Local city information for Cairo, IL

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 pronounced "KAY-row", different than Cairo ("KEYE-ro"), the capital city of Egypt .

Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and the Ohio Rivers, 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 Metropolitan Statistical Area. Several blocks in the town comprise the Cairo Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The Old Customhouse is also on the NRHP.


Cairo was founded by the Cairo City & Canal Company in 1837, and incorporated as a city in 1858. For 15 years the town grew slowly, but the sale of lots (commencing in 1853) and the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad attracted settlers. By 1860, the population exceeded 2,000.

It was an important steamboat port in the 19th century, with so much river traffic that the government located customs officials there. The United States Customs House (called the Old Customhouse) was designed by Alfred B. Mullet, the Supervising Architect during Reconstruction. One of only seven of his Victorian structures remaining in the nation, the building has been converted into a museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

During the Civil War, Cairo was a strategically important supply base and training center for the Union army. For several months both General Grant and Admiral Foote had headquarters here. The town has numerous fine examples of prosperous 19th and early 20th architecture, including the Italianate Magnolia Manor and Second Empire Riverlore Mansion. Much of the city, even in some areas of decay, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

With the decline in river trade, like many other river cities, Cairo has experienced a marked decline in its economy and population, from a 1907 high of 20,000 residents to 3,632 in 2000. There is a movement to stop abandonment of the city, restore Cairo's architectural landmarks, develop tourism focusing on its history and relation to the river, and bring new opportunities back to the community.

Sharing in the culture of the South, many Cairo residents supported racial segregation. In 1909 a mob of hundreds lynched black resident Will James. Racial discrimination remained part of the society. In 1969, Cairo was the site of an intense civil rights struggle to end segregation and create job opportunities. The threat of violence resulted in the National Guard being called in to restore order. The United Front civil rights organization led a decade-long boycott of white-owned businesses -- which encompassed virtually all the businesses in the town. Its economy crippled by that and the shift of traffic away from the river, Cairo has emerged slowly from the years of conflict. It shares the economic struggles of many cities on the Mississippi.

The city today faces many significant socio-economic challenges for the remaining population, including poverty, issues in education, employment and rebuilding its tax base. A community clinic offers medical and dental care, and also several mental health services.

Cairo’s turbulent history is chronicled on a concept music CD called Greetings From Cairo, Illinois, released in 2005 by musician Stace England.

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