Driving Around Small Town Alton, Illinois in 4k Video
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- Filmed on Monday, June 26 2023, I drive around the city of Alton, Illinois to see what's happening. This is my 2nd trip to Alton.
Alton was developed as a river town in January 1818 by Rufus Easton, who named it after his son. Easton ran a passenger ferry service across the Mississippi River to the Missouri shore.
Alton is located amid the confluence of three navigable rivers: the Illinois, the Mississippi, and the Missouri, and it quickly developed into a river trading town with an industrial character.
Alton became an important town for abolitionists, as Illinois was a free state, separated from the slave state of Missouri only by the Mississippi River. Pro-slavery activists also lived there and slave catchers often raided the city. Escaped slaves would cross the river to seek shelter in Alton, and proceed to safer places through stations of the Underground Railroad.
On October 15, 1858, Alton was the site of the seventh Lincoln-Douglas debate. A memorial at the site in downtown Alton features oversized statues of Lincoln and Douglas, as they would have appeared during the debate. Congressional representatives came to Alton when they drafted the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution, to permanently end slavery throughout the Union.
In 1937, two commercial fishermen from Alton caught a bull shark in the Mississippi River. They displayed the 5-foot 84-pound shark in the Calhoun Fish Market, where it attracted crowds for days.
Many blocks of housing in Alton were built in the Victorian Queen Anne style. They represent a prosperous period in the river city's history. At the top of the hill in the commercial area, several stone churches and a fine city hall also represent the city's wealth during its good times based on river traffic, manufacturing and shipping.
Once the site of several brick factories, Alton has an unusually high number of streets still paved in brick.
Numerous residences on hills have sweeping views of the Mississippi River. Most of Alton is located on bluffs overlooking the river valley. The Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway runs along the Alton riverfront.
The River Road goes right next to the river north to Grafton. Above that, it is often routed inland of the floodplain. It provides views of the dramatic contrast between the high cliffs of the Illinois side to the broad, flat, green agricultural countryside of Portage des Sioux, Missouri. The Great River Road is a popular bicycle touring route.
In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Alton became a town of heavy industry and manufacturing. Laclede Steel established major steel manufacturing operations in the town. Local industry also includes Cope Plastics and Hanley Industries. Alton was home to once-thriving, now defunct, industries such as the Owens-Illinois Glass Bottle Works and Alton Box Board Company.
Restructuring in the industry in the mid-20th century led Alton to create a new future. It has facilities for corporate and vacation retreats and it has transitioned into a popular tourist destination. Alton's location and historical heritage make it a popular destination for antique shopping, touring historic areas, and gambling aboard the Argosy Casino.
Other Greater Alton attractions include Alton Marina; nine golf courses, fine dining and night life; and a large selection of bed-and-breakfasts and guest houses. These include the Beall Mansion An Elegant Bed & Breakfast Inn, voted "Best Illinois Bed and Breakfast" in the Illinois Magazine Readers Poll.
Billing itself as "the wedding capital of the Midwest", Alton has become a popular venue for weddings, receptions, and honeymoons.
Some visitors come to explore the natural environment of the area. A designated bikeway extends for miles north of town along the Mississippi River and below the limestone bluffs; its relatively flat grade and passage through tree-shaded areas makes it an easy ride for families.
During the migration seasons, Alton is a destination for birdwatchers along the Mississippi Flyway; winter visitors come to see the bald eagles that roost on the Illinois limestone bluffs and feed on fish in the river.
As of the census of 2020, there were 25,676 people residing in the city.
The racial makeup of the city was 72.3% White, 24.7% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.5% of the population.
The median household income was $44,401 and the Per capita income was $30,830. 18.7% of the population were living below the poverty line.
#driving #drivingtour #travel
I love and live in Alton, IL. I am surprised you did not drive on Henry St., Liberty St., and Grove to show the beautiful homes in that area of Alton.
I'm a stranger in 99% of the towns I've been to so I just sniff my way around. I'm sure I miss a lot of stuff. It would be way too much work to actually research and plan my route.
50 years ago Alton was a flourishing city of nearly 45,000. Then the industry left, taking many well-paying jobs. Came back here six years ago, and it looked like the life had been sucked out of the place. Am guessing most of the people living in the nicer houses must work in the St. Louis suburbs. St. Louis itself is in bad shape, less than 300,000 people when it once had easily twice as many.
You have the best channel for small town real America...never stop!!
lovin you
What I really like is that, unlike Chris Harden and some of the others, you don't yap through the whole video taking cheap shots at the people who live in these communities. You just let the beauty that exists in community speak for itself.
At time stamp 9:50. First set of windows on the right was where I started Kindergarden class in 1958. Irving Elementary School.
I grew up in Alton in the 60s and 70s. Left for good in 1979. After seeing this video, to say that things have changed would be a big understatement. And the video only covered about 2% of the town, if that.
You do not want to mess around on those brick streets during the winter. Those suckers are all on an incline and if there's the slightest bit of ice, driving is pretty hazardous because the ice fills in those cracks first and then builds up on top of that. It's like driving on glass. (SOURCE: lived in that neighborhood in 2008...)
Hell of a neighborhood
@@exploreusacities I liked it when I lived there, except for a couple of winter days when we had a touch of ice.
That's why you must go to Las Vegas during the winter if you're from the midwest.
Interesting looking town.
What a lovely little town.
I know, right? Those mansions on the side of the cliff overlooking the river would be as good of a view as anything!
It's not lovely
@@dawngibbs691 dead.
My Dad used to live just off state street in front of a radio tower on a side street
I lived there in 1999 to 2001 and it was great. I hadn't thought much about it since then. I am glad to have my memories rekindled by this video.
Why did you drive on Route 67 instead of Route 100 past the Piasa Bird and its cave along the river? Although, I have to say that whoever painted the bird with flag stripes took away the mystique of the true ,original painting!
Its been moved and changed a few times since the 70s
I was Exchange Studen from Colombia back in 1983. I couldn´t recognice any street of this video, :o( I guess I most go back hahahaha. hey! Where is all the people? Jun 26 2023 was Monday, 86F, nice wheather...
That’s my home town❤❤❤
yoo thats me on the scooter😂 3:00
finally! I was wondering when someone would finally see themselves in a video
Didn't do Henry Street?
What is Henry street?
@@exploreusacities You drove on Henry for a little bit, next time drive on Henry, Liberty, and Grove and the side streets in that area. That area is called "Middle Town" and there area several Victorian homes in that area. Most of your video is in the "Christian Hill" area of Alton.
Brick roads and brick buildings. Vive le midwest.
Some of the best bbq big snoots
Good to hear, although I don't know if I like the name. Makes me think they are serving me the snout.
@@exploreusacities if your in the area again, check out lovetts on college ave super tasty snoots
@@exploreusacities it’s also the birthplace of James Earl ray, the man who assassinated MLK Jr. and also the birthplace of Jesse Anderson, a man who murdered his wife outside Northridge Mall in Milwaukee, who later was killed alongside Jeffrey Dahmer in prison. Very interesting town. The haunted hotel is cool. There is also a old story of deaf bill who was mummified and sat on display for years or the underground slave railroad or even the piasa bird. Lots to explore.
No Ghost ?
There were tons of ghosts, but you can't see them on camera because they used their invisibility
Most people think it's better to go to church to search and praise The Holy Ghost. Your fooling yourself and waisting valuable time and brain cells believing those settling building and creaking doorways are ghosts.
Too bad Alton and for the most part, all of Conservative central and southern Illinois has to suffer the stigma of the Liberal big city of Chicago. Chicago sucks, and is a decaying big city, and it's dragging small towns like Alton down with it.
You never know, that county might be able to join Missouri some day!
of course u have to bring liberals into this lol
@@exploreusacitiesOK nazis