Alton, IL

About Alton

• • Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis was born in Alton, Illinois in 1926.
• • The "Alton Giant," a controversial prehistoric skeleton, was unearthed here in 1858.
• • River trade along the Mississippi River established Alton as a major commercial hub.
• • Confederate prisoners of war were held at the Alton Military Prison during the Civil War.
• • The Great Flood of 1993 devastated Alton, causing widespread damage along the riverfront.
• • Named after Alton Easton, it was established in 1817, incorporated in 1837.
• • With around 26,000 people, it's smaller than nearby Granite City.
• • At 515 feet above sea level, it offers bluff views of the Mississippi River.
• • Healthcare and social assistance are major employment sectors in Alton.
• • A historic river town with a touch of mystery, tinged with both hope and melancholy.
• • The St. Louis Cardinals, 25 miles away, won their 11th World Series in 2011.
• • Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man, lived in Alton and was 8 feet 11.1 inches tall.

Songs About Alton