Cairo (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Cairo is a town in Greene County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 6,610 at the 2010 census. The town is in the south part of the county, partly in the Catskill Park. Cairo is named after Cairo
in Egypt
, but is pronounced "Care-o" (ˈkɛəroʊ).
. In 1803, the town of Cairo was formed from the towns of Catskill
, Coxsackie
, and Durham
.
Formerly known as Canton, the town's name was changed in 1808 to Cairo. The accepted pronunciation is "care-oh" and newcomers are quickly advised of this.
From 1800 the Susquehannah Turnpike
, a private toll road, ran through the town.
The only railroad, the Canajoharie and Catskill Railroad
, ran through the town, but only operated from about 1839 to 1842.
, the town has a total area of 60.1 square miles (155.8 km²), of which, 60.0 square miles (155.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.27%) is water.
Catskill Creek flows through the town.
of 2000, there were 6,355 people, 2,579 households, and 1,709 families residing in the town. The population density
was 106.0 people per square mile (40.9/km²). There were 3,322 housing units at an average density of 55.4 per square mile (21.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.87% White, 0.55% Black or African American
, 0.33% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.60% from other races
, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.67% of the population.
There were 2,579 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,995, and the median income for a family was $41,820. Males had a median income of $36,590 versus $25,538 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,407. About 6.1% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,610 at the 2010 census. The town is in the south part of the county, partly in the Catskill Park. Cairo is named after Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, but is pronounced "Care-o" (ˈkɛəroʊ).
History
The first settler arrived around 1772, but many new families moved in after the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. In 1803, the town of Cairo was formed from the towns of Catskill
Catskill (town), New York
Catskill is a town in the southeast part of Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 11,775 at the 2010 census. The western part of the town is in the Catskill Park....
, Coxsackie
Coxsackie (town), New York
Coxsackie is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 8,918 at the 2010 census. The name of the town is said to derived from a Native American term, but it has various translations ....
, and Durham
Durham, New York
Durham is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 2,725 at the 2010 census. The town was named after Durham, Connecticut.The Town of Durham is in the northwest corner of the county.- History :...
.
Formerly known as Canton, the town's name was changed in 1808 to Cairo. The accepted pronunciation is "care-oh" and newcomers are quickly advised of this.
From 1800 the Susquehannah Turnpike
Susquehannah Turnpike
Susquehannah Turnpike is a historic 25 mile turnpike beginning at Catskill on the Hudson River and stretching through the town of Durham in Greene County, New York. Part of the route follows the Mohican Trail and it features a number of stone arch bridges. Nine of the 25 original milestones...
, a private toll road, ran through the town.
The only railroad, the Canajoharie and Catskill Railroad
Canajoharie and Catskill Railroad
The Canajoharie and Catskill Rail Road ran from Catskill, NY to Potter's Hollow, NY. Originally it was intended to extend the railroad to Canajoharie, New York.Chartered in 1830, it never achieved its intended goal of connecting its namesake villages...
, ran through the town, but only operated from about 1839 to 1842.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 town has a total area of 60.1 square miles (155.8 km²), of which, 60.0 square miles (155.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.27%) is water.
Catskill Creek flows through the town.
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 6,355 people, 2,579 households, and 1,709 families residing in the town. 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 106.0 people per square mile (40.9/km²). There were 3,322 housing units at an average density of 55.4 per square mile (21.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.87% White, 0.55% Black or African American
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...
, 0.33% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.60% 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 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.67% of the population.
There were 2,579 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,995, and the median income for a family was $41,820. Males had a median income of $36,590 versus $25,538 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 town was $19,407. About 6.1% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Cairo
- Acra – A hamlet west of Cairo hamlet on Route 23.
- CairoCairo (CDP), New YorkCairo is a census-designated place in the town of Cairo in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 1,390 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cairo is located at ....
– The hamlet and census-designated placeCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
of Cairo. - Gayhead – A hamlet at the north town line.
- Purling – A hamlet south of Cairo hamlet.
- Round Top – A hamlet southwest of Purling.
- South Cairo – A hamlet southeast of Cairo hamlet on Route 23.
- South Durham – A hamlet at the west town line.
- Woodstock – A populated place name north of Cairo on Route 32, along the Catskill CreekCatskill CreekCatskill Creek is a tributary of the Hudson River that drains the east northern Catskill Mountains of the U.S. state of New York. From its source at Franklinton Vlaie in Schoharie County it flows southeast through parts of Albany County and Greene County to its mouth at the village of Catskill on...
.
Notable residents
- Joseph AldenJoseph AldenJoseph Alden was an American academic and Presbyterian pastor. He was born in Cairo, New York, in 1807.He received his bachelor's degree from Union College, going on to receive his advanced degrees from Columbia University.He was professor at Williams College in 1835, professor at Lafayette...
, (1807–1885), born in Cairo, was a noted academic and author of over seventy books - Jennifer ConnellyJennifer ConnellyJennifer Lynn Connelly is an American film actress, who began her career as a child model. She appeared in magazine, newspaper and television advertising, before making her motion picture debut in the 1984 crime film Once Upon a Time in America...
- the Academy Award winning actress was born in Round Top in 1970. - Jack Diamond, a bootlegger and gangster, was shot at twice within the town, once at a private dinner, and another time at The Aratoga Inn. He also owned a home in Acra.
- Thurlow WeedThurlow WeedThurlow Weed was a New York newspaper publisher, politician, and party boss. He was the principal political advisor to the prominent New York politician William H...
, (1797–1882), born in Cairo, was a newspaper editor and political boss, who promoted, by turns (and sometimes simultaneously), the National Republican, Anti-MasonicAnti-Masonic PartyThe Anti-Masonic Party was the first "third party" in the United States. It strongly opposed Freemasonry and was founded as a single-issue party aspiring to become a major party....
, WhigWhig Party (United States)The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
parties.