Alton, Illinois

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by carmac

Hi abushua...not many have anything nice to say about Alton, I've noticed. But my husband and I are retired, and have thought about moving there from
Southern California. My husband grew up in Alton and has fond memories of living there...he left in the mid '60s. I've asked this question on an Alton thread, but haven't gotten any replies, but do you know why the crime rate is so high in Alton, but so low in Godfrey, when it's right next door? Also, do you know anything about the Surrey Court Apartments on Surrey Ct., Godfrey...or the River Reach Town Home Apartments off Fosterberg Rd., in Godfrey??? Are these nice areas? What areas would you stay away from? Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

I lived in the Surrey Court apartments shortly while in college. It was very diverse and a decent place to live. The apartment management is very good and keeps close tabs on the residents. I never had any issues with crime either.

[big mean bear]

Originally Posted by aragx6

What happened to Alton: They were a heavy industrial and manufacturing town and all of that is gone now, shipped overseas. There are few jobs for the uneducated.

The unions were the death of so many great, Northern cities. Their lack of negotiation and flexibility eventually led to companies simply moving to business friendly countries; an act that the unions could not prevent. And yet the unions are still stubborn as ever, standing on their sandboxes of rubble and rust that used to be thriving cities of the north.

[carmac]

Originally Posted by skipcromer

I lived in the Surrey Court apartments shortly while in college. It was very diverse and a decent place to live. The apartment management is very good and keeps close tabs on the residents. I never had any issues with crime either.

Thanks Skip...appreciate your comments!

[aquisoy3]

i am moving to out side of alton like 30 minutes away i need a job as an certified medical assistant , i am looking to work and just a little fun any ideas about what i can look for or do?

[noodlez]

im a 35 year old single male who has lived in alton for almost 10 years now. i moved here when i was 25/26 when i got a job in one of the ONLY descent paying manufacturing facilities in the area (the st louis area- they are few and far between) and i really regret moving here. i am from a small town in IL about 40 miles NE of here, so that's how i landed here i guess when i got out of the military.
i really hate this place. it's very VERY boring here- there's really nothing to do but hang out in bars unless you have all kinds of money to pi$$ away on driving all over the place or riding motorcycles, or horses or whatever else... even going to bars is pretty expensive here.
during the time i worked in the manufacturing facility here (5 years) i was treated pretty poorly by almost everyone i worked with and for...never knew why- i used to go out,but as has been said before- the people in the area just are generally not very friendly or accepting of anything or anyone that doesnt look like they're from the midwest, i guess...then you have your wannabe gangster younger crowd...lol
right now im attending a technical college in st louis and hope to be able to sell my house and move away from the area when i graduate. i do regret buying a home here very much- just another burden i have to get rid of to get out of this midwest hell lol.
unless you are in some kind of buisiness or a lawyer or something like this i would highly- and i mean HIGHLY advise against moving here of your own free will. you can forget about getting any kind of descent job in a trade in the midwest unless you know people who can get you in- it just isnt going to happen. there's nothing here but taxes for you to pay to the hungry state of illinois- my advice is to stay away- stay FAR FAR AWAY lol....
the whole st louis area is in an out of control downward tailspin in my opinion. the person who said "buisiness is moving here daily"... really? i mean how full of crap can you be?
crime doesnt really seem to be THAT bad here,though- not as bad as east st louis or st louis, but someone did try to break into my house last year once- the cop showed up and said "yep- that's suspicious", and left... they seem to not be good for much aside from writing seat belt and speeding tickets around here.

also- people mentioning all the little towns around alton- they're even worse- i used to live in bethalto before i bought my house here and i've never in my life seen such a highly concentrated amount of ****** in one little area. really amazing. i just hope i can get out of here before it's too late for me and it rubs off too much-lol

[papicholo]

If anyone is thinking of moving to Alton, IL, please think again and then run the other way. There are few things to do, i.e. river road, see the fall colors, a LOT of history, haunted tours, etc., but you are taking your life into your own hands. This wasteland is turning into East St.Louis. This plague destroyed their city and now are moving in to Alton. My daughter was just threatened last week in school. This waste of space threatened to shoot and kill her and her boyfriend and anyone that tried to touch him. The high school and police didnt care and jus sent him home for the day. Anyone thinking of moving here should check crime statistics and compare to all others...it's astounding. Never come here and never ever bring children here.