572 ACRES IN CAIRO, IL

🔔 LAND AUCTION

🏝️ Angelo Towhead Island

Mississippi River • Cairo, Illinois

📅 Auction Date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026
⏰ Auction Time: 12:00PM
📍 Property Location: Mississippi River near Cairo, Illinois

🏛 Auction Held At: Shawnee Community College – Extension Campus – Cairo, IL
2035 Washington Ave, Cairo, IL 62914

572± Acres • Selling in 2 Tracts & Combinations

Tract 1: 572± Acres (Entire Island)

Tract 2: Timber Harvesting Rights

9.95 MILLION BOARD FEET OF SAWTIMBER

⭐ PROPERTY OVERVIEW

Harris Real Estate & Auction is proud to present Angelo Towhead Island. This rare, naturally formed river island is located in the Mississippi River just upstream from the historic confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers near Cairo, Illinois.

Formed over time by river-deposited sand and gravel, Angelo Towhead is a true towhead island, offering a distinctive and secluded setting within the river channel. Situated near the southernmost point of Illinois, the property occupies a geographically significant position at one of the most recognized river junctions in the United States.

Located in Alexander County and approximately one mile from the Cairo city limits, the island provides convenient access to town while maintaining a private, river-oriented environment. Angelo Towhead lies on the final stretch of the Middle Mississippi River and is recognized as the last island before the river transitions into the Lower Mississippi at the Ohio River confluence.

With an approximate elevation of 315 feet, this property represents an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire land at the meeting point of two of America’s most iconic rivers.

🌲 TIMBER RESOURCES, VALUE & FOREST COMPOSITION

HIGHLY MARKETABLE TIMBER

Timber Inventory Overview

• Total Timberland: Approximately 522 acres

• Sawtimber Volume: Estimated 9.9–10 million board feet (Doyle 78 log rule)

• Average Volume: Approximately 19,070 board feet per acre

Projected Species Composition (Gross Mill Volume)

• Cottonwood: ~8.95 million board feet (≈90%)

• Maple: ~554,000 board feet (≈6%)

• Miscellaneous hardwoods: ~168,000 board feet (≈2%)

• Green ash: ~132,000 board feet (≈1%)

• Swamp white oak: ~76,000 board feet (≈1%)

• Elm: ~76,000 board feet (≈1%)

In addition to sawtimber, the property includes an estimated 37,000 tons of pulpwood, providing additional harvest value.

🌱 PLANTATION COTTONWOOD & NATURAL FOREST

A large portion of the island consists of plantation-established cottonwood planted approximately 34 years ago. These stands have grown uniformly and exhibit an exceptional annual growth rate of roughly 9%, demonstrating the highly fertile soils present across the island.

The remaining acreage is comprised of natural bottomland forest with mature cottonwood, maple, and mixed hardwood species. This blend contributes to both sawtimber and pulpwood production while enhancing forest diversity and long-term sustainability.

⭐ AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

Angelo Towhead Island offers:

• Landmark location at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

• Over 500 acres of productive timberland

• Nearly 10 million board feet of sawtimber

• Significant pulpwood volume

• Highly productive plantation cottonwood stands

• Proven soil fertility and long-term growth potential

📍 PROXIMITY TO NEARBY CITIES

• Cairo, IL – 1.8 miles north

• Wilson City, MO – 4.8 miles southwest

• Wickliffe, KY – 4.9 miles east-southeast

• Wyatt, MO – 5.5 miles south-southwest

• Mound City, IL – 7.4 miles north

• Barlow, KY – 8.7 miles northeast

• Mounds, IL – 9.4 miles north

• Charleston, MO – 10.5 miles west-southwest

• Bardwell, KY – 11.9 miles southeast

• Blandville, KY – 11.9 miles east-southeast

🏕️ RECREATIONAL CHARACTER

Angelo Towhead Island is the last island on the Middle Mississippi River and offers strong recreational appeal for camping, picnicking, and river access. At certain water levels, the back channel provides a unique whitewater-style experience.

The island is well-suited for all-season, all-skill-level camping, though access to the upper end can vary due to a wrap-around rock dike. The dikes have been notched, and a private sandbar below the second dike emerges at low to medium water levels, creating a secluded campsite away from river traffic.

Despite being located just over a mile from Cairo, the island feels remarkably remote and wild, offering a rare combination of accessibility and true river seclusion.