Situated in a flood zone along 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. When railroads crisscrossed the United States, some steamboat traffic diminished, but Cairo remained a vital station point along numerous train lines. Over time, however, Cairo's decline became evident, with its once vibrant downtown area now a haunting sight of dilapidated buildings and boarded-up windows. As the town's economic desperation grew, coupled with a history of racial tension and periodic flooding, its fate was sealed.
One of the unfortunate parts of this town's history was its involvement in nudging against the civil rights movement, with many residents pushing back against equality and freedom for all. That, plus the constant flooding, gave this town a bad reputation throughout Illinois and beyond. In 2011, the Mississippi River surged, causing the Ohio River to rise higher than the devastating levels witnessed during the historic 1937 flood. The entire city was evacuated, with the possibility of 15 feet of water running through Cairo. This catastrophic event further underscored the town's vulnerability to natural disasters and forced many residents to face the harsh reality of abandonment.
Many residents claimed that Cairo was doomed before it even became the once-booming steamboat hub it briefly was. Because of its low-lying geographical position, Cairo, Illinois, was at the onset of constant flooding whenever the Mississippi River swelled. In 1937, there was a massive flood through the area, destroying many key sections of Cairo. Residents were able to clean things up, but there were occasional floods after that.
Cairo sat in a low geographical positioning in relation to the Mississippi River, leading to flooding every time the river reached capacity. There had been a devastating flood in 1937, and the last significant one was in 2011.
However, in 2011, the Mississippi River finally reached a breaking point, sending that excess water straight to the city: many experts estimate 15 feet of water took over the city. Cairo, Illinois, was always a small town, filled with quaint stores and local businesses. Unfortunately, these buildings were not equipped to withstand 15+ feet of water, with most falling apart. Not only did Cairo have a bad reputation among people in the surrounding towns because of its rocky past, but it was now completely underwater.
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Besides being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Cairo, Illinois, became a railroad shipping monolith and a ferry/steamboat hot spot. The city's close ties to the surrounding rivers gave access to waterways and water travel like never before. In the early 1900s, Cairo saw a population boost, bringing wealth and job opportunities to the area. Illinois still hosts many small towns with interesting backstories: but none like Cairo.
Of course, the town of Cairo also became known as the "Egypt" of southern Illinois', because it was located on one of the world's largest rivers. Cairo is near the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, which gave it a major advantage over other towns in the state back in the day.
Unfortunately, because technology never advanced much throughout the city's infrastructure: this proximity to water would one day be the kiss of death for the people in the area. The US National Park system also hosts ten abandoned sites, so this could become a trip in itself.
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Yes. For the most part, Cairo, Illinois, sits abandoned as of 2023. Because of the severe floods, racial tensions, financial disparage, and lack of viable population: Cairo was doomed well before the 2011 flood. Today, the town sits silent, often reminding those in surrounding areas of what it once was. Although still within a stunning location, Cairo was never reimagined or rebuilt by the state or federal government.
A similar situation happened in Thistle, Utah, where a flood destroyed the entire town.
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In many ways, residents and state officials tried to forget the place existed altogether. Countless videos have been taken driving through the town, showing nothing but abandoned buildings, vandalized storefronts, and nature beginning to swallow entire portions of Cairo. Typically, cities will devise a plan to redesign and clean up the rubble after a natural disaster: but for Cairo, this never comes to fruition. However, that's not to say that this won't happen one day, but for now, Cairo, Illinois, remains a sad reminder of the country's history and natural disasters.
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