Alton

Alton, Illinois, is a river town in Southern Illinois, about 30 miles north of St. Louis. Alton was the birthplace of Miles Davis, one of the greatest jazz musicians ever. Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in recorded history, was raised and died in Alton.

Once overwhelmingly Democratic, Alton and neighboring communities have slowly shifted to be more supportive of Trump Republicans. Alton features a private high school, Marquette, which is a magnet for families on both sides of the adjacent Mississippi River.

Catfish is a local specialty as caught in the river. Flooding of the river each year can be a spectacle, as in 1993 when records were set and the levee nearly breached.

History

In the first part of the 1800s, Alton was more significant than nearby St. Louis, and in 1858 was the location for one of the famous debates between senatorial candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. At the turn of the century into 1901, Alton supported four rival newspapers.