Former location of Polish Daily Zgoda newspaper. Cairo Illinois – On the verge of extinction. Winner will be selected at random on 03/01/2021. The town’s population, which had been over 15,000 at its peak in the 1920s, had dipped to 6,000 by the ’80s. People in town were spreading rumors that James had not only committed the crime but confessed to it. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. A prolonged economic downturn and sustained racial unrest, reduced this city of 15,000 people to a nearly vacant town of a little over 2,000. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. No longer did cargo need to be passed on ferries. Back in its days, it was a prosperous and promising town with a population of 15,000 people. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. In 1910, a police officer was shot while trying to prevent a lynching, and the National Guard had to be called in once again. Private Trip: A Culinary Exploration of Lisbon, Private Trip: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, Private Trip: Chernobyl by Day, Kyiv by Night, Private Trip: A Galician Culinary & Seaside Adventure, Sunday Sabor: A Masterclass in Spanish Rice, Lovely 'Lake Stars' Shine in Winter's Chill, The Easy, Edible Art of Lunar New Year Dumplings, On the Slopes With Montana's Avalanche Detectives, Found: The Lost Tlingit Fort That Defended Alaska From Russian Attack, Biocrusts Are an Entire World Beneath Our Feet, Meet the Experimental Violinist Forging Her Own Path, How a Blacksmith in Jordan Created His Own Sign Language, In Naples, Praying With Skulls Is an Ancient Tradition, Situated at the flood-prone confluence of, ISS Crew Earth Observations/Public Domain, http://www.lib.niu.edu/1997/ii970228.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo,_Illinois, https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/eddwx/what_the_hell_happened_to_cairo_illinois/, http://abandonedonline.net/2012/02/13/a-trip-to-cairo-illinois/. The beginnings of this town are even more dark and gloomy. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Sep 19, 2016 - Discover Abandoned Town of Cairo, Illinois in Cairo, Illinois: A once-booming Mississippi River port town has transformed into an eerie, mostly abandoned ghost town. Cairo, Illinois, located in Alexander County at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers surrounded by levees, was strategically important during the … The historic downtown area, once bustling and busy, is now filled with crumbling brick and plywood-covered windows. However, those that decide to drive through the town will find it eerily empty and deserted. The deterioration has slowly made its way “uptown” (northwest) into residential neighborhoods as well. Discover (and save!) Trigger Random Notes 39 Comments. Heavy winter storms caused the Ohio River to swell to record levels that year and wipe out towns big and small. Before it became Cairo, Illinois, the area was a fort and tannery for some of the first French traders who arrived in 1702, but their operation was cut short after Cherokee Indians slaughtered most of them. One of America's most haunting abandoned cities is a once prosperous port town called Cairo, Illinois. Cairo has been decaying for decades, and currently the business district is virtually totally boarded up, tumbling down, or razed. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. Today, however, a walk or drive through Cairo will find it eerily empty. But what sits abandoned – which is a lot – is truly haunting. In its heyday, Cairo was an important city along the steamboat routes and railway lines. May 1, 2012 - Ever come across something so offbeat that you craved an answer to its existence, but no one could give it to you? Located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers at the southernmost tip of Illinois is the town of Cairo, pronounced “Care-O.” By far, one of the strangest and saddest cities I’ve ever visited, I was immediately intrigued by the empty streets and abandoned and crumbling buildings. In 1855, Cairo became the terminus of Illinois Central Railroad and the town flourished as trade with Chicago spurred development. Abandoned Town of Cairo, Illinois. Cairo Perspective Map, 1885 Wikimedia Commons. Zillow has 4 homes for sale in Cairo IL. With the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1856, the city became even more interconnected in … Aug 29, 2016 - Discover Abandoned Town of Cairo, Illinois in Cairo, Illinois: A once-booming Mississippi River port town has transformed into an eerie, mostly abandoned ghost town. The town also began to encounter flooding so bad that many people would only rent properties rather than buy because they knew their time there was not permanent. A town named after greed itself, this once beautiful place is now a shell of its former glory. In the mid-1960s,  the alleged police murder of a young Black soldier on leave in Cairo prompted protests and riots, and the National Guard was briefly activated. Love Illinois? Once a booming river town of 15,000 population in the early 20th Century, Cairo declined into what some call a ghost town one-fifth the population a century later following several racially tinged riots and severe flooding, including one inin … In 1905, a new railroad bridge was built which crossed the Mississippi River, except this one stopped in a town just north of Cairo. Situated at the flood-prone confluence of the Mississippi River and the Ohio River, at the southernmost point in Illinois, the port town of Cairo (pronounced CARE-o) boomed along with the steamboat industry. Note the streetlight hanging in the tree branches to the left. We and our partners process personal data such as IP Address, Unique ID, browsing data for: Use precise geolocation data | Actively scan device characteristics for identification.. There was a time when people believed this town should be the capital of the United States as it was such a hub for steamboats and other activities. Revisiting Cairo, Illinois - Abandoned - Abandoned Building Photography says: October 31, 2019 at 8:16 AM […] a strategically important city at the juncture of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, Cairo, Illinois is in terminal decline after decades of racial […] Some of Cairo’s Black citizens left for more progressive pastures. ... Down in Cairo, Illinois on a Saturday night Racial tensions were always high in the community, but as the shipping and ferrying industries declined, jobs grew more scarce and the racial unrest intensified. This, of course, has led to all sorts of stories about the town being haunted. After comi A motel advertisement from the mid-20th century. At the southernmost point in Illinois, where the Mississippi River and Ohio River meet, the city of Cairo still stands today. Use Route 51, and it'll take you right through town. The Halliday family in Cairo, Illinois, 1903. From Alabama to Wyoming, there are abandoned towns, amusement parks, and ruins lurking in your home state. A century later, the area at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers became the subject of Lewis and Clark’s first scientific study. Many of the commercial buildings are gone, replaced with green lawns. This 1920 photograph shows the residence of Henry Halliday, one of five brothers who were prominent businessmen in Cairo in the last half of the 19th Century. Like many towns in America, here is one that began with prejudice and racism, and it is one that was swallowed up by it as well. Apr 1, 2018 - Explore lasherboy20's photos on Flickr. Spurred on by an impromptu excursion to photograph the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge that partially collapsed on January 26 in western Kentucky, I decided to visit a part of the state that I had not yet fully explored. Several attempts to survey the land were made throughout the 1800s. Read on to learn more about the true story behind this Illinois ghost town. How The Abandoned City of Cairo, IL Became a Favorite Muse for Country Artists. It was dismantled after the war and has since become the location of a state park. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat of Alexander County. In the late 1990s, tunnels believed to have been used during the Underground Railroad were discovered beneath the streets near the tracks in Cairo. When railroads crisscrossed the United States some of the steamboat traffic was subtracted, but Cairo was also an important station point along numerous train lines. The ruins of the "20-year town" lay out among the mountains of Alberta. Photo credit carlfbagge via Flickr. Most African Americans left these camps to become sharecroppers in the south as no one would give them work in the north. 1 of 31. The lowest point in the state of Illinois, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. So what’s left of Cairo? May 27, 2013 - This Pin was discovered by Judy Cockrell. South of Cairo, the historic site of Fort Defiance, which was once an Illinois State Park that was given over to the City of Cairo, is now abandoned. Abandoned building in Cairo pronounced CARE-o, Illinois, a small city at the southern tip of the state, wedged between Kentucky and Missouri. The town of Cairo, Illinois was established in 1836 in the heart of "Little Egypt".That's where the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers converge, in an area with the lowest elevation of any location within Illinois. Villa Park, Illinois. Marches, protests, the bombing of buildings, and even 150 nights of gunfire took place in the 1970s. This ghost town houses the remains of Alabama's old state capital. The location of the town is still perfect for commerce interchange because it also has interstate connections going east and west as well. The only cultural institutions that have really survived are the few state-owned Victorian manors and the Cairo Public Library. Much of the rest of the town has been abandoned. Even creepier are buildings where nature has begun to take over. Even though this is a ghost town, there still is a population of roughly 3,000. If you’ve ever been to this abandoned town, we’d love to hear from you. The angry mob that formed hunted James down and removed him from police custody to take him back to Cairo where they hung him in the town square. A hotel was built as well as a shipyard, warehouses, sawmills, an ironworks, and several residential cottages. An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. The city that the country forgot is preparing its comeback. A view of downtown Cairo taken from an open flood wall gate in 2015. Jun 4, 2020 - Discover Abandoned Town of Cairo, Illinois in Cairo, Illinois: A once-booming Mississippi River port town has transformed into an eerie, mostly abandoned ghost town. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Aerial view of Cairo and confluence of Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments. African American Wily Anderson was shot by sniper bullets, and a few weeks later, a white police officer was shot. Next time, try asking Reddit. A once-booming Mississippi River port town has transformed into an eerie, mostly abandoned ghost town. Feb 2, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Caroline Sagat. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. There is a Mississippi bridge to the northwest, and one coming up from the south, and there is an Ohio bridge coming in from the east. Different flood level crests are marked on the Cairo flood wall. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The hospital was originally opened in 1958 as St Mary’s Hospital. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals. Aug 29, 2019 - Discover Abandoned Town of Cairo, Illinois in Cairo, Illinois: A once-booming Mississippi River port town has transformed into an eerie, mostly abandoned ghost town. Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic. The 1930s brought the Great Depression, wiping out more of the population, and in 1937, a great flood forced the town to evacuate. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: Europeans first came across it in the late 1600s, but it was not settled until 1702 when French pioneers pushed Native Americans off of their land and built a fort and tannery. The local government has attempted to revive the city through now-racially integrated historic preservation initiatives, but most of these have failed. Abandoned Building in Downtown Cairo. Camp Defiance was a prominent facility located in Cairo. your own Pins on Pinterest Offer subject to change without notice. Part of abandoned historic downtown Cairo, Illinois. The town has mostly been abandoned because of its economic desperation, though its history of racial tension and periodic flooding certainly didn’t help. Abandoned Southern Medical Center — Cairo, Illinois The Southern Medical Center of Cairo was located near the center of the city at the intersection of Cross Street and Cedar Street. Basically the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places, and history is hidden everywhere. For more like this, check out these 11 abandoned places in Illinois before they wither away. This curious headstone is labeled simply as "The Queen.". In 1917, there were times when nearly 15 percent of the population was locked up in jail, and the town was beginning to gain a new reputation. Feb 2, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Sunshine Zaro. Some partners do not ask for your consent to process your data, instead, they rely on their legitimate business interest. Yet again, mobs began to form, and the governor had to call in the National Guard to break them up. The racial unrest and economic shortsightedness continued, and everything in Cairo organically declined over the decades to come. your own Pins on Pinterest The Cherokee eventually revolted by killing most of the 30 or so men and taking the furs they were collecting to sell. People in the town were upset because they wanted a speedy trial, and it was being delayed. An abandoned building in Cairo, Illinois. Eventually, a railroad was completed in 1853 that connected Cairo all the way to Galena. You have to love a museum with a truly dedicated focus. As of 2010 it was down to roughly 2,000. Cairo, Illinois is an abandoned town that sits at the tri-state with Kentucky and Missouri. This near-ghost town offers an inexpensive place to live, but there are not many businesses left for people to utilize. By 1860, the … A focus on Superman, for example. After a series of mergers and reorganizations via the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway in 1881; the Cairo, Vincennes and Chicago Railway in 1889; the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway; and the New York Central Railroad in 1906, the line ended up under ownership of the Southern Railway, who abandoned this portion of the line between Vincennes, IN and … By this time, the population was less than half what it had been 50 years prior. A Trip to Cairo, Illinois By Abandoned On February 13, 2012. Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. See. A semi-abandoned village destroyed by U.S. bombings during World War II dominates the valley of Turano. Only about 3,000 remained in the area, but without money to buy land, people felt desolate. The Civil War Reconstruction period brought a migration of formerly enslaved people to Cairo. Like many towns in America, here is one that began with prejudice and racism, and it is one that was swallowed up by it as well. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. lasherboy20 has uploaded 261 photos to Flickr. To learn more or withdraw consent, please visit our cookie policy. When the rope broke, mobsters shot his still breathing body and then dragged it through the town before setting it on fire. Cairo has our two main rivers (Ohio & Mississippi) converging beside it and it still is ideal for merchants moving all kinds of products. With its location right at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, you might assume that Cairo, Illinois would be a bustling town-- not quite as busy as it would have been during the glory days of riverboats (in fact, Cairo was seen as the Promised Land in Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a place where Huck and escaped slave Jim could … Today there are barely 2,400 residents that remain and call this place home. Discover Abandoned Town of Cairo, Illinois in Cairo, Illinois: A once-booming Mississippi River port town has transformed into an eerie, mostly abandoned ghost town. The sheriff of the town was hiding James in the woods about 30 miles north of Cairo for his protection. Now that is just from the physical location of Cairo, Illinois. Discover (and save!) It’s the charge of country and folk musicians to sing about the struggles of the common people that often go woefully unheralded by the rest of popular culture. Discover (and save!) General Ulysses S. Grant used it as a naval base and supply camp. That same year, though, the town had the highest murder rate in the state. No purchase necessary. In response to perceived threats from the Black community, the white community formed a civilians’ militia called the “White Hats.” Predictably, the group was more focused on quelling Black protesters than on improving the community as a whole. Basically the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places, and history is hidden everywhere. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. The concrete skeletons of an abandoned Swedish town hide among the trees. your own Pins on Pinterest We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders. Everywhere, there are dismal reminders that less than 2,500 people now live in a city designed for many more. Mike stumbled upon Cairo by accident one night while driving around the southernmost tip of Illinois. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. All rights reserved. Built in the early 1900s in Cairo, Illinois and abandoned since 1986. Ever the curious person, he parked his car on Main Street and began looking around. Cairo, Illinois is an abandoned town that sits at the tri-state with Kentucky and Missouri. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! 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They beheaded him and stuck his head on a pole placed in the ground. Fifteen years after that, John G. Comegys of Baltimor… Many business owners—and a few rather large industries—were economically forced to board up shop. Cairo, Illinois. © 2021 Atlas Obscura. Thank you! The meeting place of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers has seen significant flooding over the years. Photos from Flickr show the eerie, mostly abandoned Cairo, Illinois – a once-bustling town along the Mississippi River that now houses only a few thousand residents. Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! Not much. They run for about five or six blocks and were likely used to hide people. An image of Cairo's Commercial Avenue from the 1920s.

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