This is a tune that I have been meaning to inquire about for some time. Just never got around to it. Now you've pushed me into it.

If you take a close look at the references on the net, you'll notice a strong bias toward the Lower Midwest, notably Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois.

Here's the reason.   The Allen Street Stringband (Springfield, Illinois) was playing a festival some years ago. A lady played this tune for them. One of the band members grabbed a recorder and managed to catch the tune. Unfortunately, what they failed to get was her name OR the name of the tune.

So lacking the real name, they named it after Red Hills State Park ~~ the festival site in Illinois.

All of the musicians listed in a Google search, Bob Holt, The Dixie Darlin's, Joe Jewell, Diane Ippel, etc. learned the piece either directly or indirectly from members of the Allen Street String Band. (For example, take note on Ippel's site ~~ Bill Rintz of the Allen Streeters is listed on her 1996 CD credits)

This accounts for the regional location of the tune, but does NOT answer the question. WHAT IS THE REAL NAME OF THE PIECE? Red Hills Polka is just what the members of the Allen Street String Band decided to call it. It is a good name, but not the original name by any means.

If anybody can take this little bit of information and run with it, additional facts concerning the history of the tune would certainly be appreciated. My only copy of the tune (by The Dixie Darlin's) is not handy at the moment, but when I locate it, I will get a copy to Joe to help in the search.

Source for some of the information above: Archival recordings of the Ozark Folk Center and conversations with some of the musicians involved.