The History of Dix High School
Dix (population 494) is located in south-cental Illinois in the north-central portion of Jefferson County.
Dix is located on the east side of Interstate Highway 57. Illinois Route 37 passes through Dix as does County Highway
39. The Norfolk Southern Railroad curves through the west side of Dix. According to the Wikipedia web address of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dix,_Illinois ,
Dix is located on high ground that marks the boundary between the Big Muddy River and
its tributary, Casey Creek.
The Wikipedia address listed above also gives a brief, excellent account of the history of the town
of Dix. In summary, the area where Dix now sits was originally inhabited in 1830. A post office was established
there in 1852, proclaiming the town to be named Rome. The town was incorporated in 1869 but was forced to change
its name as there was already a town in Illinois named Rome. It is believed the townspeople named the town Dix
in honor of Civil War hero General John Adams Dix.
We currently have very little concrete information on Dix High School, we only know that it did, in fact,
exist. Our guess is that the residents of Dix had a school in place for their children by the mid-1800s. A high
school was probably established in the late 1800s. We think that Dix High School may have fell victim to the state of
Illinois' push to consolidate school districts in the late 1940s. Dix High School closed in 1943. The
high school-aged children of Dix now attend Mt. Vernon High School, its neighbor to the south.
Dix has continued to support a grade school for its children. Dix grade school supports
grades PK - 8. The fate of the Dix High School building is being sought.
Dix High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
late 1800s?
Year closed:
1943
Consolidated to:
Mt. Vernon High School
Dix HS team nickname: unavailable
Dix HS team colors: unavailable
School Fight Song: unavailable
