Cairo, County seat in Alexander County, Illinois.
Cairo is a county seat in Alexander County, Illinois. The town sits on a narrow peninsula where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi, surrounded by water on three sides.
Settlers founded the town in 1818 and named it after the Egyptian city because of its location between two rivers. During the nineteenth century it grew into an important hub for riverboats and railroads.
The city maintains several administrative buildings and structures that reflect its role as the governmental center of Alexander County.
The courthouse building downtown holds the county administrative offices, which are open on weekdays. Visitors can find information about public records and local government services on site.
The town sits at the southernmost point of Illinois, farther south than parts of Missouri and Kentucky. This location made it a strategic spot for the Union during the Civil War.
Location: Alexander County
Inception: 1818
Elevation above the sea: 96 m
Website: http://ci.quincy.il.us
GPS coordinates: 37.01306,-89.18028
Latest update: December 12, 2025 21:23
Photo license: CC BY-SA 4.0
Fort Defiance
4.3 km
Cairo Mississippi River Bridge
4.8 km
Church of Hosios David
8.1 km
Wickliffe Mounds
9.1 km
Magnolia Manor
448 m
Cache River
6 km
Cairo Ohio River Bridge
3.7 km
Cairo Rail Bridge
1.2 km
Cairo I-57 Bridge
3 km
Twin Mounds Site
6.9 km
Cairo Historic District
990 m
Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve
11.3 km
Dogtooth Bend Mounds and Village Site
14.8 km
Mound City National Cemetery
8.2 km
Marshall Site
15.4 km
Mound City Civil War Naval Hospital
8.2 km
Pulaski County Courthouse
8.7 km
Ballard County Courthouse
9.7 km
Barlow House
12.7 km
Trimble House
9.4 km
Gem Theatre
1.8 km
King Theatre
12.2 km
Charleston Country Club
14.6 km
Egyptian Country Club
14.4 km
Cairo River Wall Murals
1.4 km
Work of art
1.7 km
Lowest Point in Illinois
4.8 km
Scenic viewpoint
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