Editing Alton, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Alton, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = St. Mary's Catholic Church.jpg
|image_size               = 200px
|image_caption            = St. Mary's Catholic Church
|image_map = Sioux_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Alton_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Alton, Iowa
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = [[USA]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Iowa]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Sioux County, Iowa|Sioux]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = March 8, 1883
<!-- Area -->
|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_19.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 4.93
|area_land_km2            = 4.93
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.90
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.90
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1248
|population_density_km2   = 253.33
|population_density_sq_mi = 656.15
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1316
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|59|36|N|96|0|21|W|region:US-IA|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 51003
|area_code                = [[Area code 712|712]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-01585
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2393936<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393936}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.altoniowa.org/|City of Alton}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Alton''' is a city in [[Sioux County, Iowa|Sioux County]], [[Iowa]], United States, along the [[Floyd River]]. The population was 1,248 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=cen2020>{{cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref>

==History==
Alton was originally called East Orange, and under the latter name was laid out in 1875 when the railroad was extended to that point.<ref name="Savage2007">{{cite book|last=Savage|first=Tom|title=A Dictionary of Iowa Place-Names|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DxagLIZHNv4C&pg=PA23|date=1 August 2007|publisher=University of Iowa Press|isbn=978-1-58729-759-5|page=23}}</ref> East Orange was renamed Alton in 1882.<ref>{{cite book|author=Chicago and North Western Railway Company|title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36|year=1908|page=36}}</ref> Alton was incorporated as a city in 1883.<ref name="Savage2007" />

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.85|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= left
|1890|708
|1900|1009
|1910|1046
|1920|1007
|1930|1014
|1940|1025
|1950|1038
|1960|1048
|1970|1018
|1980|986
|1990|1063
|2000|1095
|2010|1216
|2020|1248
|source={{center|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><ref name=cen2020/>}}|footnote=Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|title=U.S. Census website|access-date=2020-03-28}} and [http://data.iowadatacenter.org/datatables/PlacesAll/plpopulation18502000.pdf Iowa Data Center]
}}
[[File:AltonIowaPopPlot.png|thumb|left|alt=The population of Alton, Iowa from US census data|The population of Alton, Iowa from US census data]]

===2020 census===
As of the [[United States census|census]] of 2020,<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-census-main.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 1,248 people, 477 households, and 338 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 656.1 inhabitants per square mile (253.3/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 526 housing units at an average density of 276.5 per square mile (106.8/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 88.9% [[White Americans|White]], 1.9% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.8% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.4% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 2.7% from other races and 4.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 6.5% of the population.

Of the 477 households, 32.9% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 3.6% were cohabitating couples, 15.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 17.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.1% of all households were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 37.0 years. 29.8% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.9% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 and 44; 24.0% were from 45 and 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.9% male and 49.1% female.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-05-11}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,216 people, 478 households, and 338 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|657.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 493 housing units at an average density of {{convert|266.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.7% of the population.

There were 478 households, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.3% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age in the city was 36.6 years. 27.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,095 people, 439 households, and 297 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|735.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 466 housing units at an average density of {{convert|312.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 99.54% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.09% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.09% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.27% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.10% of the population.

There were 439 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,911, and the median income for a family was $47,143. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $19,570 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,663. About 4.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District]] is the local school district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_MOC-FLOYD%20VALLEY.pdf|title=MOC-Floyd Valley|publisher=[[Iowa Department of Education]]|accessdate=2020-03-27|archive-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327080306/https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/FY20_MOC-FLOYD%20VALLEY.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The district formed on July 1, 1994 with the merger of the Maurice-Orange City and Floyd Valley districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/District%20Reorganization%20History%20final.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124738/https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/District%20Reorganization%20History%20final.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-02-09|title=REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66|publisher=[[Iowa Department of Education]]|accessdate=2020-03-22}}</ref> Alton houses the district's middle school while elementary and high schools are in [[Orange City, Iowa|Orange City]].

[[Spalding Catholic School]], which serves elementary grades, is located in a single campus in Alton. It was previously a [[K-8 school]] and had multiple campuses, with middle school in [[Granville, Iowa|Granville]], but the Granville campus closed in 2017, and middle school students are now attending Gehlen Catholic School in [[LeMars, Iowa|LeMars]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Mahoney, Mark|url=https://www.nwestiowa.com/news/spalding-catholic-is-all-together-now/article_7bc580ce-da1a-11e7-a4e9-af7ee4208e0e.html|title=Spalding Catholic is all together|work=Nwestiowa.com|publisher=Iowa Information Publishers and Printers|date=2017-12-06|accessdate=2020-04-05}}</ref> The associated Spalding Catholic High closed in 2013 with students merged into [[Gehlen Catholic High School]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[KTIV]]|url=http://www.ktiv.com/story/23234109/2013/08/22/first-day-at-gehlen-spalding-merger|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021234504/http://www.ktiv.com/story/23234109/2013/08/22/first-day-at-gehlen-spalding-merger|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2013|title=First bell rings for merged Gehlen, Spalding school|date= August 22, 2013|accessdate=October 8, 2013|first= Kayah |last=Gausman}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[James T. Klein]], member of the [[Iowa House of Representatives]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Representative James Tackett Klein |url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=63&personID=500 |website=Iowa Legislature}}</ref>
*[[Robert Schuller]], pastor of the [[Crystal Cathedral]], was born and raised a few miles outside of Alton.<ref>Penner, James, 'Goliath: The Life of Robert Schuller,' (1992), pg. 119</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{Portal|Iowa}}
*[https://altoniowa.us/ Alton, Iowa] Portal style website, Government, Business, Recreation, and more

{{Sioux County, Iowa}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Sioux County, Iowa]]