Editing Alto, Georgia

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|official_name            = Alto, Georgia
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|motto                    = <!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = Alto City Hall - panoramio.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Alto City Hall
|image_flag               = Flag of Alto, Georgia.png
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = Seal of Alto, Georgia.png
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_blank_emblem       = 
|blank_emblem_type        = 
|blank_emblem_size        = 
|image_map                = Banks_County_Georgia_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Alto_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Banks County, Georgia|Banks County]] and the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|image_dot_map            = 
|dot_mapsize              = 
|dot_map_caption          = 
|dot_x                    = 
|dot_y                    = 
|pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
|pushpin_mapsize          = <!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Habersham County, Georgia|Habersham]], [[Banks County, Georgia|Banks]]
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = <!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Patrica Gail Armour <ref>https://nowhabersham.com/almagno-armour-and-early-win-local-mayoral-races/</ref>
|leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1             = 
|leader_title2            = 
|leader_name2             = 
|leader_title3            = 
|leader_name3             = 
|established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
|established_date         = 
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
|established_date3        = <!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_13.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 2.94
|area_land_km2            = 2.94
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.13
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.13
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 970
|population_density_km2   = 330.34
|population_density_sq_mi = 855.38
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|27|54|N|83|34|22|W|region:US-GA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1339
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 30510, 30596
|area_code                = [[Area code 706|706]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 13-01948<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2405145<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405145}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|townofaltoga.org}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Alto''' is a town in [[Banks County, Georgia|Banks]] and [[Habersham County, Georgia|Habersham]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], the town had a population of 1,172,<ref name="Census 2010"/> up from 876 at the 2000 census.

==History==
Alto was so named on account of its (relatively) lofty elevation (1,394 feet above mean sea level).<ref name="Names">{{cite book | url=http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/a.pdf | title=Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins | publisher=Winship Press | author=Krakow, Kenneth K. | year=1975 | location=Macon, GA | pages=4 | isbn=0-915430-00-2}}</ref> A post office called Alto has been in operation since 1879.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=GA&county=Habersham | title=Post Offices | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=March 31, 2018}}</ref> The town incorporated in 1895.<ref name="Names" />

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|2.9|km2|disp=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1301948| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212182815/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1301948| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Alto town, Georgia| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=October 29, 2013}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left|1900= 74
|1910= 109
|1920= 168
|1930= 219
|1940= 217
|1950= 302
|1960= 275
|1970= 372
|1980= 618
|1990= 651
|2000= 876
|2010= 1172
|2020= 970
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
In the 2020 census, Alto had 1,172 people. The Alto population by county breakdown was as follows: 656 in Habersham County and 516 in Banks County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dot.ga.gov:443/DriveSmart/MapsData/Documents/CountyMaps/Banks.pdf|title=General Highway Map Banks County Georgia|publisher=[[Georgia Department of Transportation]]|access-date=2024-09-25}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 876&nbsp;people, 304&nbsp;households, and 227&nbsp;families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|1,061.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 325 housing units at an average density of {{convert|393.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 79.22% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.08% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.34% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 5.94% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 9.02% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.40% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 20.09% of the population.

There were 304 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 30&nbsp;years. For every 100&nbsp;females there were 106.6 males.  For every 100&nbsp;females age&nbsp;18 and over, there were 103.0&nbsp;males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,750, and the median income for a family was $36,094. Males had a median income of $23,393 versus $18,571 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $11,434.  Below the [[poverty line]] were 15.6% of people, 11.2% of families, 12.2% of those under 18 and 15.6% of those over 64.

== Government and infrastructure==
The government for the town of Alto is housed in a structure with an unusual history.  When the new Cornelia Bank was built in nearby Cornelia in the late 1970s, the small building housing the old remote drive-in teller windows was moved to its current location on a lot across Georgia Hwy 441 from the Riegel Textile Mill (now Mt. Vernon Mills) in Alto and converted for office use.

The [[Georgia Department of Corrections]] operates the [[Arrendale State Prison]] in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Habersham County, Georgia|Habersham County]], near Alto.<ref>"[http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/GDC/FacilityMap/html/arrendale_state_prison.html Arrendale State Prison] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116005350/http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/GDC/FacilityMap/html/arrendale_state_prison.html |date=2014-01-16 }}." [[Georgia Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on November 15, 2010. "ADDRESS: 2023 GAINESVILLE HWY SOUTH POST OFFICE BOX 709 ALTO, GA 30510."</ref>

==Education==
The portion in Banks County is in the [[Banks County School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13011_banks/DC20SD_C13011.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Banks County, GA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=May 7, 2023}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13011_banks/DC20SD_C13011_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Students in that portion are zoned to [[Banks County High School]].

The portion in Habersham County is in the [[Habersham County School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13137_habersham/DC20SD_C13137.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Habersham County, GA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=May 7, 2023}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13137_habersham/DC20SD_C13137_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Banks County, Georgia}}
{{Habersham County, Georgia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Banks County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Towns in Habersham County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Towns in Georgia (U.S. state)]]