Cairo is the county seat of Alexander County, Illinois located at the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Ohio River with a population of 3,632 at the 2000 census. Founded by the Cairo City and Canal Company in 1837, incorporated as a city in 1858 Cairo grew slowly, but the sale of lots (commencing in 1853), and the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad, brought settlers and by 1860, the population exceeded 2,000. It was an important steamboat port in the 19th century, with its own Customs House designed by Alfred B. Mullet, the Supervising Architect during Reconstruction. During the Civil War, Cairo was a strategically important supply base and training center for the Union army. For several months, both General U.S. Grant and Admiral Foote had headquarters stationed in town. 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, and the civil rights organization United Front led a decade-long boycott of white-owned businesses. The effects of this conflict are still being felt today, and there is a movement to stop the gradual abandonment of the city, restore architectural landmarks, develop tourism focusing on its history, and bring new opportunities back to the community.
From the description of Records of Cairo, Illinois, 1850-1894. (Southern Illinois University). WorldCat record id: 256077904
