Cairo /ˈkɛəroʊ/ is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 6,644 at the 2020 census.[3][4] The town is in the southern part of the county, partly in the Catskill Park. The town contains a hamlet, also named Cairo.
Cairo, New York | |
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Town | |
![]() Location in Greene County and the state of New York | |
Coordinates: 42°18′08″N 73°59′44″W | |
Country | United States |
State | New York |
County | Greene |
Established | 1803 |
Government | |
• Type | Town Council |
• Town Supervisor | John Coyne (R) |
• Town Council | Members
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Area | |
• Total | 60.08 sq mi (155.61 km2) |
• Land | 59.83 sq mi (154.95 km2) |
• Water | 0.25 sq mi (0.66 km2) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,644 |
[2] | |
Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Area code | 518 |
FIPS code | 36-039-11649 |
The first European-American settler arrived around 1772, but many new families moved in after the American Revolution. They were coming west from New England.
In 1803, the Town of Cairo was formed from the towns of Catskill, Coxsackie, and Durham. First known as "Canton", the town was renamed in 1808 to "Cairo".[5] The accepted local 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 in the county, the Canajoharie and Catskill Railroad, ran through the town. It operated only from 1839 to about 1842.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 60.1 square miles (155.8 km2), of which 60.0 square miles (155.3 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km2, or 0.27%) is water.
Catskill Creek flows through the town.
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1820 | 2,353 | — | |
1830 | 2,912 | 23.8% | |
1840 | 2,862 | −1.7% | |
1850 | 2,831 | −1.1% | |
1860 | 2,479 | −12.4% | |
1870 | 2,283 | −7.9% | |
1880 | 2,287 | 0.2% | |
1890 | 2,191 | −4.2% | |
1900 | 2,176 | −0.7% | |
1910 | 1,841 | −15.4% | |
1920 | 1,487 | −19.2% | |
1930 | 1,772 | 19.2% | |
1940 | 1,905 | 7.5% | |
1950 | 1,944 | 2.0% | |
1960 | 2,825 | 45.3% | |
1970 | 3,546 | 25.5% | |
1980 | 4,729 | 33.4% | |
1990 | 5,418 | 14.6% | |
2000 | 6,358 | 17.3% | |
2010 | 6,610 | 4.0% | |
2020 | 6,644 | 0.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 2020[7] |
As of the census[8] 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.
Cairo has two fire companies: Cairo Fire District and Round Top Vol. Fire Co. Inc. Cairo Ambulance responds to medical emergencies in the town.
Municipalities and communities of Greene County, New York, United States | ||
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County seat: Catskill | ||
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