Cairo (/ˈkɛəroʊ/ KAIR-oh) is the southernmost city in Illinois and the county seat of Alexander County. The city is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Fort Defiance, a Civil War camp, was built at the confluence in 1862 by Union General Ulysses S.
Why is Cairo Illinois a ghost town?
The most horrific event that destroyed this abandoned town was the November 1909 lynching of Will James, who was accused of raping and murdering a 22-year-old white woman. A mob of angry townsfolk took him from police custody and murdered him.
Is Peoria in southern Illinois?
As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 113,150. It is the principal city of the Peoria Metropolitan Area in Central Illinois, consisting of the counties of Fulton, Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford, which had a population of 402,391 in 2020.
What is southern Illinois called?
Southern Illinois has long been referred to as "Little Egypt." This nickname may be the result of the practices of early settlers from Northern Illinois who traveled to Southern Illinois to buy grain after a series of bad winters and droughts.
Is Cairo Illinois still abandoned?
When the Civil War was over, Camp Defiance and most of the military buildings were dismantled. Many years later, the site of Camp Defiance would become Fort Defiance Park, an Illinois State Park. However, today, the park is owned by the city of Cairo. Unfortunately, it is abandoned, overgrown, and completely run down.
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