Cairo
The Dying City
State: Illinois
County: Alexander County
Founded: 1818
Abandoned: Declining
Peak Population: 15,203 (1920)
Cairo was a prosperous river port at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi. Civil War and steamboat traffic made it boom. Racial strife and economic decline emptied it from 15,000 (1920) to 1,700 today. Thousands of abandoned buildings remain.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Year-round
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 2 hours
Quick Facts
- Confluence of two rivers
- From 15,000 to 1,700
- Thousands of empty buildings
Location
Address: Cairo, IL
Coordinates: 37.005, -89.1764