Editing Alton, Illinois (section)

==Economy==
[[File:Railroad station. Alton, Illinois - NARA - 283579.jpg|thumb|left|Railroad station in Alton, 1925]]
In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Alton became a town of heavy industry and manufacturing. [[Alton Steel|Laclede Steel]] established major steel manufacturing operations in the town.<ref>{{cite web
| title=U.S. & Illinois Reach Settlement with Bankrupt Laclede Steel to Facilitate Clean-up & Reopening of Alton, Illinois Mill
| url=http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2003/January/03_enrd_033.htm
| publisher=U.S. Department of Justice | date=January 22, 2003
}}
</ref> Local industry also includes Cope Plastics<ref name="bloomberg-Cope">{{cite web
| title=Company Overview of Cope Plastics, Inc.
| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4306525
| work=bloomberg.com | publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] | access-date=2018-02-08
}}
</ref><ref name="BusnFocus-2014-12">{{cite news
| title=Your Vision, Our Quality, One Partnership
| url=https://www.businessinfocusmagazine.com/2014/12/your-vision-our-quality-one-partnership/
| first=Mark | last=Golombek | publisher=Business in Focus | date=December 2014 | access-date=2018-02-08
}}
</ref> and Hanley Industries.<ref name="manta-hanley">{{cite web
| title=Hanley Industries Inc
| url=https://www.manta.com/c/mm7zg4z/hanley-industries-inc
| work=manta.com | access-date=2018-02-08
}}
</ref><ref name="telegraph-2016-02-01">{{cite news
| title=Godfrey to consider annexation of Hanley Industries
| url=http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/77474/godfrey-to-consider-annexation-of-hanley-industries
| first=Kelsey | last=Landis | publisher=[[The Telegraph (Alton, Illinois)|The Telegraph]] | date=February 1, 2016 | access-date=2018-02-08
}}
</ref> Alton was home to once-thriving, now defunct, industries such as the Owens-Illinois Glass Bottle Works and Alton Box Board Company (a maker of all types of cardboard boxes for all types of uses).

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, including Spencer T. Olin, the only Arnold Palmer-designed and -managed course in Illinois or the St. Louis Metropolitan area; fine dining and night life; and a large selection of bed-and-breakfasts and guest houses.

Some visitors come to explore the natural environment of the area.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=AltonDirect.info |title=AltonDirect.info – When you want to know Alton, Illinois |url=https://www.altondirect.info/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=AltonDirect.info |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1" /> During the [[bird migration|migration]] seasons, Alton is a destination for birdwatchers along the [[Mississippi Flyway]]; winter visitors come to see the [[bald eagle]]s that roost on the Illinois [[limestone]] bluffs and feed on fish in the river. It is the area of the Meeting of the Great Rivers [[National Scenic Byway]]. A few miles to the north is [[Père Marquette State Park]], with a [[Works Progress Administration|WPA]]-era lodge and attractions including trails for hikers and riders, and horses for hire.

On January 28, 2010, Illinois was selected for a $1.2 billion federal award to bring high-speed passenger rail service to Illinois by 2015–2017. Alton has been selected as a station stop on a line running from St. Louis to Chicago, and opened on September 13, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idothsr.org/about/funding.aspx |title=Official IDOT Illinois High Speed Rail – Chicago to St. Louis: About the Project |publisher=Illinois Department of Transportation }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thetelegraph.com/news/84192/citizens-learn-more-about-110-mph-rail-project |title=Citizens learn more about 110 mph rail project |work=The Telegraph |date=June 9, 2016 }}</ref>{{update inline|date=November 2019}}

Alton won the Small Business Revolution: Main Street<ref>[https://www.deluxe.com/small-business-revolution/season-three/] {{dead link|date=October 2023}}</ref> contest{{when|date=November 2019}} and got a $100,000 boost to its community.