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.

Related Topics:
Madison County, Illinois - 2000

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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.

Related Topics:
Illinois - Mississippi - Missouri

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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.

Related Topics:
Portage des Sioux, Missouri - Great River Road - Elsah, Illinois

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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.

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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.

Related Topics:
November 7 - 1837 - Elijah P. Lovejoy - Slavery - 13th Amendment

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Alton has more earthly stories behind it, as well. Once growing faster than it's 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.

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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.

Related Topics:
Mississippi River - Missouri

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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.

Related Topics:
James Earl Ray - Miles Davis - Robert Pershing Wadlow - Craig Hentrich

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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.

Related Topics:
Catfish - May 22nd - 2005

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