Cairo (Kay-ro)
City
The massive gate that closes the town's protective levee is visible behind the railroad bridge
Name origin: Cairo, Egypt
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Alexander
Elevation	315 ft (96 m)
Coordinates	37°0′47″N 89°10′49″W / 37.01306, -89.18028
Area	9.1 sq mi (24 km²)
Population	3,632 (2000)
Density	198.9 /km² (515 /sq mi)
Founded	1858
Mayor	Judson Childs
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code	62914
Area code	618
Location of Cairo within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Cairo, Illinois

Cairo is a city in Alexander County, Illinois in the United States. The population was 3,632 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Alexander County. The city's name is /ˈkeɪɹoʊ/, (KAY-ro) pronounced differently from the English name for the capital city of Egypt.

Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Ohio River and is the southernmost town in the state of Illinois. Cairo is one of the few towns in Illinois protected by a levee. The rivers converge at what is the southernmost point in Illinois at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant.

It is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Cairo was founded in 1837 by the Cairo City and Canal Company, after an earlier effort (1818) had failed, and incorporated as a city in 1858. For fifteen years the town grew slowly, but the sale of lots, which commenced in 1853, and the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad attracted settlers, with the result that by 1860 the population exceeded 2,000. It was an important steamboat port in the nineteenth century; Cairo even had its own Customs House, which has since been converted into a museum. This important structure was designed by Alfred B. Mullet, the U.S. Supervising Architect during Reconstruction, and is one of only seven of his structures remaining. During the American Civil War, Cairo was of great strategic importance and for several months both Grant and Foote had headquarters there.

Cairo abandonment

The town has a number of fine examples of prosperous nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century architecture, included Magnolia Manor and Riverlore Mansion. Much of the city, even in some areas of decay, is listed on the Nation Register of Historic Places. The population of Cairo has declined from a 1920 high of 15,203 to 3,632 in 2000. There is a movement to stop this slow abandonment, and restore Cairo's architectural landmarks, develop tourism focusing on its history, and bring new opportunities back to the community.

In 1969, Cairo was the site of an intense civil rights struggle. The threat of violence resulted in the National Guard being called in to restore order. White-owned businesses were boycotted in a protest led by the United Front civil rights organization. Despite these events, Cairo has slowly emerged from this contention within the town.

Cairo today faces many significant socio-economic challenges, including poverty, education, and employment. There is now a community clinic offering medical and dental care, and also several mental health services. Much of Cairo’s turbulent history was chronicled on a music CD called Greetings From Cairo, Illinois released in 2005.

Historical places

The Riverlore

• Magnolia Manor
• The Riverlore
• Gem Theatre
• The Cairo Custom House
• A.B. Safford Memorial Library
• Fort Defiance State Park
• U.S. Post Office
• The Hewer

1997 Aerial view of Cairo, IL. Ohio River in foreground, Mississippi River in background.

Geography

Cairo is located at 37°0′47″N, 89°10′49″W (37.013144, -89.180345).^[1] The elevation above sea level is 315 feet (96 m).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.1 square miles (23.6 km²), including 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of water (22.78% of the total area).

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 3,632 people, 1,561 households, and 900 families residing in the city. The population density was 515.1 people per square mile (198.9/km²). There were 1,885 housing units at an average density of 103.2 per km² (267.3 per sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 35.93% White, 61.70% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races; 0.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,561 households out of which 30.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.3% were married couples living together, 25.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. Of all households, 39.7% are made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution is 30.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there were 79.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,607, and the median income for a family was $28,242. Males had a median income of $28,798 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,220. Of the population as a whole, 33.5% lives below the poverty line, as compared with 27.1% of families. Out of the total population, 47.0% of those under the age of 18 and 20.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

The city is served by Cairo Unified School District 1. Based on Census estimates, the Cairo school district has the highest percentage in Illinois of children in poverty, 60.6%. It is 15th highest in the United States.^[3]

The district has two elementary schools, Bennett Elementary School and Emerson Elementary School. Middle and high school students attend Cairo Junior/Senior High School.

Transportation

Cairo at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers

Cairo's location on a spit of land that lies between the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers made multiplexing US 51, 60 and 62 briefly through Illinois more practical than directly connecting Missouri and Kentucky. The result of Cairo's position as a critical highway junction is that Missouri and Kentucky are the only states to border each other with no direct highway connection between them.

Culture

Cairo is mentioned in the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and in a song by Josh Ritter called "Monster Ballads."

Notable Natives

• Four Major League Baseball players were born in Cairo - John Healy (1866), Ed Morgan (1904), Chet Covington (1910), and Vern Curtis (1920). Cairo had its own minor-league team (variously known as the Egyptians, Champions and Giants) in the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League from 1903-06, 1911-14 and 1922-24.
• Negro League Pitcher: Frank "Chip" McAllister - Born: April 29, 1918 - Died: May 5, 1987. Chip played from 1938 to 1946 for the Indianapolis ABC's, St, Louis Stars, New Orleans-St. Louis Stars, New York Black Yankees, Harrisburg-St. Louis Stars, Brooklyn Brown Dodgers and Cleveland Clippers. He was a big right-handed pitcher and occasional outfielder.
• Cairo is the birthplace and hometown of Illinois Appellate Judge Stephen L. Spomer.

References

See also

• List of cities and towns along the Ohio River
• Little Egypt
• Magnolia Manor
• Category:People from Cairo, Illinois

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Cairo, Illinois

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Cairo (Illinois).

• Cairo Chamber of Commerce
• History of Cairo, Illinois
• City-Data.com - Cairo, Illinois
• Pilot Light 2000 - site by Cairo high School alumni during 1960s
• Gem Theatre
• OERD Special Project/Fort Defiance Park - Southern Illinois University project about Fort Defiance

• Cairo, Illinois is at coordinates 37°00′47″N 89°10′49″W / 37.013144, -89.180345 (Cairo, Illinois)Coordinates: 37°00′47″N 89°10′49″W / 37.013144, -89.180345 (Cairo, Illinois)

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