Cairo, Georgia

12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1988. It stands in the Cairo census division. It lies in ZIP code area 39828. The Survey maps it on the Cairo North quadrangle. 10,179 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 243 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Cairo within Grady County

On record in Cairo

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 2 records

Cairo Commercial Historic Districtlisted 1994
Sasser Farmlisted 1983

Population over time

2 figures

Cairo grew from 9,607 to 10,179 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

Year	People	Change
2010	9,607
2020	10,179	+572 (+6%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 12 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

1954 USGS Tallahassee quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
1956 USGS Cairo quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
1959 USGS Tallahassee quadrangle1:250000
1960 USGS Tallahassee quadrangle1:250000
1974 USGS Cairo North quadrangle1:24000
1978 USGS Bainbridge quadrangle1:100000
1988 USGS Tallahassee quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings

Photographs

6 photographs, 1939

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

A lumber planing mill. Cairo, Georgia
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1939. Library of Congress

Stacks of lumber with tractor in planing mill. Cairo, Georgia
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1939. Library of Congress

Highway signs by lumber planing mill. Cairo, Georgia
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1939. Library of Congress

Fires near this place

406 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 406 fires within 5 miles of Cairo between 1992 and 2020, burning about 833 acres in total. 4 started naturally. 24 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Debris and open burning	276
Misuse of fire by a minor	30
Equipment and vehicle use	25
Arson/incendiarism	24
Smoking	18
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	14
Recreation and ceremony	13
Natural	4
Railroad operations and maintenance	2

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
29 September 2019	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2020GRADY010
29 September 2002	Misuse of fire by a minor	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2003-GRADY-010
29 September 1995	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
28 September 2012	Debris and open burning	2.4 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2013-GRADY-003
26 September 2006	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
25 September 2019	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2020GRADY009
25 September 1999	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
24 September 2019	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2020GRADY008

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Grady County

Storms near this place

60 of 64 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Cairo in 64 storm reports between 1995 and 2026: 50 thunderstorm wind, 9 hail, 4 tornado, 1 heavy rain. The reports record 6 deaths and 17 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
February 2000	Tornado (F3)	Cairo	6 killed, 15 hurt, $3,500,000	A strong tornado tore through northern Grady County, then crossed into extreme northwest Thomas County. Fifteen homes were destroyed and numerous damaged. Fifteen persons were injured, mostly from flying debris. Six fatalities were confirmed by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency: four deaths in mobile homes and two in a woodframe home. Scores of pecan trees were uprooted, pine trees snapped and power lines toppled. Farmers suffered major losses to irrigation equipment, trailers and shelters. Eight chicken houses were flattened, killing a half million chickens. Grady County was declared a federal disaster area. Reported by the Grady County EMA.
March 2019	Tornado (EF2)	Cairo	2 hurt, $1,000,000	An EF-2 tornado, with maximum winds of 120 mph, tracked 2.7 miles across Grady County in the Cairo area. The tornado touched down on Monrovia Nursery, downing 100s of potted plants and numerous trees in the forest. The tornado continued to track\|northeastward, downing numerous trees, many of which fell on homes causing structural damage. In one of the harder hit areas, the roof was torn off of a single family home and a carport was destroyed. The tornado eventually lifted northeast of Hwy 84. Two injuries were sustained from the storm. Damage cost was estimated.
November 1995	Tornado (F1)	Cairo	$200,000	A tornado caused intermittent damage on a track parallel to GA Highway 188. One unoccupied moble home was completely destroyed. Several other frame homes received serious damage.
January 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$150,000	Straight-line winds whipped through the Cairo Country Club area, uprooting and snapping off pine trees, and downing power lines. In the new neighborhood of Hawthorne Trails, the winds destroyed 60 percent of the wood trusses of a frame house. The storm then moved across Lake Jenna and dissipated before reaching Sutton Mill Road NW. About 35 homes in the country club area were without power for nearly four hours. Damage to homes was minimal. Reported by the Grady County EMA.
September 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$100,000	Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Cairo with trees down on several houses.
February 2003	Tornado (F1)	Cairo	$75,000	A tornado briefly touched down on Ridge Road, just south of the Grady-Mitchell county line. It damaged two homes, and knocked down trees and power lines. The tornado moved northeast into southern Mitchell County. Reported by the Grady County EMA.
February 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$25,000	The Grady County EMA reported major damage to a mobile home. Several trees were down.
March 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$25,000	A microburst blew down numerous trees and some power lines from near the intersection of Robert Willis and Harper Roads east to Brumbley Creek (north of State Road 188). One home on Harper Road lost part of its roof. Damage survey conducted by the NWS Tallahassee WCM.
April 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$20,000	Trees and power lines were blown down across the county. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate.
March 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$10,000	A large pine tree was blown down onto a vehicle along Highway 84 near Vereen Bell Road. No injuries occurred.
February 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$10,000	The Grady County EMA reported a roof blown off a house. Several trees were down.
June 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$5,000	Broken power poles were reported in Grady county.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$4,000	Several large trees were blown down in Cairo, and one building had structural damage. Monetary damage was estimated.
March 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$2,000	There was a broken pole on Wight Road.
June 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$2,000	Power lines were down in Cairo.
June 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$2,000	Numerous trees were blown down across the county.
December 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$2,000	Trees were blown down on Highway 93 North. Monetary damage was estimated.
May 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$2,000	Trees were blown down around Cairo. Monetary damage was estimated.
June 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$2,000	Downed trees on power lines reported by the Grady County EMA.
February 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$1,000	A power pole was broken in the Hawthorne area.
February 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$1,000	Trees and power lines were blown down along Pine Circle SW and 1st Street in Cairo.
February 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$1,000	A power line was blown down near Hall Road.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$1,000	A large tree was blown down on 4th Ave SE in Cairo near Southside Elementary School. Power was out in the area. Monetary damage was estimated.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$1,000	A tree was blown down on Highway 84W. Monetary damage was estimated.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$1,000	A tree was blown down along Highway 111N. Monetary damage was estimated.
June 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$1,000	Several trees were down on roads north of Cairo.
August 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$1,000	Numerous trees were down in eastern portions of the county.
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$1,000	The Georgia DOT reported several trees down along Ridge Road.
June 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$500	A few downed trees reported by Decatur/Grady 911.
September 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$500	no account filed
September 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$500	no account filed
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$250	Three large trees and numerous big limbs were scattered across the golf course at the Cairo Country Club.
August 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$200	A few trees down. Reported by Grady County 911.
August 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	$100	Sheriff's office reported several trees blown down.
August 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	There were several large tree limbs down and blowing around in the Cairo area.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	A tree was blown down onto Highway 84 just outside of Cairo.
July 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Three trees were blown down in the Cairo area.
June 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Several trees were blown down across Grady county.
August 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Several trees and power lines were blown down.
May 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	A couple of trees were blown down.
August 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	A tree was blown down in Cairo.
April 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	A few trees were blown down.
April 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Several trees were blown down.
March 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	A wind gust of 102 mph was measured by a Georgia mesonet site near the tornado track just south of Cairo.
May 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Multiple trees were blown down.
July 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	A tree was blown down across the road near the intersection of Upper Hawthorne Trail and Highway 84.
June 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Several trees were blown down around Grady County.
July 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Two trees were blown down along Highway 93.
July 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Several trees were blown down in Cairo.
June 2012	Heavy Rain	Cairo	-	WCTV relayed a viewer report of 3.50 inches of rain on the north side of Cairo in a roughly 3 hour period.
May 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	A metal framed greenhouse partially collapsed and an oak tree was uprooted.
February 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Several trees were down.
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	There were several trees down in Cairo.
April 2006	Hail	Cairo	-	Penny to nickel size hail reported just east of Cairo by the Grady County EMA.
March 2005	Hail	Cairo	-	Marble to quarter size hail reported by NWS Peachtree City.
April 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	Several trees down across the intersection of State Roads 93 and 111. Reported by Grady County 911.
April 2003	Hail	Cairo	-	Dime size hail reported by Grady County 911.
January 1995	Hail	Cairo	-	Two inch hail fell at Burnetts Creek.
March 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Cairo	-	no account filed
May 2024	Hail	Cairo	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Grady County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Place	Distance	Sheets
Long Branch	1.4 miles	12
Brownlee	1.6 miles	12
Roddenberry	3.1 miles	12
Midway	3.7 miles	12
Woodland	4.4 miles	12
Providence	4.8 miles	12
Pine Park	5.6 miles	12
Whigham	6.5 miles	12

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Cairo	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2087855	The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 354934. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.