Cairo, IL

wsxyz · #1 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 8:29 PM**

I was driving though Illinois last summer and decided to make a detour to see Cairo, IL. I was quite surprised by what I saw...

Apparently life has been tough since the city is no longer serves as a river port.

But some of the abandoned buildings still look ok.

There were a few cars around, but no signs of the owners, and no signs that any of the building were occupied.

Most of the city looks this

The church still looks decent, but the road is blocked

There are a few people left in Cairo. I don't have pictures, but there are some occupied houses and a functioning diner on the US Highway passing by on the outskirts of town, and right on the river, next to the levee/wall, there is a multistory government housing project that contains, I suppose, the remaining population of Cairo.

hauntedheadnc · #2 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 8:42 PM**

Ye gods... I'm having flashbacks to Silent Hill.

Chicago103 · #3 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 8:52 PM**

Here are the population stats I found for Cairo, IL:

Year/Population/growth
1850 242 –
1860 2,188 804.1%
1870 6,267 186.4%
1880 9,011 43.8%
1890 10,324 14.6%
1900 12,566 21.7%
1910 14,548 15.8%
1920 15,203 4.5%
1930 13,532 -11.0%
1940 14,407 6.5%
1950 12,123 -15.9%
1960 9,348 -22.9%
1970 6,277 -32.9%
1980 5,931 -5.5%
1990 4,846 -18.3%
2000 3,632 -25.1%

As you can see Cairo peaking in 1920 with 15,232 people, probably about the same time many of those buildings are built, so the downtown is meant to support that many people. Its 2000 population is 3,632, which means its smaller today than it was in 1870! Its not really a ghostown but its less than 1/4 the size that it once was. Does it seem that the remaining population is in pockets or are there just people scattered everywhere giving the impression that its close to adandoned?

ChiSoxRox · #4 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 9:20 PM**

It's always a little sad to see a small town slowly die. Cairo (pronounced kay-ro) was a booming town back during riverboat times, since it is at the junction of the Mississippi and its largest tributary, the Ohio River.

Interesting fact: Cairo, Illinois is closer to Jackson, Mississippi than Chicago.

Steely Dan · #5 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 9:29 PM**

those pics are downright eery.

Jeeper · #6 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 9:32 PM**

I bet the kids can't wait to get out of that town.

Derek · #7 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 10:19 PM**

reminds me of House of Wax...

but nice pictures

Ex-Ithacan · #8 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 10:42 PM**

Almost looks as if it belongs in the "Lost Cities" thread. Sad as hell.

LSyd · #9 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 10:43 PM**

creepy. thanks for the tour.

-

BnaBreaker · #10 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 10:49 PM**

Christ, that is bizarre. I've always wondered what Cairo and Metropolis, IL looked like. It's hard to believe that even 100 people live there, much less 3,000. Where is everybody?

Ex-Ithacan · #11 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 10:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BnaBreaker

Where is everybody?

Walmart?

Tex1899 · #12 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 11:14 PM**

Cairo is mentioned in Huckleberry Finn...where the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers meet. I've passed through the town twice, once traveling from Houston to Chicago and the second time Houston to Indianapolis. The town is really sad. My guess is there are a lot of towns in the midwest and northeast that are similar. So much history. Imagine what it must've been like at its peak!

One of the benefits to Texas is we tend to not have many towns like this (check out population stats for small(er) towns and pay attention to the population change from '81-'86 if you have time and want to see dramatic population changes). One of the drawbacks (one of the few

) is that our towns generally aren't old enough to have historic (looking) buildings like these.

spyguy · #13 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 11:19 PM**

Looks like a fine place...

DetroitSky · #14 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 11:29 PM**

The photos didn't come up for me...

LuckyTrix · #15 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 11:41 PM**

I go through Cairo almost everytime I head to Kansas City(MO). Yes, it's pretty bad there and I never see very many people out and about.

Evergrey · #16 Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 11:50 PM**

fascinating... we have a town like that around here called Brownsville

rockyi · #17 Posted **Apr 6, 2007, 12:13 AM**

I guess it's not a very good sign of life when grass is growing that thick through the sidewalks. So many of those victorian storefronts look salvageable too..... But it would make a great horror movie set.

Xing · #18 Posted **Apr 6, 2007, 1:15 AM**

Illinois is actually one of the most capitalistic states in the country. Some of the poorest and richest areas of the United States, can be found in Illinois. Southern Illinois is a cesspool of poverty. Chicago's North VS South Side is a metaphore for it all. East St. Louis , and its story, is another one.

flar · #19 Posted **Apr 6, 2007, 1:19 AM**

It looks pretty much like a ghosttown. I think I've seen pictures of this town before. Quite sad and fascinating at the same time.

Jaroslaw · #20 Posted **Apr 6, 2007, 5:02 PM**

Wow! I would move there if my family let me... Can't help thinking, why not give green cards to 2,000 Chinese or Indians, on the condition they have to live in Cairo for ten years...