East Alton, Illinois
East Alton, Illinois | ||
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Village | ||
FIPS code 17-21553 | | |
Wikimedia Commons | East Alton, Illinois | |
Website | www |
East Alton is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,786 at the 2020 census,[3] down from 6,301 in 2010.[4]
History
East Alton was incorporated as a village in 1893 (some say 1894).[5]
William Cobb, namesake of Cobb Street, was one of the first mayors, from 1895 to 1896, and again in 1902–1905.
Like many River Bend communities, the town dates back to when European settlers came to the area in the early 19th century. And it wasn't always East Alton — the community was known as Emerald, Milton Settlement and Alton Junction.[6] Alton Junction was also known as Wann Junction, famous locally for being the site of a horrific rail disaster.[7]
Geography
East Alton is located in northwestern Madison County at 38°53′0″N 90°6′22″W / 38.88333°N 90.10611°W (38.883397, -90.106113).[8] It is bordered to the northwest by the city of Alton, to the east by unincorporated Rosewood Heights, to the southeast by the city of Wood River, and to the southwest by the Mississippi River, with West Alton, Missouri, on the opposite shore.
According to the
Illinois Route 3 (Lewis and Clark Boulevard) passes through the southwest part of the village, leading northwest into Alton and south 21 miles (34 km) to East St. Louis. Illinois Route 143 (Berm Highway) follows the Mississippi along the village's southern edge, leading northwest to the center of Alton and east to the center of Wood River. Illinois Routes 111 and 140 run together along the northern border of the village, leading west into Alton and east into Bethalto.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 454 | — | |
1910 | 584 | 28.6% | |
1920 | 1,669 | 185.8% | |
1930 | 4,502 | 169.7% | |
1940 | 4,680 | 4.0% | |
1950 | 7,290 | 55.8% | |
1960 | 7,630 | 4.7% | |
1970 | 7,309 | −4.2% | |
1980 | 7,096 | −2.9% | |
1990 | 7,063 | −0.5% | |
2000 | 6,830 | −3.3% | |
2010 | 6,301 | −7.7% | |
2020 | 5,786 | −8.2% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[9] |
As of the
There were 2,965 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,404, and the median income for a family was $35,655. Males had a median income of $36,770 versus $20,865 for females. The
Industry
East Alton is home to the
The EPA was overseeing the cleanup of a Olin Corp. facility in East Alton by 2021, taking public comments on Olin's proposed cleanup plan to contaminated soil and groundwater in July 2021.[11]
Points of interest
East Alton is located in the Greater Metropolitan area of
Van Preter Park is the main park in East Alton. This 13.8-acre (5.6 ha) park consists of four baseball diamonds, two playground units, two small pavilions and one large pavilion.[12]
Bill Tite Memorial - Lions Park is located on the north side of the Keasler Recreation Complex. The entrance is in the 300 block of Ohio Street. This park consists of a large playground unit, two swing set units with toddler seats, a climbing unit, see-saw rider, two large multiple play stations, picnic tables, park benches, barbecue grills, and green space. The park underwent improvements in late 2015.
The East Alton Post Office contains a mural, The Letter, painted in 1937 by
The East Alton History Museum officially opened on March 4, 2017, and is located in the Fred H. Bright Jr. Vital Services Building, 119 N. Main Street. The building, which houses the East Alton Police department, was renamed the same day in honor of the former Mayor.[14]
Notable people
- Joe Astroth, catcher for the Athletics when they were based in Philadelphia and Kansas City
- Fred Olsen invented the ball propellant manufacturing process here.[15]
See also
- Melvin Price Locks and Dam on the Mississippi River at East Alton
References
- ^ a b "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: East Alton, Illinois
- ^ a b "P1. Race – East Alton village, Illinois: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ "P1. Race – East Alton village, Illinois: 2010 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ Norton, William T. (1912). Centennial History of Madison County, Illinois, and Its People, 1812 to 1912. The Lewis Publishing Co. pp. 614.
- ^ "East Alton committee nearing completion of museum, book". Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ "Madison County ILGenWeb - The Wann Disaster". madison.illinoisgenweb.org. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "EPA to take comments on proposed cleanup plan for Olin Corp. facility in East Alton, Illinois". EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency. May 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ "East Alton Village | parks and rec parks".
- ISBN 9780415968263.
- ^ "East Alton's history comes together: Museum 'way, way' exceeds expectations". Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ^ "A Brief History of Winchester Smokeless Propellants". Winchester. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.