Cairo, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Cairo is a city
in Grady County
, Georgia
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,607. The city is the county seat
of Grady County
.
City" it has no relationship with the Karo brand of syrup
, which is pronounced like the city's name. Rather, Cairo earned its nickname by producing cane syrup from the early 1900s through the late 1990s. Of the several companies that produced cane syrup, Roddenbery's was the best known.
Reflecting this "syrup" heritage, the Cairo High School
football team is nicknamed the Syrupmakers, and the school mascot is the agriculturally based sugar cane farmer/syrupmaker similar to the Cornhusker and Boilermaker. According to local tradition, this began during a rainy football game, when the players wore donated ponchos with "Roddenbery Syrup" printed on them. The most widely accepted tradition and the one with the most supportive evidence claims that a newspaper reporter referred to the Cairo Tigers in print as "the syrupmakers from Cairo."
The school's female athletic teams are named "Syrup Maids," often shortened to "Maids," while the male athletes are often dubbed "Makers." In 1986 ESPN chose "Syrupmakers" as the No. 1 nickname for a high school sports team. In 2009, ESPN's Sports Center selected the Syrupmakers as their number one mascot in the high school heritage category.
The area is home to several local festivals, including Calvary's Mule Day, Whigham's Rattlesnake Roundup, Cairo's own Antique Car Rally, and several competitive recreational programs. The Antique Car Rally features a wide range of cars, and includes many activities: a poker run, a parade, and even a street dance. It usually takes place on the second weekend of May. Sponsored by Mr. Chick, it is an annual event that attracts many people to the southwest corner of Georgia.
serves the city. Elementary schools in Grady include Shiver School, Eastside Elementary, Northside Elementary, Southside Elementary, and Whigham School. All residents are zoned to Washington Middle School and Cairo High School
. Students living further out in the county are sent to Shiver School K-8, or either Whigham School
Cairo is now the home of a South West Georgia Tech campus, main campus in Thomasville, Georgia
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²), of which, 9.3 square miles (24.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.53%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,239 people, 3,465 households, and 2,456 families residing in the city. The population density
was 992.0 people per square mile (383.2/km²). There were 3,898 housing units at an average density of 418.5 per square mile (161.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.30% African American, 43.99% White, 0.42% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.80% from other races
, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.05% of the population.
There were 3,465 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples
living together, 24.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,054, and the median income for a family was $30,352. Males had a median income of $29,063 versus $20,542 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,759. About 24.4% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.2% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Grady County
Grady County, Georgia
Grady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 23,659. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,042. The county seat is Cairo.- History :...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,607. The city is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Grady County
Grady County, Georgia
Grady County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 23,659. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,042. The county seat is Cairo.- History :...
.
Syrup City
Although Cairo is nicknamed the "SyrupSyrup
In cooking, a syrup is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars but showing little tendency to deposit crystals...
City" it has no relationship with the Karo brand of syrup
Syrup
In cooking, a syrup is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars but showing little tendency to deposit crystals...
, which is pronounced like the city's name. Rather, Cairo earned its nickname by producing cane syrup from the early 1900s through the late 1990s. Of the several companies that produced cane syrup, Roddenbery's was the best known.
Reflecting this "syrup" heritage, the Cairo High School
Cairo High School
Cairo High School is a public high school in Cairo, Georgia. The motto for the school is "With Pride, We Give Our Best". The school has the widely known Syrupmaker Band, "The Pride of Dixie". The award winning marching band is under the direction of National High School Band Director's Hall of...
football team is nicknamed the Syrupmakers, and the school mascot is the agriculturally based sugar cane farmer/syrupmaker similar to the Cornhusker and Boilermaker. According to local tradition, this began during a rainy football game, when the players wore donated ponchos with "Roddenbery Syrup" printed on them. The most widely accepted tradition and the one with the most supportive evidence claims that a newspaper reporter referred to the Cairo Tigers in print as "the syrupmakers from Cairo."
The school's female athletic teams are named "Syrup Maids," often shortened to "Maids," while the male athletes are often dubbed "Makers." In 1986 ESPN chose "Syrupmakers" as the No. 1 nickname for a high school sports team. In 2009, ESPN's Sports Center selected the Syrupmakers as their number one mascot in the high school heritage category.
Recreation and entertainment
Cairo is close to great hunting, fishing, and points of historical interest. The local industrial base continues to grow with manufacturing, service, and healthcare companies anchoring a strong economy.The area is home to several local festivals, including Calvary's Mule Day, Whigham's Rattlesnake Roundup, Cairo's own Antique Car Rally, and several competitive recreational programs. The Antique Car Rally features a wide range of cars, and includes many activities: a poker run, a parade, and even a street dance. It usually takes place on the second weekend of May. Sponsored by Mr. Chick, it is an annual event that attracts many people to the southwest corner of Georgia.
Education
Grady County SchoolsGrady County Schools
The Grady County Schools District is a school district headquartered in Cairo, Georgia, United States. The district serves Grady County.-Secondary schools:* Cairo High School * Washington Middle School -K-8 schools:...
serves the city. Elementary schools in Grady include Shiver School, Eastside Elementary, Northside Elementary, Southside Elementary, and Whigham School. All residents are zoned to Washington Middle School and Cairo High School
Cairo High School
Cairo High School is a public high school in Cairo, Georgia. The motto for the school is "With Pride, We Give Our Best". The school has the widely known Syrupmaker Band, "The Pride of Dixie". The award winning marching band is under the direction of National High School Band Director's Hall of...
. Students living further out in the county are sent to Shiver School K-8, or either Whigham School
Cairo is now the home of a South West Georgia Tech campus, main campus in Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
.
Geography
Cairo is located at 30°53′N 84°13′W (30.8778, -84.2089).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²), of which, 9.3 square miles (24.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.53%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,239 people, 3,465 households, and 2,456 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 992.0 people per square mile (383.2/km²). There were 3,898 housing units at an average density of 418.5 per square mile (161.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.30% African American, 43.99% White, 0.42% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.80% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.05% of the population.
There were 3,465 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 24.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,054, and the median income for a family was $30,352. Males had a median income of $29,063 versus $20,542 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,759. About 24.4% of families and 30.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.2% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Teresa EdwardsTeresa Edwards-External links:******...
, former professional basketball player and an OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
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ist. - Willie HarrisWillie HarrisWilliam Charles Harris is a Major League Baseball outfielder and infielder. Harris is known for his quick feet and base-stealing abilities, with currently 94 career stolen bases. Harris was formerly a member of the Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , Atlanta Braves , and...
, a member of the 2005 World Champion2005 World SeriesThe 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
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team, current member of the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. - Ernest RilesErnest RilesErnest Riles is a former shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1985 through 1993, Riles played for the Milwaukee Brewers , San Francisco Giants , Oakland Athletics , Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox...
, a shortstopShortstopShortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and third basemanThird basemanA third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
in Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1985 through 1993. - Jackie RobinsonJackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
, a Baseball Hall of Fame member and the first person to break the color barrier in Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
was born here. - Daryle SingletaryDaryle SingletaryDaryle Bruce Singletary is an American country music singer. Between 1995 and 1998, he recorded for Giant Records, for which he released three studio albums: Daryle Singletary in 1995, All Because of You in 1996 and Ain't It the Truth in 1998...
, country music singer - Ray DownsRay DownsRaymond W. Downs is an American author as well as a former country music singer.Ray was most notably known for his appearances on the syndicated Porter Wagoner television show. Downs also played for a couple of years with Country Music legend Marty Robbins opening shows on the road...
, country music singer, author - Bill StanfillBill StanfillWilliam Thomas Stanfill is a former defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of the American Football League and then the NFL after the AFL-NFL merger of 1970.-High school years:...
, a former All-Pro National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
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- Bobby WaldenBobby WaldenRobert Earl Walden was a punter with a 14 year career in the National Football League from 1964 to 1977. He was a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl IX and Super Bowl X winning teams....
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and Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... - David PonderDavid PonderDavid Earl Ponder is a former American football defensive tackle who played one season for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League...
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, founder of Primerica Financial ServicesPrimerica Financial ServicesPrimerica, Inc. is a referral marketer of financial products and services using a hybrid model of direct selling, franchising and distribution.... - John MondsJohn MondsJohn Monds is an American activist and politician. He became the first Libertarian Party candidate in Georgia and the rest of the United States to receive over 1,000,000 votes, when he ran for the Statewide office of Public Service Commission District 1 seat in 2008. Monds received 1,076,726 votes...
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gubernatorial candidate for the State of Georgia - Curley WilliamsCurley WilliamsCurley Williams was an American country and western musician and songwriter from Georgia. His best-known song is "Half As Much". He was admitted to the in 1999.-Life & Career:...
, Country music singer and songwriter. Born near Cairo, Georgia in Grady CountyGrady CountyGrady County is the name of two counties in the United States:*Grady County, Georgia*Grady County, Oklahoma...
. - Jake Bundrick, drummer for the pop/rock band Mayday ParadeMayday ParadeMayday Parade is an American rock band from Tallahassee, Florida. The band formed in 2005 when members of popular local Tallahassee bands Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment converged in 2006. Their debut EP Tales Told by Dead Friends was released in 2006, and sold over 20,000 copies without any...
. He still holds the state record for most career field goals in a High School career.