Editing Alton, Texas

{{for|the ghost town in Denton County|Alton, Texas (ghost town)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Alton, Texas
|settlement_type          = [[List of cities in Texas|City]]

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<!-- Location -->
|coordinates              = {{coord|26|17|4|N|98|18|21|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
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|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{Flag|Texas|size=23px}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
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|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         = 1978<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alton-tx.gov/government/|title = Government – City of Alton}}</ref>

<!-- Area -->
|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_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 5, 2024}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 18.94
|area_land_km2            = 18.93
|area_water_km2           = 0.01
|area_total_sq_mi         = 7.31
|area_land_sq_mi          = 7.31
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
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|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=QuickFacts: Alton city, Texas|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/altoncitytexas|access-date=February 5, 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 18198
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|population_density_km2   = 961.3
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|elevation_m              = 49
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|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 78573
|area_code                = [[Area code 956|956]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 48-02212<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
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|website                  = {{URL|www.alton-tx.gov}}
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}}

'''Alton''' is a city in [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo County]], [[Texas]], United States. The population was 18,198 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="QF"/>

==History==
Alton was founded in 1910 or 1911 by citizens and railroad officials of [[Alton, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://alton-tx.gov/about-alton/history/ |title=History of Alton; City of Alton. |access-date=July 2, 2016 |archive-date=October 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013094558/http://alton-tx.gov/about-alton/history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On September 21, 1989, the [[Alton bus crash]] occurred; a Dr. Pepper truck hit a [[Mission Consolidated Independent School District]] school bus and caused it to fall into a [[caliche]] pit, killing 21 students.<ref name=Fischler>{{cite news|author=Fischler, Jacob|url=https://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_1b51b760-4140-11e4-9f7b-0017a43b2370.html|title=Remembering the 21: Sunday is 25th anniversary of Alton bus tragedy |newspaper=[[The Monitor (Texas)|The Monitor]]|date=2014-09-21|access-date=2018-08-02}}</ref>

==Geography==

Alton is located at {{coord|26|17|4|N|98|18|21|W|type:city}} (26.284307, −98.305940).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is bordered to the south by [[Palmhurst, Texas|Palmhurst]] and to the north and east by [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], although downtown McAllen is {{convert|10|mi|0}} southeast of Alton. It is about {{convert|70|mi|km}} north of [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]].<ref name=CBS4Phots>{{cite web|url=https://valleycentral.com/news/local/archive-photos-alton-bus-wreck|title=Archive Photos: Alton Bus Wreck|publisher=CBS 4|date=2009-09-21|access-date=2018-08-02}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Alton has a total area of {{convert|18.94|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.008|sqkm|order=flip|3}}, or 0.04%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1980= 2732
|1990= 3069
|2000= 4384
|2010= 12341
|2020= 18198
|estyear= 
|estimate= 
|estref= 
|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|access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}
Alton is part of the [[McAllen–Edinburg–Mission metropolitan area|McAllen–Edinburg–Mission]] and [[Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area|Reynosa–McAllen]] metropolitan areas.

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Alton racial composition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4802212&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|439
|2.41%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|47
|0.26%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|5
|0.03%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|22
|0.12%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|27
|0.15%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|12
|0.07%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|17,646
|96.97%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''18,198'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 18,198 people, 4,566 households, and 3,959 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,384 people, 1,059 households, and 988 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,075.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,175 housing units at an average density of {{convert|556.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 79.33% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.05% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.32% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 19.02% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.28% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 97.90% of the population.

There were 1,059 households, out of which 58.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.7% were non-families. 6.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.14 and the average family size was 4.29.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 37.9% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The [[median income]] for a household in the city was $22,097, and the median income for a family was $23,563. Males had a median income of $18,487 versus $15,341 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $6,230. About 38.7% of families and 42.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 51.9% of those under age 18 and 39.3% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==
Most of Alton is a part of the [[Mission Consolidated Independent School District]]. Small portions are within the [[Sharyland Independent School District]] and [[La Joya Independent School District]].<ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st48_tx/c48215_hidalgo/DC10SD_C48215_001.pdf SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Hidalgo County, TX]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on August 2, 2018.</ref><ref name=AboutAlton>"[https://alton-tx.gov/about-alton/ About Alton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107181135/https://alton-tx.gov/about-alton/ |date=January 7, 2019 }}." Alton. Retrieved on August 2, 2018.</ref>

Much of Alton was in the Alton Independent School District until January 27, 1975, when that district merged into Mission CISD.<ref name=NTSBp17>{{cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/HAR9002.pdf|title=Highway Accident Report – Collision between Mission Consolidated Independent School District School Bus and Valley Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Inc. Tractor-Semitrailer Intersection of Bryan Road and Texas Farm-to-Market Road 676 Alton, Texas September 21, 1989|publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|page=17 (PDF p. 24/95)}}</ref>

In 2018 city manager Jorge Arcaute stated that some families moved to Alton specifically to put their children in the Mission CISD and Sharyland ISD schools.<ref>{{cite web|author=De Leon, Jose III|url=https://www.progresstimes.net/news/local-news/11111-census-bureau-alton-is-the-fastest-growing-city-in-the-county.html|title=Census Bureau: Alton is the fastest growing city in the county|publisher=[[Progress Times]]|date=2018-06-07|access-date=2018-08-04}}</ref>

All of Hidalgo County is in the service area of [[South Texas College]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.199.  SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].</ref>

===Schools===
Mission CISD operates the following elementary schools that serve sections of Alton:<ref name=AltonZoningmap>"[https://alton-tx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/REVISED-NEW-Proposed-Zoning-Map-2017.pdf Proposed Zoning Map 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802181119/https://alton-tx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/REVISED-NEW-Proposed-Zoning-Map-2017.pdf |date=August 2, 2018 }}." City of Alton. Retrieved on August 2, 2018. This map shows the city boundaries and which schools are in the city limits.</ref><ref name=MCISDboundaries>"[https://1.cdn.edl.io/rYE6UhIxe4QsKv97ew40tlmq4pc6h5XPQnxe7ZxapDZxZ9U0.pdf Mission CISD School Zones]." Mission Consolidated Independent School District. Retrieved on August 2, 2018. [https://www.mcisd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=218194&type=d&pREC_ID=1139413 See HTML version]. Junior high boundaries are determined by the elementary school zoning, with some optional exceptions, while high school boundaries are described by text.</ref>
* Alton Elementary School – Alton
* Arturo Cantu Elementary School – Alton
** Named after Arturo Cantu, a Mission ISD teacher who in 1969 drowned in the Anzalduas Park after rescuing three of his students.<ref>"[https://cantu.mcisd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=216971&type=d&pREC_ID=477960 School History]." Arturo Cantu Elementary School. Retrieved on August 4, 2018.</ref>
* Raquel Cavazos Elementary School<ref>[https://cavazos.mcisd.net/ Home]. Raquel Cavazos Elementary School. Retrieved on August 2, 2018.</ref> – Alton
* Waitz Elementary School – Alton
* Hurla M. Midkiff Elementary School<!--NOT in Alton--> – [[Palmhurst, Texas|Palmhurst]]
* Salinas Elementary School<!--NOT in Alton--> – annexed into the City of McAllen

Mission CISD operates Alton Memorial Junior High School, named in honor of the Mission CISD students who died in the 1989 bus crash, in Alton.<ref name=Fischler/> Students zoned to Cantu, Cavazos, and Waitz elementaries are zoned to Alton Memorial, while those zoned to Alton Elementary, Midkiff, and Salinas are zoned to Rafael A. Cantu Junior High School<!--NOT in Alton--> in Palmhurst. Sections of Alton are zoned to [[Mission High School (Mission, Texas)|Mission High School]] and [[Veterans Memorial High School (Mission, Texas)|Veterans Memorial High School]] in [[Mission, Texas|Mission]].<ref name=MCISDboundaries/>

There is a Mission CISD alternative high school: Mission Collegiate High School, in Alton.<ref>[https://mchs.mcisd.net/ Home]. [[Mission Collegiate High School]]. Retrieved on August 2, 2018.</ref> Sharyland ISD operates Jesse Jensen Elementary School in Alton.<ref name=AboutAlton/> Sharyland ISD sections of Alton are zoned to Jensen, North Junior High School in [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], and [[Sharyland Pioneer High School]] in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] Hidalgo County.<ref>[http://www.sharylandisd.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_416150/File/SharylandISD_NEW2.pdf Attendance boundary map]. [[Sharyland Independent School District]]. Retrieved on August 2, 2018. [http://www.sharylandisd.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_416150/File/attendance%20zones%20map.png See also simplified map] which also has a chart stating which elementary schools feed into which secondary schools.</ref>

La Joya ISD operates Domingo Treviño Middle School in Alton.<ref name=AboutAlton/><ref name=AltonZoningmap/> The sections of Alton in La Joya ISD are divided between:
* Diaz/Villareal Elementary School<!--North of Mile 5--> and Kika de la Garza Elementary School<!--South of Mile 5--><ref>"[http://lajoya.juiceboxinteract.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/elemzone.jpg Elementary School Zones 2017–2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20180916100352/http://lajoya.juiceboxinteract.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/elemzone.jpg |date=2018-09-16 }}." [[La Joya Independent School District]]. Retrieved on September 16, 2018.</ref>
* Treviño Middle and Memorial Middle School<ref>"[http://lajoya.juiceboxinteract.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/midzone.jpg Middle School Zones 2017–2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20180916100358/http://lajoya.juiceboxinteract.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/midzone.jpg |date=2018-09-16 }}." [[La Joya Independent School District]]. Retrieved on September 16, 2018.</ref>
* [[Juarez-Lincoln High School]]<!--North of Mile 5--> and [[Palmview High School]]<!--South of Mile 5--><ref>"[http://lajoya.juiceboxinteract.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/highzone.jpg High School Zones 2017–2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20180916100415/http://lajoya.juiceboxinteract.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/highzone.jpg |date=2018-09-16 }}." [[La Joya Independent School District]]. Retrieved on September 16, 2018.</ref>

In addition, [[South Texas Independent School District]] operates magnet schools that serve the community.

== Parks and recreation==
Josefa Garcia Park is in Alton. It previously had {{convert|5|acre|ha}} of land. In 2018 [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]] (TPWD) gave a $500,000 grant to increase the park's size to {{convert|55|acre|ha}}. The park includes a memorial to the 1989 bus accident, with 21 crosses, one per deceased victim, and a statue of Jesus Christ.<ref>{{cite web|author=De Leon, Jose III|url=https://www.progresstimes.net/news/local-news/10775-alton-receives-funding-for-1-5m-park-expansion.html|title=Alton receives funding for $1.5M park expansion|publisher=[[Progress Times]]|date=2018-04-06|access-date=2018-08-04}}</ref>

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

{{notelist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.alton-tx.gov City of Alton official website]

{{Hidalgo County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Hidalgo County, Texas]]