Alton

Alton
City
The Clark Bridge which connects Alton to West Alton, Missouri
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Madison
Coordinates	38°54′2″N 90°9′35″W / 38.90056°N 90.15972°W / 38.90056; -90.15972
Area	16.6 sq mi (43 km2)
- land	16.6 sq mi (43 km2)
Density	1,949.3 /sq mi (753 /km2)
Mayor	Tom Hoechst
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code	62002
Area code	618
Location of Alton within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Alton, Illinois

Alton is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about 15 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 34,511 at the 2006 census.

History

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The Alton area was home to Native Americans for thousands of years before the 19th-century founding of the modern city by European Americans. Historic accounts indicate occupation of this area by the Illiniwek or Illinois Confederacy at the time of European contact. Earlier native settlement is demonstrated by archaeological artifacts and the famous, prehistoric Piasa bird painted on a cliff face nearby, first written about in 1673 by French priest Father Jacques Marquette.

1800s

Alton was developed as a river town in 1818 by Rufus Easton, who named it after his son. Easton ran a passenger ferry service across the Mississippi River to the Missouri shore. Alton is located amid the confluence of three important navigable rivers: the Illinois, the Mississippi, and the Missouri. A monument and multilevel observatory, located at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi near the levee in Wood River, is under construction to provide an overview of the area.

Alton grew into a matter-of-fact river town with an industrial character. Its steep-sloped streets led to massive grain silos and railroad tracks along the waterfront, and brick commercial buildings throughout downtown. Once the site of several brick factories, Alton has an unusually high number of streets still paved in brick. The lower levels of Alton are subject to floods, many of which inundated the historic downtown area. The flood levels of different dates are marked on the large grain silos near the Argosy Casino at the waterfront.

On November 7, 1837, abolitionist printer Elijah P. Lovejoy was murdered by a pro-slavery mob while he tried to protect his Alton-based press from being destroyed for the third time. After killing him, the mob threw the press into the Mississippi. Lovejoy was the first martyr of the abolition movement. As a consequence, representatives came to Alton when they drafted the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution, to end slavery. During the years before the American Civil War, several homes were equipped with tunnels and hiding places for stations on the Underground Railroad to aid slaves escaping to the North.

On October 15, 1858, Alton was the site of the seventh Lincoln-Douglas debate. A memorial at the site in downtown Alton features undersized statues of Lincoln and Douglas, as they would have appeared during the debate.

Although Alton once was growing faster than its sister city of St. Louis, a coalition of St. Louis businessmen planned to build a town to stop its expansion and bring business to St. Louis. The result was Grafton, Illinois.

The first penitentiary in Illinois was built in Alton. While only a corner of it remains, it once extended nearly to "Church Hill". During the American Civil War, Union forces used it to hold prisoners of war, and some 12,000 Confederates were held there. During the smallpox epidemic of 1863-1864, thousands of men died. A Confederate mass grave on the north side of Alton holds many of the dead from the epidemic. A memorial marks the site. Often when Confederate]] prisoners escaped, they tried to cross the Mississippi River back to the slave state of Missouri.

Historic Alton Home

Many blocks of housing in Alton were built in the Victorian Queen Anne style, which marks a more successful period of the city's history. At the top of the hill in the commercial area, several stone churches and a fine city hall mark the city's pride. Numerous residences on hills have sweeping views of the Mississippi River.

1900s

Robert Pershing Wadlow, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest documented man at 8 feet 11.5 inches tall, is buried in Upper Alton Cemetery. The earth over his grave was raised so visitors can compare its length to other graves. A memorial to him, including a life-sized statue and a replica of his chair, stands on College Avenue, across from the Southern Illinois University Dental School.

The Sisters of St Francis of the Martyr St George have their American province motherhouse in Alton.

According to the Illinois Department of Conservation, in 1937 two commercial fishermen from Alton, Herbert Cope and Dudge Collins, caught a bull shark in the Mississippi River. Late that summer they had realized something was troubling their wood and mesh traps. Concluding that it was a fish, they built a strong wire trap and baited it with chicken guts. The next morning, they caught the 5-foot 84-pound shark, which they displayed in the Calhoun Fish Market, where it attracted crowds for days.

In 1954, the city of Alton was named as one of the three finalists for the location of the new United States Air Force Academy. Alton lost to the winning site of Colorado Springs, Colorado.^[1]

Flood of 1993

This section requires expansion.

Alton flood, 1993

Because of Alton's location at the Mississippi River, the Great Flood of 1993 with its high water level caused severe damage to the city. Alton's water supply was cut off due to flooding, and townspeople had to be supplied with bottled water for more than three weeks. Many local businesses, including Anheuser-Busch of St. Louis, Missouri, donated funds to help the people of Alton.

Clark Bridge

The original bridge connecting Alton, IL with West Alton, MO was a 2-lane (one in each direction) bridge that had become a hazard for motorists and a hindrance for emergency vehicles. It is the northernmost bridge in the St. Louis metropolitan area. It was torn down in the early-mid 1990s. The current Clark Bridge, with two lanes of divided traffic in each direction, plus two bike lanes, opened in 1994, following work through the Great Flood of 1993. The award-winning cable-stayed design was done by Hanson Engineers of Springfield, Illinois. Pieces of cables identical to those of the bridge were handed out in educational settings all over the city to allow the city's children to "take home a piece of the bridge".

Geography

Alton is located at 38°54′2″N 90°9′35″W / 38.90056°N 90.15972°W / 38.90056; -90.15972 (38.900438, -90.159844).^{[2][page needed]} This is on the Mississippi River above the mouth of the Missouri River. Most of Alton is located on bluffs overlooking the river valley.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43.0 km²), of which, 15.6 square miles (40.5 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²) of it (5.78%) is water.

The National Great Rivers Museum is colocated at the new Lock and Dam #26, or Melvin Price Locks and Dam. The lock and dam are open for tours, and the lock is a favorite spot to eagle watch. There is a bird sanctuary across the river.

The Great River Road in Illinois north of Alton, looking south.

North along the river, the River Road stretches to Grafton. It provides views of the dramatic contrast between the high cliffs of the Illinois side to the broad, flat, green agricultural countryside of Portage des Sioux, Missouri. The Great River Road is a popular bicycle touring route. Hidden in a notch of the cliff is the tiny town of Elsah, Illinois, once a down-and-dirty, liquor-soaked tugboaters' retreat, now reborn as a quaint antique center whose houses have trimmed front lawns.

Economy

Alton was once a town of heavy industry and manufacturing. Laclede Steel established major steel manufacturing operations in the town.^[3] Restructuring in the industry forced Alton to create a new future. Alton has transformed itself into a popular tourist retreat.

Alton's location and history make it a popular destination for antique shopping, touring historic areas, and gambling aboard the Argosy Casino. Other Greater Alton attractions include Alton Marina; nine golf courses, including Spencer T. Olin, the only Arnold Palmer-designed and -managed course in Illinois or the St. Louis Metropolitan area; fine dining and night life; and a large selection of bed-and-breakfasts and guest houses. These include the Beall Mansion, voted "Best Illinois Bed and Breakfast" in the Illinois Magazine Readers Poll. Billing itself as "the wedding capital of the Midwest", Alton has become a popular venue for weddings, receptions, and honeymoons.

Many visitors come to explore the natural beauty of the area. A designated bikeway extends for miles north of town along the Mississippi River; its relatively flat grade makes it an easy ride for families. During the migration seasons, Alton is a destination for birdwatchers along the Mississippi Flyway; winter visitors come to see the many bald eagles that roost on the Illinois limestone bluffs. It is the area of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. Père Marquette State Park, with a WPA-era lodge, has its attractions, including trails for hikers and riders and horses for hire, a few miles to the north.

Demographics

As of the census^{[4][page needed]} of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 12,518 households, and 7,648 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,949.3 people per square mile (752.8/km²). There were 13,894 housing units at an average density of 888.1/sq mi (343.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.32% White, 24.72% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 12,518 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,213, and the median income for a family was $37,910. Males had a median income of $33,083 versus $22,485 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,817. About 14.7% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Arts

Alton is home to the Madison County Arts Council, a not-for-profit organization that supports local arts and art education in approved Illinois Arts Council art programs. It is located in the Jacoby Arts Center or JAC, on Broadway between Henry and Ridge Streets in the old Jacoby Furniture building. The JAC is an art gallery open to the public and also offers art classes in a variety of mediums to adults and children in the community.

Theater

Founded in 1934 as a community theater, the Alton Little Theater continues to produce a full season of dramatic and comedic plays and musicals. Its all-volunteer members bring quality theater productions to Alton in an intimate setting. The Alton high schools all offer theatrical productions throughout the school year as well.

Alton Children's Theater, founded in 1958, by Solveig Sullivan has provided live theater for children through the years. The plays are now held at Lewis and Clark Community College's Hathaway Hall and for many years entertained up to 10,000 children annually. This all volunteer membership hires a professional director who works with the members for their one week of performances each year.

Media

Alton has one daily newspaper, The Telegraph, formerly the Alton Evening Telegraph. The Telegraph provides complete coverage of local news, as well as sports and relevant national news. Today's AdVantage, a free weekly paper, is primarily focused on classifieds and advertising inserts. It is distributed to all residents.

The single radio station has served the Alton and surrounding area for decades. WBGZ 1570 AM broadcasts a news/talk format.

Alton boasts one internet-based resource, Riverbender.com. Named for the bend in the Mississippi River where Alton is located, Riverbender is a portal serving local and national news, classifieds, event calendars and Alton guides to restaurants, shopping and attractions with coupons. In 2007 they were the first company to broadcast the Alton high schools' sports teams' games live on the website.

Education

Alton High School is the new public school, complete with a three-court gymnasium and six tennis courts. Based on 2006 district data, Alton School district 11 enrollment stands at 6,480; the average number of teaching years in the district is 13.5; the high school graduation rate is 97.7%; Elementary Pupil-Teacher Ratio - 18.9; and Secondary Pupil-Teacher Ratio - 22.3. The Alton High School has an award-winning math team and music program. Alton High School offers an honors program with a weighted GPA scoring system to any honors class.

The Alton Middle School is housed in the old Alton High School complex. Alton Middle School serves grades 6-8. The school is made up of three buildings: the main building, annex, and Olin Building. The Main building is the oldest. It is of architectural interest for its use of Romanesque design. Alton Middle School is the largest middle school in Illinois, with approximately 1,500 students.

The school system has a "gifted" student program for 1st through 8th grades, covering the Middle School. This program exposes participating students to wider knowledge as well as special projects.

Alton is home to Marquette Catholic High School, named after the French explorer, Father Jacques Marquette. The sports teams’ names are the Explorers.

Landmarks

• The Piasa bird painting, reproduction of original
• A monument to abolitionist Elijah Parish Lovejoy, Alton Cemetery
• A monument to 1354 Confederate soldiers who died in the Alton prison, North Alton Confederate Cemetery^[5]
• The cable-stayed Clark Bridge (1994)
• The Franklin House, later known as the Lincoln Hotel and now the Lincoln Lofts, where Abraham Lincoln dined and may have slept, in Alton for his seventh debate with Stephen Douglas on October 15, 1858. Statues of Lincoln and Douglas mark the corner of Landmarks and Broadway, called Lincoln Douglas Square. This is where they debated for the last time before the 1858 Illinois Senatorial Election.
• The Beall Mansion, designed by world-famous architect Lucas Pfeiffenberger and built in 1902 and 1903. It has been the private residence of Edmond Beall, four-time mayor of Alton and state senator.
• St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, more than 150 years old, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Alton under three bishops (1857 to 1923); the Diocese of Belleville was created in 1887, and in 1923, the See was moved to Springfield.^[6]
• A statue of Robert Pershing Wadlow, the tallest man in the recorded history of the world

Notable residents

• Miles Davis, jazz musician
• Craig Hentrich, two-time NFL All-Pro Bowl punter
• Lawrence Leritz, dance and Broadway
• Elijah Lovejoy, abolitionist
• John M. Olin, inventor, industrialist, philanthropist
• James Earl Ray, assassinated Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Phyllis Schlafly, Conservative activist. Opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment, abortion, and "Eastern Establishment" wing of Republican party
• Dale Swann, character actor^[7]
• Lyman Trumbull, first person to write a bill about Civil Rights (although it did not pass)
• Robert Pershing Wadlow, tallest human recorded to date
• Jesse White, Secretary of State of Illinois
• Christina Romer, 25th Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alton, Illinois

• Official website for the City of Alton
• Mr. Lincoln and Freedom: Lincoln-Douglas Debate in Alton

• Alton, Illinois is at coordinates 38°54′02″N 90°09′35″W / 38.900438°N 90.159844°W / 38.900438; -90.159844 (Alton, Illinois)Coordinates: 38°54′02″N 90°09′35″W / 38.900438°N 90.159844°W / 38.900438; -90.159844 (Alton, Illinois)

v • d • e Illinois Metro-East region Counties Clinton | Jersey | Madison | Monroe | St. Clair Major Cities (10,000+) Alton | Belleville | Cahokia | Centralia | Collinsville | East St. Louis | Edwardsville | Fairview Heights | Glen Carbon | Godfrey | Granite City | O'Fallon | Swansea | Wood River Cities (5,000-10,000) Bethalto | Centreville | Columbia | East Alton | Highland | Jerseyville | Maryville | Mascoutah | Pontoon Beach | Shiloh | Staunton | Troy | Washington Park | Waterloo Cities (1,000-5,000) Alorton | Aviston | Beckemeyer | Breese | Brighton | Carlyle | Caseyville | Dupo | Fairmont City | Freeburg | Germantown | Hartford | Lebanon | Madison | Marissa | Millstadt | New Athens | New Baden | Rosewood Heights | Roxana | Smithton | South Roxana | Trenton | Valmeyer | Venice | Wamac Interstates in the Metro-East I-55 | I-64 | I-70 | I-255 | I-270 Airports/Military Bases Scott AFB | Mid-America St. Louis Airport | St. Louis Regional Airport | St. Louis Downtown Airport | St. Louis Metro-East Airport List of Colleges in the Metro-East LCCC | McKendree University | Principia College | SIUE | SWIC Sports teams based in the Metro East Gateway Grizzlies (baseball, Frontier League)

v • d • e Greater St. Louis Central city St. Louis Largest cities (over 20,000 in 2000) Affton CDP · Alton · Ballwin · Belleville · Chesterfield · Collinsville · East St. Louis · Edwardsville · Ferguson · Florissant · Granite City · Hazelwood · Kirkwood · Maryland Heights · Mehlville CDP · Oakville CDP · O'Fallon · O'Fallon, Illinois · Saint Charles · St. Peters · Spanish Lake CDP · University City · Webster Groves · Wildwood Largest towns and villages (over 10,000 in 2000) Arnold · Bellefontaine Neighbors · Berkeley · Bridgeton · Cahokia · Clayton · Concord CDP · Creve Coeur · Crestwood · Fairview Heights · Farmington · Festus · Glen Carbon · Godfrey · Jennings · Lake Saint Louis · Lemay CDP · Manchester · Overland · Saint Ann · Swansea · Town and Country · Washington · Wentzville · Wood River Missouri Counties Franklin · Jefferson · Lincoln · St. Charles · St. Louis County · St. Louis City · Warren · Washington · Saint Francois Illinois Counties Bond · Calhoun · Clinton · Jersey · Macoupin · Madison · Monroe · St. Clair Subregions Metro-East · Westplex See also: Missouri

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Madison County, Illinois County seat: Edwardsville Cities Alton | Collinsville‡ | Edwardsville | Granite City | Highland | Madison‡ | Troy | Venice | Wood River Villages Alhambra | Bethalto | East Alton | Fairmont City‡ | Glen Carbon | Godfrey | Grantfork | Hamel | Hartford | Livingston | Marine | Maryville | New Douglas | Pierron‡ | Pontoon Beach | Roxana | South Roxana | St. Jacob | Williamson | Worden Townships Alhambra | Alton | Chouteau | Collinsville | Edwardsville | Fort Russell | Foster | Godfrey | Granite City | Hamel | Helvetia | Jarvis | Leef | Marine | Moro | Nameoki | New Douglas | Olive | Omphghent | Pin Oak | Saline | St. Jacob | Venice | Wood River Unincorporated communities Cloverleaf | Cottage Hills | Dorsey | Dunlap Lake | Eagle Park | Glen | Holiday Shores | Kaufman | Lumaghi Heights | Mitchell | Moro | Peters | Prairietown | Rosewood | Rosewood Heights | State Park Place Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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