We call Alton one of the most haunted small towns in America, but it wasn't always considered

a small town.

During the first half of the 19th century, Alton was actually the largest town in the

state of Illinois.

The town was built as the most desirable place to live on the east side of the Mississippi

River, and St. Louis began to be referred to, much to the dismay of its political and

business leaders, as the little town downriver from Alton.

Because of course the Mississippi River was behind all that growth in new business.

The expanding waterfront made Alton a center for river traffic and industry.

New factories and mills were built along with wholesale and resale companies, homespraying

up and growing neighborhoods as people flock to the community.

Dozens of new stores open in the business district and new steamboats owned by local

businessmen were being launched on a regular basis.

By 1834, new building lots were selling for hundreds of dollars each, a considerable

sum for the time.

The new businesses in Alton led to more new arrivals.

Lawyers, doctors, and ministers arrived and established practices, churches, fraternal

lodges, societies, and private schools like Shirtlift College.

The economy surged again after the railroads came to Alton and new mills were started

along the river, as well as factories and operations that made everything from barrels

to brooms to carriages, stoves, field plows, bottles, and gunpowder.

Many of those new factories contributed to what Alton is best known for today.

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