Moving from CA to Cairo...Where and what kind of work is available? (Decatur: high crime, loans)

[cp8983]

Sorry, "Far From Home" is a book which came out in the early 90s; you can get a used copy cheap on Amazon (I think mine cost .25 or something ridiculous like that). Highly recommended for a current take on Cairo - and much of the storyline concerns one professor's plans for redevelopment.

[By~Tor]

Originally Posted by allelle

Hi there. I'm considering moving to Cairo to fix up a lovely old victorian and would like to get information on employment in the area. Where and what kinds of jobs are available. I'm very used to driving (I drive 25 miles to work now) and would just like to get an idea of what opportunities are available. I'd also love to know what gives Cairo it's sense of community? Are there bookstores, cafes, or any places locals can hang out.

Any and all info will be much appreciated.

Cairo's a ghetto.

Don't go there for any reason other than to visit....

[jojojohnson76]

Why would you visit there?

[Drover]

Originally Posted by jojojohnson76

Why would you visit there?

Well, it does some historic value. Once upon a time it was a very important transportation hub for obvious reasons. the Customs House is a nice relic of that day. Not to mention there is some voyeuristic value in driving around this sad-sack place and looking for signs that this was once a thriving and relatively wealthy city. Believe it or not, there are still a handful of fairly grand homes that are still in good shape. And finally, it has what is reputed to be one of the best barbecue shacks in the Midwest. One of these days I intend to put that claim to the test.

[karlsch]

One of the things Cairo was famous for was their ability to put on a good lynching. They did them indoors, circus style and sold souvenir postcards, too. Here is the card of the 1909 lynching of Will James:

[cairoborn1971]

Just an interesting historical note.... Cairo loaned money to Chicago to help rebuild after the Great Fire. Obviously, they didn't charge enough interest. I live in San Diego, CA now but wouldn't mind going back to Cairo someday. The only problem is IL is worse than CA when it comes to Government! At least out here you can call it the sunshine tax!

[cp8983]

Cairoborn1971;
Why would you go back? I'd like to hear your reasons, especially after most of the negative posts on Cairo. As a native, do you see sides that others are missing?

[By~Tor]

Originally Posted by cairoborn1971

Just an interesting historical note.... Cairo loaned money to Chicago to help rebuild after the Great Fire.

Actually, I believe that would be "Shawneetown", not Cairo.... unless BOTH loaned the money--- and now, (Old) Shawneetown is only about 600 people total.... go figure...

[lillexi09]

Hi my name is Alexis. I am 16 years old. I have lived in Cairo my whole life. I hate CAiro as much as the next person. There is NOTHING for young ppl to do...nothing they should be doing anyway. I live in downtown Cairo. Really close to where that pic was taken. Cairo is a dump. But i got news for you. If you want to move here do it. I wouldnt recommend it though. If we could just get some money Cairo would be a great place. There is so much history here. And its in a very good location. I would love nothing more than to see Cairo rise up and overcome all of its depression. However, that isnt going to happen if nobody comes. Nobody cares about the people stuck here. Its the parents fault not ours that we live here. Maybe if people moved here and opened up businesses and did something with it, more ppl would come. Cairo has its downfalls but as much as I hate it, I gotta love it. It's my home. And for all u ppl who got somethin smart to say and always criticizing cairo maybe if you bring ur ass down here and do somethin with it it wouldnt be so bad. If you dont live here and dont plan on helpin us out dont criticize our home.

[By~Tor]

"Getting some money" in there is NOT the sum answer, here... Cairo has had infusion after infusion of capital from Springfield, yet the crime and poverty continue.

Location-wise, Cairo IS perfectly situated for barge-based businesses, but the highway system leaves much to be desired, unless you want to travel I-57 to get everywhere... the rest of the roads arew all two-lane monstrosities with farm vehicles plodding along at 30 mph....

As far as criticizing but not living there, I lived in Harrisburg for 10 years and know Cairo very well... but I also don't live in Beirut, but I'd criticize what I see wrong with that area as well.... there's nothing wrong with having pride in where you live, but in Cairo's case, something positive needs to FINALLY happen there, before there's any reason to have pride in anything other than its past glory days....

Cairo is a crime-ridden ghetto, and its a shame that Illinois has allowed this to happen to a once-great city... the antebellum history of Cairo is well known in historical circles, and if a combination of monetary influx were to be combined with a concerted effort by several different business channels to revive the city, it could still have somewhat of a future... but right now, the chips are not being bet, on that hand happening, anytime soon..

Originally Posted by lillexi09

Hi my name is Alexis. I am 16 years old. I have lived in Cairo my whole life. I hate CAiro as much as the next person. There is NOTHING for young ppl to do...nothing they should be doing anyway. I live in downtown Cairo. Really close to where that pic was taken. Cairo is a dump. But i got news for you. If you want to move here do it. I wouldnt recommend it though. If we could just get some money Cairo would be a great place. There is so much history here. And its in a very good location. I would love nothing more than to see Cairo rise up and overcome all of its depression. However, that isnt going to happen if nobody comes. Nobody cares about the people stuck here. Its the parents fault not ours that we live here. Maybe if people moved here and opened up businesses and did something with it, more ppl would come. Cairo has its downfalls but as much as I hate it, I gotta love it. It's my home. And for all u ppl who got somethin smart to say and always criticizing cairo maybe if you bring ur ass down here and do somethin with it it wouldnt be so bad. If you dont live here and dont plan on helpin us out dont criticize our home.