File:Altonbridge.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Alton
Sign in to saveAlso known as Alton, Illinois, Alton, IL
city in Madison County, Illinois, United States
Alton is a city located in Madison County in southwestern Illinois. It is significant as a historic riverfront community situated along the Mississippi River.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- State
- Illinois
- County
- Madison
- Mayor
- David Goins
- Total
- 16.95 sq mi (43.90 km )
- Land
- 15.67 sq mi (40.59 km )
- Water
- 1.28 sq mi (3.31 km )
- Elevation
- 535 ft (163 m)
- Density
- 1,638.5/sq mi (632.62/km )
- Time zone
- UTC-6 ( CST )
- Summer dst
- UTC-5 ( CDT )
- Fips code
- 17-01114
- Wikimedia commons
- Alton, Illinois
- Website
- www .cityofaltonil .com
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Official name
- Alton
- Population
- 25676
- Area
- 43.347485
- Elevation
- 150
- Official website
- www.cityofaltonil.gov
- Image
- Aerial view of Alton Illinois during June 2008 flood.jpg
- Households
- 11325
- Dialing code
- +1 618
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Sources (9)
via Wikidata · CC0
~28 min read
Article
Alton (/ˈɔːltən/ AWL-tən) is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about 18 miles (29 km) north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 25,676 at the 2020 census. It is a part of the River Bend area in the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area.
It is well known for its limestone bluffs along the river north of the city. It's the former location of an historical state penitentiary, and played a significant role preceding and during the American Civil War. It was the site of the last Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate in October 1858. The former state penitentiary in Alton was used during the Civil War to hold up to 12,000 Confederate prisoners of war.