About Alton
The City of Alton was founded in 1837 and is located on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois about 25 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area.
Home to about 28,000 residents, Alton is a great place to live, work and raise a family. Alton’s 28,000 residents benefit from a cost of living below the national average and the protection of the Alton Police and Fire Departments. The Alton School District and several private and parochial schools provide a wonderful education to our children. Lewis and Clark Community College, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and the many colleges and universities in St. Louis make higher education accessible to residents of Alton. Large employers include the Alton School District, Alton Memorial Hospital, Alton Steel, Inc., American Water Company, Argosy Casino, Global Brass and Copper, Inc., Millers First Insurance Company, Olin Corporation, Riverbend Head Start & Community Services, and Saint Anthony’s Health Center. A variety of locally owned small businesses are also located in Alton.
Alton is also the hometown of Jazz musician, Miles Davis, and Robert Wadlow, the tallest known person in history.