Alton, Illinois | |
|---|---|
 The Clark Bridge, connecting Alton to West Alton, Missouri | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Alton in Madison County, Illinois | |
  Alton  Alton | |
| Coordinates: 38°54′2″N 90°9′35″W / 38.90056°N 90.15972°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Madison |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | David Goins |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16.95 sq mi (43.90 km2) |
| • Land | 15.67 sq mi (40.59 km2) |
| • Water | 1.28 sq mi (3.31 km2) |
| Elevation | 535 ft (163 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 25,676 |
| • Density | 1,638.44/sq mi (632.62/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) | 62002 |
| Area code | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-01114 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2393935[2] |
| Wikimedia Commons | Alton, Illinois |
| Website | www |
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 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.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Alton, Illinois