Alton, Illinois

Alton is a city located in Madison County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 30,496.

Alton was developed as a river town in 1818 by Rufus Easton, who named the town after his son. He ran a passenger ferry service across the Mississippi River to the opposite Missouri shore. Alton is located amid the confluence of three important navigable rivers: the Illinois, the Mississippi, and the Missouri. Alton grew into a matter-of-fact river town with an industrial character and its steep-sloped streets filled with silos, railroad tracks, brick commercial buildings. Many blocks of the housing stock in Alton were built in the Victorian Queen Anne style, which marks the rich decades. Alton is subject to floods.

North along the river the River Road stretches north to Grafton, a dramatic contrast between the high cliffs of the Illinois side to the broad, flat, green countryside of Portage des Sioux, Missouri. The Great River Road is a popular bicycle tour destination. Hidden in a notch of the cliff is the tiny town of Elsah, Illinois, once a down-and-dirty liquor-soaked tug-boater's retreat now reborn as a quaint antique center with trimmed front lawns.

Alton's location and history make it a popular visit for antique shopping and gambling aboard the Alton Belle Casino. During the winter, many visitors from across the country come to Alton for birdwatching, as bald eagles tend to roost in the bluffs along the Mississippi.

On November 7, 1837 abolitionist printer Elijah P. Lovejoy was murdered by a mob of supporters of slavery while he was attempting to protect his Alton-based press from being destroyed a third time. The mob then threw the press into the Mississippi. This tragedy marked Lovejoy as the first martyr of the abolition movement. As a consequence, the 13th Amendment of the Constitution was drafted in Alton. Alton has been home to gangs of bootleggers int he thirties known throughout the state, and the overall bloody history of the town has contributed to the reputation of Alton as one of the most haunted places in America. Notable places include The History and Hantings Bookstore, and The McPike Mansion.

Alton has more earthly stories behind it, as well. Once growing faster than its sister city of St. Louis, a coalition of St. Louis businessmen planned to build a town to stop the spread and bring business to St. louis. The result was Grafton.

During the Civil War, Alton was home to a Union prison, from which prisoners would attempt to escape and cross the Mississippi River back to the slave state of Missouri. Also, some of Alton's majestic historic homes played a part in assisting the Underground Railroad.

James Earl Ray was a resident of Alton; Alton was the hometown of Miles Davis, Robert Pershing Wadlow, the tallest human recorded to date, and Craig Hentrich, NFL two-time All-Pro Bowl punter.

Alton was the home to the world's largest blue catfish before it was caught by Tim Pruitt on May 22nd, 2005. The fish later died while being transported to Kansas City.

Alton has been called the "most haunted town in America".

Geography

Alton is located at 38°54'2" North, 90°9'35" West (38.900438, -90.159844)Template:GR. 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 43.0 km² (16.6 mi²). 40.5 km² (15.6 mi²) of it is land and 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.78% water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 30,496 people, 12,518 households, and 7,648 families residing in the city. The population density is 752.8/km² (1,949.3/mi²). There are 13,894 housing units at an average density of 343.0/km² (888.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 1.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $31,213, and the median income for a family is $37,910. Males have a median income of $33,083 versus $22,485 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,817. 18.7% of the population and 14.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.8% of those under the age of 18 and 13.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Mr. Lincoln and Freedom: Lincoln-Douglas Debate in Alton
• Alton Telegraph newspaper
• Haunted Alton

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