Lakes / Illinois / Williamson County / Crab Orchard Lake
Crab Orchard Lake, Illinois
7,292.57 acres
Surface Area
Where It Sits, and How Deep It Goes
Locator - Illinois
37.72 degrees N, 89.09 degrees W - Williamson County. State and county outlines drawn from Census boundary data; the lake marker is placed by its USGS National Hydrography Dataset coordinates, not by eye. Schematic - not a survey map.
How Crab Orchard Lake Stacks Up
- Ranks #5 for surface area among the Illinois lakes counted so far - 7,292.57 acres.
- The largest lake in Williamson County among those counted.
- About 7 miles from Carbondale, as the crow flies.
Lakes Nearby
| Lake | County | Distance | Surface Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pond 17 | Williamson | 3.9 mi | 39.04 acres |
| Herrin Reservoir | Williamson | 4.3 mi | 50.41 acres |
| Madison Lake | Williamson | 6.4 mi | 26.19 acres |
| Devils Kitchen Lake | Williamson | 6.6 mi | 711.91 acres |
| Spring Arbor Lake | Jackson | 6.7 mi | 66.47 acres |
| Little Grassy Lake | Williamson | 6.8 mi | 905.39 acres |
Straight-line distance between lake centers.
Facts and Figures
Questions About Crab Orchard Lake
How Big Is Crab Orchard Lake?
Crab Orchard Lake covers 7,292.57 acres in Williamson County, Illinois.
What Is the Largest Lake in Williamson County?
Crab Orchard Lake is the largest lake in Williamson County, at 7,292.57 acres.
Largest Lakes in Illinois
| # | Lake | County | Surface Area | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlyle Lake | Clinton | 22,796.77 acres | - |
| 2 | Mine Number 21 Reservoir | Franklin | 17,062.04 acres | - |
| 3 | Upper Peoria Lake | Woodford | 15,460.64 acres | - |
| 4 | Lake Shelbyville | Shelby | 10,235.1 acres | - |
| 5 | Crab Orchard Lake | Williamson | 7,292.57 acres | - |
All 511 Illinois lakes ranked by surface area
Sources: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (The National Map) lake data (ID 120031525). Verified October 30, 2026.