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Famous Residents |
Alton, Illinois___________________
Driving Directions
Take I-172 south 14 miles then go west on I-72/US 36 for 6 miles. Go south
on US 61 for 76 miles to I-70. Go east on I-70 for 22 miles then take
I-270 north for 12 miles. Get off on Lewis and Clark Blvd/US 67 and follow
it north for 11 miles to Alton. Total distance is 141 miles.
Calendar of Events
Visit Alton’s Convention
and Visitors Bureau website for a calendar of events.
Alton History
Alton, Illinois was established in 1818 by Rufus Eaton. Although
Eaton never lived in Alton, his new passenger ferry service traveled the
Mississippi River from St. Louis to Alton daily. Alton is situated on
the bluffs above the river where it bends and flows west to east. Eaton
realized the geographical location of Alton was the ideal spot for a thriving
river community. Especially considering it is located 25 miles north of
St. Louis and near the confluence of the Missouri, Illinois, and Mississippi
Rivers.
Alton grew rapidly around the vibrant river commerce available in the 1830's with the steamboat trade. By 1837, Alton’s population had grown to 4,000 residents. The first locomotives came to Alton in the 1850's allowing Alton to become a commercial center and its industries flourished.
Alton was also a vital link to the Underground Railroad. With its proximity to St. Louis and the fact that slavery was legal in Missouri, Alton was a crucial participant in the railroad. Alton’s citizens helped thousands of slaves realize their freedom. On November 7, 1837, abolitionist printer, Elijah Lovejoy, was murder in Alton and became the first martyr of the abolition movement.
Today, visitors to Alton can revisit Alton’s rich history through its museums, historic districts, memorials, and parks. For more information about visiting Alton, go to the Alton Convention and Visitors Bureau website.
Links/Related Websites
Alton Convention & Visitors Bureau
City of Alton
Madison County
Climate/Weather Conditions
Average Temperatures
January 27°F
February 31°F
March 42°F
April 55°F
May 65°F
June 74°F
July 78°F
August 76°F
September 69°F
October 57°F
November 44°F
December 32°F
Average precipitation = 37 inches/year