Talk:Cairo, Illinois

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Please reference a Wikipedia article on "Foote" in the paragraph about Grant and Foote having bases in Cairo. -KyleWild —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 02:04, November 15, 2006 (talk • contribs) KyleWild.

Recently we drove into Cairo and were amazed at its condition. What caused this decline? Where can I find more info on this city?—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 169.207.157.11 (talk • contribs) 18:45, October 28, 2003 (UTC)

[edit] Cairo, Illinois

In my opinion the development and utilization of radar on all river traffic allowed the many vessels on the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers, which have a confluence at Cairo, to run day and night without the need to tie up at night and let their personnel go ashore. Cairo had been a haven for gambling, prostitution, open unregulated bars and taverns which were probably controled by organized crime syndicates out of East St. Louis. These activities were popular with folks working on the river or servicing that industry. Also Cairo's resistance to intergrate kept the population racially separate but positively not equal. A reform city government in the mid 50's ended most of the criminal activity in the town which also ended it's draw from the general vicinity of people seeking such "entertainment". Then the intergration events that soon followed in the 60's led to riots, looting, gunfire, and deaths, all of which further fractured the population along racial lines. The riots that took place during these days distroyed many of the factories, stores, banks, hospitals, and other businesses that offered at least some employment to the population. Most middle class and upper class citizens moved away from Cairo and took their resources with them. It was only a matter of time before the city bled itself dry of resources. The tax base dwindled and the ability to provide governmental services similarly suffered. I do not see the data showing what percent of the population in Cairo is currently on welfare in one form or another but I would venture it would be far greater than 50-60%. I grew up in Cairo and as a child and a teenager I recall it as a wonderful, in fact beautiful, place to live. Today it is a sad city dwindling into firewood and empty lots.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Osotex (talk • contribs) 02:02, September 27, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Pronunciation

This is a minor thing but is it pronounced "Care-O" or "Kay-Ro"? I was always under the impression it was the latter. --Dmz5 04:06, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

It's "Care-O". 151.196.122.129 02:04, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

I've always heard it pronounced Kay-row, but maybe folks in Maryland pronounce it differently. --Dual Freq 02:12, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm from Cairo, and it's always been pronounced "Care-o". 151.196.122.129 07:43, 1 January 2007 (UTC)