Cairo, Georgia

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Cairo is a city in Grady County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 9,239. The city is the county seat of Grady County^GR6.

The city's name is pronounced differently from Cairo, Egypt: like "K-row", kā·rō, or IPA /ˈkeɪɹoʊ/ (listen). Although Cairo is nicknamed the "Syrup City" it has no relationship with the popular Karo brand of corn syrup, which is pronounced the same way. But was so named due to the cane syrup that was produced from the early 1900's through the late 1990's. Several companies produced cane syrup, Rodenberry's being the most famous.

Reflecting this "syrup" heritage, the local football team was named the Cairo Syrupmakers. This off the wall mascot was said to be inspired during a rainy football game, when the owner of a local syrup plant helped out the home team by giving the players ponchos that had "Roddenbury Syrup" written across them. Another story says a newspaper reporter referred to the once-Tigers as "the syrupmakers from Cairo" in a game story, probably because there was a syrup plant in Cairo at the time. The mascot is depicted as a syrup pitcher. The term is often shortened to "Maids" for the girls or "Makers" for the boys.

In 1986 ESPN named the term Syrupmaker the number one nickname for a high school sports team.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Notable Natives
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Cairo is located at 30°52′40″N, 84°12′32″W (30.877803, -84.208877)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.3 km² (9.4 mi²). 24.1 km² (9.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.53%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 9,239 people, 3,465 households, and 2,456 families residing in the city. The population density was 383.2/km² (992.0/mi²). There were 3,898 housing units at an average density of 161.7/km² (418.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.99% White, 51.30% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.80% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.05% of the population.

There were 3,465 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 24.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,054, and the median income for a family was $30,352. Males had a median income of $29,063 versus $20,542 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,759. About 24.4% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.2% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Notable Natives

Teresa Edwards, former professional basketball player and an Olympic Gold Medalist.
Willie Harris, a member of the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox team.
Ernest Riles, a shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball from 1985 through 1993.
Jackie Robinson, a Baseball Hall of Fame member.
Bill Stanfill, a former All-Pro National Football League defensive end.
Mickey Thomas, lead singer of Starship (the 1980s incarnation of the band started as Jefferson Airplane)
Daryle Singletary, country music singer
Matthew Robinson, older brother of Jackie Robinson and Olympic Games silver medalist.
Brandon Weese[1],although recently admitting he was having an affair with Lance Bass,(former singer for N'Sync) has become a regional celebrity that has gained much fame in surrounding counties due to his notable mental prowess, and his abilility to present answers to recent economical and political problems in the surrounding areas.
Chad White[2], Notorious criminal that was arrested on three accounts of Murder,one account of grand-theft auto, and two accounts of robbery. He later published a reknown book discussing the criminal mind, while in a correctional facility. The book was intitled,"Pink Child, The Burrat, and The Voices in My Head."
Culpepper Clark, Dean of Grady College at the University of Georgia.