East Alton, Illinois
East Alton, Illinois | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 Location in Madison County, Illinois | |
  East Alton Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:38°53′0″N90°6′22″W/ 38.88333°N 90.10611°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Madison |
| Township | Wood River |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.47 sq mi (14.18 km2) |
| • Land | 5.32 sq mi (13.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2) |
| Elevation | 443 ft (135 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 5,786 |
| • Density | 1,088.00/sq mi (420.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6(CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5(CDT) |
| ZIP code | 62024 |
| Area code | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-21553 |
| GNISID | 2398769[2] |
| FIPScode | 17-21553 |
| Wikimedia Commons | East Alton, Illinois |
| Website | www |
East Altonis avillageinMadison County,Illinois,United States.The population was 5,786 at the2020 census,[3]down from 6,301 in2010.[4]
History
[edit]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 manyRiver Bendcommunities, 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
[edit]East Alton is located in northwestern Madison County at38°53′0″N90°6′22″W/ 38.88333°N 90.10611°W(38.883397, -90.106113).[8]It is bordered to the northwest by the city ofAlton,to the east by unincorporatedRosewood Heights,to the southeast by the city ofWood River,and to the southwest by theMississippi River,withWest Alton, Missouri,on the opposite shore.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau,East Alton has a total area of 5.48 square miles (14.19 km2), of which 5.32 square miles (13.78 km2) are land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2), or 2.87%, are water.[1]TheWood Riverflows through the northern and western parts of the village and forms the village's western border (with Alton) for some of its distance. The river joins the Mississippi in the southern part of the village.
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) toEast 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 Routes111and140run together along the northern border of the village, leading west into Alton and east intoBethalto.
Demographics
[edit]| 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 thecensus[10]of 2000, there were 6,830 people, 2,965 households, and 1,787 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,241.3 inhabitants per square mile (479.3/km2). There were 3,171 housing units at an average density of 576.3 per square mile (222.5/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.72%White,0.94%African American,0.25%Native American,0.38%Asian,0.01%Pacific Islander,0.18% fromother races,and 1.52% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 1.02% of the population.
There were 2,965 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% weremarried couplesliving 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. Theper capita incomefor the village was $15,572. About 7.8% of families and 13.3% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Industry
[edit]East Alton is home to theOlin Corporation,a manufacturer ofammunition.Olin has a major impact on East Alton and its surrounding communities. A part of town called the Defense Area was built during the 1940s and until recently was used forlow income housing.Replacing the Defense Area is Emerald Ridge, which consists of 46 new single-family homes. The impact of Olin had spread into town sports: East Alton Middle School's athletic teams were originally named the Bullets.
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
[edit]East Alton is located in the Greater Metropolitan area ofSt. Louis, Missouri.Thus, all the attractions and facilities of that major city are equally available to residents of East Alton and nearby communities. Additionally, East Alton is minutes away from the origination point of the Journey of Discovery (Lewis and Clark Expedition) located in nearbyHartford, Illinois.Educational institutions in the area includeSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville,the SIUE Dental School inAlton,Principia CollegeinElsahandLewis and Clark Community CollegeinGodfrey.
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, andgreen space.The park underwent improvements in late 2015.
The East Alton Post Office contains a mural,The Letter,painted in 1937 byFrances Foy.Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in theUnited Statesthrough theSection of Painting and Sculpture,later called theSection of Fine Arts,of theTreasury Department.[13]
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
[edit]- Joe Astroth,catcher for theAthleticswhen they were based in Philadelphia and Kansas City
- Fred Olseninvented theball propellantmanufacturing process here.[15]
- Jayden Ulrich,2024 Paris Olympian-Discus Throw
See also
[edit]- Melvin Price Locks and Damon the Mississippi River at East Alton
References
[edit]- ^ab"2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Illinois".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedFebruary 16,2023.
- ^abU.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: East Alton, Illinois
- ^ab"P1. Race – East Alton village, Illinois: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)".U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedFebruary 16,2023.
- ^"P1. Race – East Alton village, Illinois: 2010 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)".U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedFebruary 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".RetrievedFebruary 21,2017.
- ^"Madison County ILGenWeb - The Wann Disaster".madison.illinoisgenweb.org.Archived fromthe originalon February 22, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 21,2017.
- ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 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.RetrievedApril 27,2023.
- ^"East Alton Village | parks and rec parks".
- ^Arnesen, Eric (2007).Encyclopedia of U.S. Labor and Working-Class History.Vol. 1. New York: Routledge. p. 1540.ISBN9780415968263.
- ^"East Alton's history comes together: Museum 'way, way' exceeds expectations".RetrievedMarch 10,2017.
- ^"A Brief History of Winchester Smokeless Propellants".Winchester.Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 20,2015.
External links
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