America and Americans (and Brits)

[Laurence Horn]

At 3:13 PM -0500 2/21/02, Douglas Bigham wrote:
>In a message dated 2/21/2002 5:55:46 AM Central Standard Time,
>preston at PILOT.MSU.EDU writes:
>
>>  When I was born in Southern Illinois, it as "Little" (not "New") Egypt.
>>
>>  dInIs
>>
>
>True true, and it still is "Little Egypt".  I think "new" was only going to
>happen if we got our own statehood (back in the 1850's).  And I have no idea
>where I would double check this.... so...
>
Is this because its capital is Cairo (albeit pronounced like the corn
syrup and not the Egyptian city)?  Or was Cairo named for the region?
Any relation to the burlesque dancer?  Inquiring minds want to know.

larry