Exploring Cairo, Illinois

Exploring the historic dying town of Cairo, Illinois. Cairo sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers at Illinois' southernmost point. Racial unrest and extreme economic decline caused Cairo to shrink to a fraction of its former population throughout the last century, and it continues to shrink more every year. The town is filled with dilapidated and condemned buildings and lots where now demolished homes and business once stood. The residents still living in Cairo struggle with disproportionately higher rates of poverty and unemployment compared to the rest of the state. This is probably the most depressing walk I've done so far.

Recorded June 13, 2021