Editing Cairo, Illinois (section)

===Economic decline===
The slow economic decline of Cairo can be traced to local and regional changes back to the early 20th century. In 1889, the [[Cairo Rail Bridge|Illinois Central Railroad bridge]] was completed over the Ohio River, which brought about a decline in ferry business. The immediate economic impact was not severe, as the railroad traffic still was directed through Cairo, and automobile and truck traffic increased in the early 20th century.

In 1905, a second bridge was constructed across the Mississippi River at [[Thebes, Illinois]]. The effects of the second bridge were more severe, as rail traffic through Cairo was now reduced and railroad ferry operations were no longer necessary. As the steamboat industry was replaced with barges, river traffic had less reason to stop in Cairo.

In 1929, the [[Cairo Mississippi River Bridge]] was completed, linking Missouri with Illinois to the south of Cairo. In 1937, the [[Cairo Ohio River Bridge]] was completed. Completion of the two bridges ended the ferry industry in Cairo, putting many people out of work. As the town was bypassed by two bridges to the south, it also lost the benefit of motorist travel and trade between the states. Motorists cross the southern tip of Illinois between Missouri and Kentucky, completely bypassing the city of Cairo.<ref name="lib.niu.edu" /><ref>[http://michaelminn.net/america/structures/cairo_gate/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927222519/http://michaelminn.net/america/structures/cairo_gate/|date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> While the city was protected by its levees from destruction when the Ohio River rose to record heights during the 1937 flood, the city's economic decline continued.