Alton, Illinois, USA
1854 - Alton

Alton, a city and river port of Madison county, Illinois, on the Mississippi river, 21 miles above St. Louis, 3 miles above the mouth of the Missouri, and 70 miles 8. S. W. from Springfield. It has a favorable position for trade, and its landing is one of the best 1 on the river. A railroad has been completed from this place to Springfield, and two others are in coarse of construction, which will connect it with Jacksonville, and with Terre Haute, Indiana. Alton contained but few houses until the penitentiary was located here in 1832, since which it has increased rapidly. It has wide streets, several public squares, and a large space along the margin of the river reserved for a public landing and promenade. It contains about 6 churches, a lyceum, a theological seminary, and a news paper office. Upper Alton, 1 1/ 2 or 2 miles to the E., is the seat of Shurtleff College, under the direction of the Baptists. Large quarries of fine limestone have been opened near Alton, and stone coal and timber are abundant in the vicinity. Population, 3876.


A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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