherC2 from:1962 till:1988 text:Reddick R.U.S.E.
bar:7 color:White from:1988 till:end text:Annexed into Herscher High School
bar:8 color:OtherC2 from:1939 till:1946 text:Kempton
bar:8 color:White from:1947 till:end text:Consolidated with Cabery to form Kempton-Cabery High School
bar:9 color:OtherC2 from:1939 till:1974 text:Piper City
bar:9 color:White from:1974 till:end text:Annexed into Ford Central High School
bar:10 color:OtherC2 from:1941 till:1983 text:Onarga
bar:10 color:White from:1983 till:end text:Consolidated with Gilman to become Iroquois West High School
bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:1946 till:1968 text:Kempton-Cabery
bar:11 color:White from:1968 till:end text:Consolidated with Cullom Community to form Tri-Point High School
bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:1949 till:1985 text:Forrest-Strawn-Wing
bar:12 color:White from:1985 till:end text:Consolidated with Chatsworth to become Prairie Central High School
bar:13 color:OtherC2 from:1953 till:1974 text:Roberts-Thawville
bar:13 color:White from:1974 till:end text:Annexed into Tri-Point High School
bar:14 color:OtherC2 from:1956 till:1988 text:Melvin-Sibley
bar:14 color:White from:1988 till:end text:Consolidated with Gibson City to become Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:1956 till:1970 text:Onarga Military
bar:15 color:White from:1970 till:end text:School Closed
bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:1962 till:1983 text:Gilman
bar:16 color:White from:1983 till:end text:Consolidated with Onarga to become Iroquois West High School
bar:17 color:OtherC2 from:1968 till:1988 text:Tri-Point
bar:17 color:White from:1988 till:end text:Conference Disbanded
bar:18 color:OtherC2 from:1972 till:1987 text:Cornell
bar:18 color:White from:1987 till:end text:Consolidated with Flanagan to become Flanagan-Cornell High School
bar:19 color:OtherC2 from:1972 till:1982 text:Milford
bar:19 color:White from:1982 till:end text:Left for the East Central Conference
bar:19 color:Full from:2006 till:end text:
bar:20 color:OtherC2 from:1986 till:1988 text:Gardner-South Wilmington
bar:20 color:White from:2000 till:end text:Conference Disbanded
bar:21 color:OtherC2 from:1986 till:1988 text:Mazon-Verona-Kinsman
bar:21 color:White from:2000 till:end text:Annexed into Seneca High School
bar:22 color:Full from:2003 till:end text:Armstrong Township
bar:23 color:Full from:2003 till:end text:Bismarck Henning Rossville-Alvin
bar:24 color:Full from:2003 till:end text:Salt Fork
bar:25 color:Full from:2003 till:end text:Chrisman
bar:26 color:Full from:2003 till:end text:Schlarman
bar:27 color:Full from:2003 till:end text:Oakwood
bar:28 color:Full from:2003 till:end text:Georgetown-Ridge Farm
bar:29 color:Full from:2003 till:end text:Hoopeston Area
bar:30 color:Full from:2003 till:end text:Westville
bar:31 color:Full from:2021 till:end text:Cissna Park
bar:32 color:Full from:2021 till:end text:Iroquois West
bar:33 color:Full from:2021 till:end text:Watseka
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1933
TextData =
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text:^"Vermilion Valley Membership History"
- > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following six options Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space. <#