illinois city county seat illinois united_states located miles southwest indiana miles southeast missouri population surrounding population including city residents included illinois indiana kentucky tri state area principal city statistical area combined population located concurrency route illinois route known gateway known ohio river flood old known prohibition era gangster tornado cairo city leading coal mining distribution american midwest peak population reached early 1930s city largest downtown districts city 20th populated city illinois outside populous city outside city seen economic decline decreased demand high coal removal railroad tributary leaving area city unfit growth flood risks historical perspective pioneer native beginning recorded american history area inhabited tribes including lived dense inland forests prior arrival white settlers tribe driven aggressive european settlement illinois began french reached peak mainly mississippi_river english speaking settlers arrived french came merchants missionaries farming need trade result benefited settlers native americans american migration followed treaties resulted land distributed english law ignoring previous indigenous rights ensued caused hard feelings indians settlers moved interior migration routes indians allied british resist trade americans important reason native americans remained largely peaceful town miles south junction trail pioneer trade routes state prior war population today lived protect indian attack dangerous wildlife wild cats bears permanent settlements forested area inevitable influx settlers land entry settlers outnumbered native americans black bear population county killed controversial founding founded start second industrial revolution plotted shortly established city named built farmhouse planted corn field clearing area current city square harris donated land additions town special committee complaints county seat centralized county county seat county main population centers divided miles roads county residents areas lost traveling northern settlements designated town considered aesthetic properties foot sandstone bluff overlooking valley called island heavily oak site geographical center county major legal battle took place county government voter fraud accusations people plotted village acres county seat industrial origins southern cotton unavailable civil war cities time mills making town industrial asset early mills flour mills city cairo railroad completed american_civil_war union_army brigadier general living time early proprietor opened brick tile factory southern terminus main street capacity carrying bricks hours saw opening saw mills lumber yard opened ford mill year mill capacity producing board feet lumber hours started operation complete line lumber building materials oldest currently active mill city operated built flour mill defunct south street rail spur current parker plaza grain elevators capacity carrying barrels flour hour period new tower exchange market located carrier mills located commercial street tracks train depot incorporated july capital stock company elevators erected cost capacity capacity capacity barrels day men employed operations mill elevators addition force men regularly employed department economic conditions impractical growing cotton tobacco growing pioneers found profitable commercially grain farming crop rotation merchandising manufacturing coal mining especially began occupy city population city form government adopted commission form despite early industrial advantages cities region company referred water facilities road conditions city limits good paved coal rail era slope operations began southeast early years coal transported wagon local homes businesses heating important industry post city cairo railroad completed provided transportation coal miners tired away underground series corporate transactions brought cairo railroad hands cleveland cincinnati illinois state representative mayor evolved leading coal mining centers midwest strategic spot railroad route large yard making focal point productive coal field operations profitable coal companies operated coal coal sizable rail yards coal company owned chicago purchased annexed privately owned mines coal field acres km2 land company based headquarters owned operating mines annual output tons men employed field capacity pay roll month company paid monthly royalty company general manager mines chief engineer assistant general manager small slope mines shaft mines operated county railroad line large numbers immigrants england wales eastern europe looking work quickly expanding mining villages directly outside city muddy city population quickly expanded years big producing tons coal annually miners work appearance operated line ran downtown muddy downtown downtown carrier mills larger residential areas present plans extend line westward connect line run wire county feet high branch cairo railroad corporation erected electrical generating plant muddy illinois purchased generating capacity kilowatts removing original unit company added turbine generators unit bringing stations total capacity kilowatts electricity generated station distributed double circuit steel tower transmission lines extending west east north plant covered acres held million gallons water community benefited prosperity extravagant displays wealth city history foot neon red tower belonging radio station tallest structure city seen miles finished new story new theaters combined total seats grand year story building coal headquarters building story built new story city hall building constructed complex highway system constructed city constructed route illinois route constructed time city expanded people annexation created blue collar multiple single family homes filling vine street south town square saloon vice district local miners time town home prohibition era gang said protected local business owners better law enforcement time gangster prized tommy gun displayed glass case geography changed indefinitely coal areas producing surface mining landscape size california roughly km2 named coal field field completely towns creating partial borders near mines piles spontaneously horizon city years burning coal refuse slow economic decline reached peak population making 20th populated city outside illinois populous city outside metro east city combined service communities bordering muddy population greater county reached nearly people economic great depression business owners industrial firms closing shop city continued thrive enormous coal industry june visited observe work delivered speech packed high school gymnasium ended quickly ohio river flood left city homeless city inundated flooded mines deemed condemned left local economy crippled state illinois completed largest operations kind attempted united_states removal half billion gallons flood water soon bought inter urban line abandoned years service line opened bus private predecessor bus company current rides mass transit district opened city lost overall population immediately world war new coal companies starting mining city war created great demand energy satisfied expanded strip mining operations coal fields shortly world war clear coal losing favor energy sources oil natural gas contrast cities united_states prospered post war boom fortunes began quickly diminish stopped briefly tour september giving hope economic recovery region long parade police buses accompanying cars sped town street time main drag town crowded persons entire length reported cars lined route way route assistant state attorney general illinois represented parents proceeding public schools december founded based city station built tower downtown tallest television towers state time tallest structure city egyptian passenger train travel city lost population economic people left city senator campaign stop october speaking county court house said district built land land kind problems think united_states going face 1960s district depended main resources growth wealth minerals underground food grown ground industries faced problems 1960s later speech addressing agriculture senator kennedy stated farmers farm work cities towns year highest unemployment months august september preceding recession district knows problem district lost people years hopes bringing new influx coal mining city coal company ordered eerie gem egypt strip largest world stories high weighing tons took men operate bucket capacity cubic yards great efforts coal mining continued community train depot razed coal freight ordered yard 1970s 1980s city square mini vacant slowly abandoned large chain stores strip commercial street dominant venues shopping entertainment hoping bring influx travelers main highway clean air act amendments legislation forced utility companies united_states switch low coal response economy took severe freight yard closed company shut operations jobs lost county year ended reign big coal way life residents years cairo cincinnati chicago system tracks taken late 1980s replaced post coal economy respected local physician charged murder sons insurance money case chronicled book murder soon pioneer history showcased county area historical museum city southern edge acre site includes story high old home county acre km2 poor farm built site features variety room school house small church historic buildings acquired moved site restored airport located approximately miles north highway airport authority operates airport airport includes foot extension bringing runway feet gps approach industrial zones set township located located near airport advantage rail spur prior removal tracks district built property old rail yard north city built 2000s saw slight economic boom city industrial base city coal related gave opportunity number city residents american coal coal mines county producing low coal energy resource purchased american coal employed workers employed persons employed persons second largest non coal company workers companies employed employees manufacturing building components construction completed grants anna women center district library harvest regional superintendent schools county senior county sheriff department building square feet added new jobs county second largest employer city employees payroll new strip mall completed south town parker plaza oldest shopping center town renovated new facade promote commercial growth city things slowly took turn worse illinois governor decision division overturned successor decision outraged springfield lawsuit filed stop matters exacerbated videos new home traffic safety division surrounded water surfaced youtube late early 2010s saw series unfortunate economic events city december cinema theater closed time cinema release census february city learned population dropped low people percent decrease lowest population pre coal boom suffered numerous scandals involving school district police department chief deputy sentenced prison sexually high school student working intern biggest hit late february tornado hit leap day tornado outbreak southern city heavily damaged houses businesses destroyed completely leveled people killed injured tornado november decision close remaining mines putting employees work election mayor opened brand new theater north town unveiled park plaza gateway southeastern illinois entertainment culture downtown initiative bring people downtown wanted start promoting destination capital southeastern illinois new movie theater family entertainment outlet opened said preparing new announcements including opening new restaurants established draws including state art gun range continues retail hub holds nearest shopping centers restaurants churches gas stations banks commerce miles industrial jobs scarce demographics according census people living city limits persons identified race white black african american american indian asian native hawaiian claimed race hispanic population total housing units occupied vacant geography located according census total area square miles km2 square miles km2 land square miles km2 water square center town stand series sandstone islands rising natural feet sea level middle fork river early settlers transportation east flowed ohio flooded spring events called locals called island island area drained homes businesses built prone flooding years come town square center town sandstone bluff feet sea level start south maps rise northeast city located ending point ice sheet covered percent illinois edge ice sheet lay south southernmost extent kansas pre ice sheets cottage grove fault system scale magnitude illinois earthquake scientists realized previously unknown fault north illinois near fault called small tear earth rock running west east fault connected north south valley fault system eastern end mapping completed reveal present region signs suggest era strike slip nearby focal mechanism solution earthquake confirmed planes striking north south approximately degrees east west suggests dip slip reverse motion horizontal east west axis stress occurred partially responsible great earthquakes consisting powerful earthquakes hit united_states early 20th century city geographical feature island surrounding coal mining property created density seen cities size city time population nearing forced tightly homes businesses sandstone square mile diameter leading build buildings multiple stories town square courthouse square gone past years 19th century town dirt streets large courthouse columns built swiss born indiana architect courthouse replaced larger building designed known architect indiana structure identical model missouri built year smaller version central clock tower courthouse including original clock manufactured boston massachusetts recreated placed small lot building parking lot howard clock company notable manufacturing large buildings building chicago ferry building san_francisco california town square completely surrounded brick streets miles brick streets blocks left begun main street historical preservation program recognized historical district ohio river route illinois began buildings currently listed national_register_of_historic_places county poor farm square held array coal mining offices privately owned business grocery department stores bars closing coal mining era businesses left square moved main drag constructed courthouse built replaced modern efficient building older building condemned years architecture square slowly turned rotting older structures mixed newer updated buildings currently privately owned downtown renovation projects progress square mitchell library located church street south square built grant built opened public building served community library moved new building north main street flood library makeshift hospital water boiler burst building serves church city parks west end town largest city park pool large center founded sunset lawn cemetery largest county founded connected west edge city cemetery contains ornate remains city original founders prominent residents contained year old marble floors persons buried inside structure condemned plans removal bodies cemetery problems finding family members came fruition home city early proprietor set demolished donated humanity year hoping organization able restore home considered placed endangered buildings list seniors preparing nomination building listing national_register_of_historic_places helped distribute petition social media order help save school neighborhoods split small neighborhoods annexed city limits time north south subdivision established land owned annexed sits direct north heights street main road area sits heights north small street heads east arrow head point shopping center situated south north route street west main village holds newer town water tower homes bordered liberty south addition area prominently african american residents north south good portion slowly abandoned torn bypass built old village streets surround town square includes main street north south street east town park west includes old junior high west east schools courthouse town park cemetery west main shopping strip route city oldest recognized mainly densely packed age houses structures lined narrow brick streets area located island built pre automobile centric includes small village annexed named family prominent business owners coal later sold series blocks exists east route street crosses route runs straight center terminates medical center contains country club upper class neighborhood school time large tornado heavily damaged slightly south connects route straight south established post office annexed city holds farm crossing crossroads street route people recognize blocks north west east way stop large street corridor south main street destroyed tornado houses destroyed lost roofs liberty smaller rural community far southwest liberty road included cemetery designer cairo railroad green opened slope south rails near liberty county ship coal rail car called spot called liberty crossing liberty bordered old mining community miles south west north liberty holds new junior high building complete town unto home ground stores school system post office coal mining community set hungarians 19th century holds large cemetery historic hungarian cemetery spread mile span land route roads branching left right highway considered climate lies border humid continental climate climate classification humid subtropical climate climate classification large mountains large bodies water moderate temperature cold arctic air hot humid tropical air gulf_of_mexico affect region city distinct seasons highest average temperature july lowest average temperature january summer temperatures rise winter temperatures drop average monthly precipitation ranges inches heaviest occurring late fall snowfall normally occurs november april ranges inches month highest recorded temperature july lowest recorded temperature february natural disasters flood risks flooding causing flow middle fork plagued years city flooded severe came ohio river flood city island downtown orbit encircled town square underwater high water reached miles river city flooded position tributary residents left stranded crowded island weeks completely inundated time flood waters left homeless miles covered feet water entire distance rescue families national guard boats means transportation city thousand people transported daily temporary island island according october population revised version january population fallen erected north east city protection future floods unofficial northern eastern border town businesses residences exist flooding january drainage problems frozen ground inches rain pumping system east town built handle flooding complex watershed technical problems causing continual water backup large rain events city rebuilt new pumping system requested flood preliminary estimate indicated million damage caused inches rain march homes businesses water floor business owners faced task assessed damage began cleaning able reopen fairly quickly suffering minimal damage waiting flood waters customers reach businesses officials reported businesses affected flooding businesses commercial street route hardest hit undergone major renovation reportedly feet water inside denied flood recovery grants loans illinois flooding city called worst years tornado spawned weather system originated kansas tornado slammed early morning february tornado touched north carrier mills destroyed church damaged houses town park road traveled coal field north went liberty damaged tornado reached south western edge city specifically suffered significant property damage eastward nearly leveled people confirmed dead area killed apartment complex crushed residence injured overall june victim died hospital injuries raising death toll significantly damaged peak winds estimated mph width tornado path yards traveling miles houses businesses destroyed damaged heavily houses buildings leveled completely structures displaced foundations early estimates indicated nearly city damaged destroyed following night mandatory enforced effected areas counting damage death toll reported worst storm missouri tornado unit schools closed march later offered trauma counseling students reopening began preliminary damage assessments march order determine need public assistance storm damage dominated national days special reports new_york_times chicago_tribune published articles history nature rebound tornado floods hit city founding gateway acres km2 lie south drawing visitors annually area gateway community offers national forest miles roadways miles streams frequent numerous ponds lakes large acres km2 swimming beaches sites seven wilderness areas trails designed hiking horseback riding plant life extremely diverse ranges sun loving species grow dense shade tree cover dominates publicly owned significant component privately owned lands oak predominant timber type commercially important timber species occupy significant wildlife species found forest including mammals birds reptiles amphibians species fish seven federally listed threatened endangered species inhabit forest species considered sensitive forest listed species purchase units established temporary headquarters set room illinois modern office building town suitable headquarters forest continued occupy building supervisor offices expansion offices continued today june rooms floor rooms fourth floor leased employees early days forest tell chaos confusion caused small space lease incoming shipments equipment supplies constant new personnel media based providing coverage news southeastern illinois owned major daily newspaper serving kentucky missouri illinois second major newspaper based operated gatehouse sister newspaper register newspapers delivered city far away chicago included illinois indiana kentucky tri state area television station licensed directly city broadcasting channel abc affiliate wide area southern illinois western kentucky southeastern missouri station studios reside nearby major broadcasting station country music station broadcast news music region 1930s trademark today based city government healthcare education county seat mayor council form government city main council members city shares building sheriff department sworn officers civilian secretary time firefighters members trained emergency medical technician working working central station fire trucks foot rescue truck brush truck gallons tanker truck operates water distribution system storage capacity gallons million litres elevated tanks water processing plant capacity day average daily consumption gallons city water treatment plant design capacity gallons day average load gallons million litres day time located story complex block town square 1990s moved beds physicians staff bed psychiatric area hospital completed dollar expansion renovation program nursing homes southeastern illinois area located city specialized physicians offices city serves city student population elementary schools junior high school senior high school students enrolled district schools students attend east west elementary schools main middle school city new middle school built liberty students enrolled students enrolled city seven centers schools township different neighborhoods annexed closed phillips school higher education year junior college sits acre campus east city limits sic students semester college transfer career education programs sic founded nearby local colleges universities campus charleston community college vienna indiana notable people notorious gangster mlb pitcher minnesota twins actress born known voice mother running chicago bears montreal known ball 42nd grey cup founding partner law firm general green civil war general president cairo railroad 1950s baseball player washington senators character actor born henry turner physician described
Harrisburg, Illinois