We are pleased to invite you to join us for our webinar this month:

Cairo, Illinois: Using Sanborn Maps to Analyze the Life of a “Dying” City

Presented by: Griffin S. Thompson , Graduate Student at Grand Valley State University 

After receiving great feedback at the Annual ILGISA Conference in October, we’re delighted to share this presentation with an even broader audience. 

Bio:

I am a graduate student at Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI) pursuing a degree in Biology with a focus in Natural Resources Management. I also received my bachelor’s degree from GVSU with a major in Geography and minors in Natural Resource Management and Geospatial Technology. I have worked with John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids, MI) for the last two years on the Habitat Hero program, a community science and native plant/pollinator project in which I have developed a participatory GIS component. Spending my childhood travelling between New Orleans/NW Mississippi and Grand Rapids, MI, I have long been captivated by the geography of the Mississippi River Valley and have enjoyed applying GIS to years of wondering - especially in Cairo! I look forward to continuing my geographic journey over the coming years!

Abstract:

Planning agencies have begun to incorporate the concept of a Digital Twin, recognizing their ability to visualize spatial trends and processes. Utilizing Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, this project attempts to further integrate historical modeling into digital twins, giving viewers an unprecedented look into the past and bringing archival maps 'back to life’ with GIS!
Through this workflow, a 3-D model created showing Cairo in different eras, along with historical zoning maps, and other historical geo-analyses (i.e. food source accessibility).
By focusing on Cairo, Illinois, this project shows how historical digital models can visualize the changing urban geomorphology of a city in decline - potentially shedding greater light on the processes at work. Though ostensibly a “northern city”, this research also uses GIS to analyze spatial segregation in the early 1900s by identifying churches, schools, and dwellings identified as African American in the Sanborn maps.
These maps can be further enhanced by using local, county, or state historical archives - particularly phonebooks and newspapers - to identify home and business owners in different eras.
This will share more about the process of creating 3-D historical models, as well as discussing some of the findings specifically related to Cairo. While the city’s national standing has certainly diminished over recent decades, Cairo remains integral to American westward expansion, and it embodied many of the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960s. With this process, GIS can share a unique perspective on urban areas prior to the rise of satellite or aerial imagery.

Date: Wednesday, November 19th, 2025
Time: 12:00pm

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