Cairo, Ohio

History

Cairo was originally called West Cairo, and under the latter name was platted in 1848. A post office called West Cairo was established in 1852, and the name was changed to Cairo in 1922.

Geography

Cairo is located at the intersection of what was the east-west U.S. Route 30 (the Lincoln Highway) and the north-south State Route 65 ("Ottawa Road") in the middle of farming country. In the 1970s, Route 30 was upgraded and moved approximately one mile south of Cairo. Now, the east-west street in Cairo is Main Street. Cairo lies near the following city and towns:

The elevation of the land area of Cairo (ranges from about 812' at the west end to 842' at the east end of the village above sea level) is benchmarked at 815 feet (248 m) above sea level, generally flat and moderately wooded. The nearest stream with year-round flow is Rattlesnake Creek, which flows from south of the village and passes just to the west of the village. Water flow in the village is generally from the south and east to the north and west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.23 square miles (0.60 km²), all land.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 524 people, 198 households, and 150 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,278.3 inhabitants per square mile (879.7/km²). There were 214 housing units at an average density of 930.4 per square mile (359.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.7% White, 0.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 198 households of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 24.2% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the village was 37.2 years. 28.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 27.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 499 people, 181 households, and 148 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,064.0 people per square mile (802.8/km²). There were 184 housing units at an average density of 761.1 per square mile (296.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.60% White, 0.40% African American, 0.20% Asian, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 181 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the village, the population was spread out with 30.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $32,917, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $34,250 versus $25,313 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,365. About 6.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

Formerly known as West Cairo, Cairo is a village having a population in 2010 of 524. West Cairo was incorporated April 12, 1875.

Cairo is the hometown of Robert Franklin Jones, attorney and United States Congressman from 1939 to 1947.

Main Street in Cairo was a part of the country's first coast to coast road, the Lincoln Highway. At various times, there were Lincoln Highway markers and monuments along Main Street. The log building located at the Northeast corner of Main Street and Route 65 is known locally as the Lincoln Log Cabin. According to an article in the April 17, 2013 Lima News, the Log Cabin was built in 1848 by B. D. Hartzog who operated a general store there.

The village and local farm children once attended elementary school, grades 1 through 8, in Cairo and had a choice of attending either Columbus Grove or Lima Central high schools. The village was formerly a part of the Cairo Local School District. However, after the consolidation of Cairo into Bath Local School District in the 1970s the children attend the Bath elementary and secondary schools. The Cairo Elementary building was partially demolished. The gymnasium was spared and converted into a community center.

The most distinctive physical feature of Cairo is a painted (white) concrete grain elevator locally known as a "bean dryer" which is about 150 feet (46 m) tall.

Just south of town on Route 65 is Lake Cody Campground.

There is a war memorial listing the local residents who served in the armed forces during World War II. The memorial is located on the north side of Main Street about 250 feet west of CSX Transportation tracks, near the building housing the post office.

The former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad ("the B&O",) now a CSX line, passes through Cairo north-south about ½ mile east of and generally parallel to State Route 65. Formerly, the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad ("the DT&I") passed through Cairo paralleling the Baltimore & Ohio right of way but about 300 feet to the east. The DT&I right-of-way is still obvious but the track was removed in the 1970s. The DT&I's successor, the Indiana & Ohio, runs through via trackage rights on the CSX. As many as 20-25 trains a day pass through Cairo on this busy rail line.

Cairo has two churches, Methodist and Congregational Christian.

Cairo also has a public library, a branch of the Allen County Library.

The village has a single traffic control light located at the intersection of Main Street and Ohio Route 65.