Geography of Alton
Alton, Illinois, a city in Madison County. It lies on the Mississippi River near the mouths of the Missouri and Illinois rivers. Alton's factories, many of which line the low-lying riverfront, produce glass, paperboard, tools, mining equipment, and brass and steel goods. Large oil refineries are nearby. Much of the city's residential section lies atop bluffs that overlook the river.
Alton was first settled in 1815. It grew as a river port and was incorporated in 1837. That same year Elijah P. Lovejoy, an abolitionist editor, was killed by a mob of local citizens. The last Lincoln-Douglas debate took place here in 1858.
Population: 30,496.