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Alton Illinois Map

Explore Alton, Illinois, with this interactive street and satellite map.

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of Alton, Illinois

How to Use This Alton, Illinois Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Alton, Illinois. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of Illinois or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Alton.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

City	Alton
State	Illinois (IL)
County	Madison County
Country	United States of America
Timezone	Central Time (America/Chicago)

Latitude	38.903898
Longitude	-90.151204
Population	25,676
Density	632.2 /km²
Incorporated	Yes
ZIP Codes	62002, 62018
Area Code	309
County Seat	Edwardsville
School District	Alton Community Unit School District 11

🌦 Goto Alton Weather Page: Alton, Illinois — Weather Warnings, Forecast, Radar, Satellite & Current Conditions

About Alton, Illinois

Alton is a locality in Madison County, Illinois, United States. It has a population of 25,676. The population density is 632.2 people per km². Alton is located at 38.9039°N, 90.1512°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. Alton is an incorporated locality. ZIP codes: 62002, 62018.

Alton rises from the limestone bluffs that overlook the steady, muscular current of the Mississippi River. It lies 4.5 miles south of Godfrey, IL (from Godfrey, IL: bearing 178°T), and is situated 6.5 miles east-northeast of Old Jamestown. The terrain here is defined by abrupt verticality, where the earth pushes upward from the riverbed into rugged, wooded ridges that eventually give way to the vast, flat expanse of the inland prairie. To the north, the quiet stillness of Alton Slough offers a stark contrast to the relentless motion of the main channel, while the deeper fissures of the landscape, such as the sheltered ground of Hop Hollow, create pockets of cool, shaded microclimates. On clear days, the distant, hazy silhouette of Les Mamelles marks the horizon, reminding the observer that the geography of Alton is part of a much older, more tectonic struggle between water and stone.

Founding narratives of Alton remain inextricably linked to the commerce of the river, which acted as the primary artery for settlement long before the advent of modern transit. Early pioneers recognized the tactical advantage of the high ground, establishing a foothold where the river bend allowed for the natural collection of goods and travelers. The weight of the past hangs heavy in the architecture, where Victorian limestone structures stand as silent witnesses to the mid-nineteenth-century expansion that transformed a rugged river outpost into an industrial hub. This history is physically manifested at Lincoln/Douglas Square, where the echoes of national debates shaped the trajectory of the region, grounding Alton in the deep, complex soil of American political development.

Modern infrastructure in Alton functions as a bridge between its heavy industrial heritage and a contemporary service-oriented economy. The proximity to the Mississippi River continues to dictate the flow of freight and commerce, while the development of local education, including Lewis and Clark Community College, provides a vital intellectual anchor for the surrounding region. Roads and rail lines carve through the limestone, connecting the town to the broader Midwestern grid of soybean fields and manufacturing corridors. As the sun dips behind the bluffs, the flickering lights of the industrial sector reflect off the water, illustrating how Alton balances the demands of regional logistics with the persistent need for localized innovation and workforce stability.

Cultural life in Alton finds its cadence in the rhythms of the seasons, marked by the arrival of migratory birds that gather near the river and the community festivals that spill out into the open air. Residents often congregate near the Chain of Rocks to observe the raw power of the water as it navigates the rocky descent, a reminder of the untamed nature that persists just outside the urban boundary. Jazz and blues influences drift through the evening air, reflecting a long-standing appreciation for the arts that complements the town's rugged exterior. While many figures have passed through or called the area home, the spirit of Alton is best captured in the enduring presence of its landmarks, which stand firm against the slow, inevitable erosion of time and the changing currents of the river.

Nearby Outdoor Places

Lovejoy Plaque (Monument) — 0.2 mi, 098° E
Rock Springs Park (Local Park) — 0.3 mi, 268° W
John Mason Peck (Monument) — 0.4 mi, 091° E
Golf Course (Park) — 0.4 mi, 313° NW
Robert Pershing Wadlow (Attraction) — 0.4 mi, 087° E
Tooth Carving (Public Artwork) — 0.5 mi, 101° E
Alton Municipal Golf Course (Park) — 1.0 mi, 343° N
Unknown Park (Local Park) — 1.1 mi, 230° SW
Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument (Monument) — 1.2 mi, 220° SW
Metro Sports Fitness Center (Local Recreation) — 1.4 mi, 286° W
Alton Hauntings Ghost Tours (Attraction) — 1.8 mi, 238° SW
Jacoby Arts Center (Arts Centre) — 2.2 mi, 246° SW
Alton Military Prison Site (Attraction) — 2.2 mi, 247° SW
Ellis Island (Local Conservation Area) — 2.3 mi, 201° S
Blind (Viewpoint) — 2.3 mi, 203° SW
Upper Mississippi Waterfowl Area (State Conservation Area) — 2.5 mi, 235° SW
Vadalabene Bike Trail (State Recreation Area) — 2.7 mi, 263° W
Maple Island (Local Conservation Area) — 2.8 mi, 177° S
John M. Olin Nature Preserve (State Conservation Area) — 3.1 mi, 291° W
Edward "ted" And Pat Jones-confluence Point State Park (State Park) — 4.1 mi, 163° S
Big Muddy National Fish And Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 4.5 mi, 186° S · 32k acres
Charles Raich Field (Stadium) — 5.5 mi, 132° SE
Bethalto Historical Museum (Museum) — 5.9 mi, 086° E
Wpa Outdoor Living room (Historic Ruins) — 6.2 mi, 214° SW
WPA Comfort Station (Historic Ruins) — 6.2 mi, 215° SW
Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower (Attraction) — 7.0 mi, 157° SE
Hartford Castle (Historic Castle / Fort) — 8.0 mi, 153° SE
Poag Sand Prairie (Nature Reserve) — 10.1 mi, 142° SE
James J Eagan Center Theatre (Theatre) — 10.9 mi, 226° SW
Amphitheater (Theatre) — 11.1 mi, 123° SE

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