Who actually lives in Alton? (Chicago, East St. Louis: buy, school, taxes)

[noodlez]

Originally Posted by Blueberries

crime is a real problem. I lived in a decent area, mostly modest, middle class homes and I found broken liquor bottles and used hypodermic needles in my yard almost every day.

while i agree with you that alton does suck, i have to say that this statement is highly unrealistic. i posted in another post that someone 'tried' to break into my house, but that is really the only thing that has ever happened to me here. and i think it was just some kids. i do live in one of the nicer areas of alton, close to the SIUE dental college, but still - you "found hypodermic needles and broken bottles in your yard every day"? come on... that's outrageous.
alton does have some pretty ghetto areas but that's rediculous.

[noodlez]

Originally Posted by Central Illinois 1

a great 99 cent burger and cold beer at Fast Eddie's (a great Alton tradition)

the burger might be 99 cents but the beer will cost you 3 dollars lol

[cashmoney$]

I lived in alton for awhile and while I was there it was pretty rough, the town is nice and all, but it really does got the whole ghetto thing going, Alton is really divided and there is alot of racism, so the races seem to live in their own areas, blacks in one part, whites in the other, and I lived in a nice looking area, but at night it when it got rowdy, you could hear gunshots every other night, and up the way I talked to some kids that live there they said a couple people get killed in their neighborhood a month, I didnt believe it so I went over to the police station and sure enough, that area, (which makes up about 30% of alton) has had like 35 homicides this year, along with several shootings where the person was only injured

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by waldo

Alton is a dying town. It is located high on the banks of the Mississippi with some great views but economically speaking...it is dead. Most industry has moved out and crime is a problem. The schools are in bad shape. It's sad because you can tell that it was once a great place. Take a drive through it and you will see for yourself. Sorry, just my perspective.

The School has almost a 98% graduation rate. The school also made AYP this year.

I did not go to Alton High School but had friends that did. It is not a bad school district at all. In fact, they just built a brand new high 3 or 4 years ago.

[BigDogDave]

Don't be too disenfranchised about Alton's current state. I was born in the Alton area, as were my parents. They graduated Alton High School in the early 50s. My 4 grandparents lived there their whole life. Certainly, much of Alton's industries have vanished, and there are run down areas of town. But there are still nice older areas of Alton. And there are many small towns in the area outside of Alton's city limits. Bethalto, Wood River, Roxanna...We also lived for awhile in Godfrey and East Alton.

I think Alton is still a great river town, and the casino is helping infuse cash into the local economy and creating jobs.

You should check out the area on your own. But avoid East St. Louis at all costs.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by noodlez

the burger might be 99 cents but the beer will cost you 3 dollars lol

I want to work in Alton just so that I can have lunch at Fast Eddies once a week.

[Fudoshin1115]

Please consider looking at Grafton, IL further up the road from Alton. A local developer built the Timber Ridge condo's recently and they're up on the bluff and tailored for retirees. Great view of not only the river, but most of the region from even the lower balconies. The Grafton Ferry is available to get you into St. Charles easy enough and Pere Marquette Sate Park is just up the road.

I worked in downtown Alton for several years (but not anymore!) and the while the locals like to rose tint their world, it's on the fast track to being the next East St. Louis. Northeast St. Louis to be exact. Avoid Alton like the plague.

By the way, Fast Eddies is highly overrated. Part of the mythology of Alton!

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by Fudoshin1115

Please consider looking at Grafton, IL further up the road from Alton. A local developer built the Timber Ridge condo's recently and they're up on the bluff and tailored for retirees. Great view of not only the river, but most of the region from even the lower balconies. The Grafton Ferry is available to get you into St. Charles easy enough and Pere Marquette Sate Park is just up the road.

I worked in downtown Alton for several years (but not anymore!) and the while the locals like to rose tint their world, it's on the fast track to being the next East St. Louis. Northeast St. Louis to be exact. Avoid Alton like the plague.

By the way, Fast Eddies is highly overrated. Part of the mythology of Alton!

Alton is on the fast track of becoming the next East St. Louis?

Fast Eddies is highly overrated?

Did somebody from Alton kick your dog this morning?

[2beamissourian]

Originally Posted by Altonliver

Hey 2beamissirouian, what Catholic school did you go to, S.S.P.P. , St. Marys, Marquette, or St. Ambrose?

I followed the family and went to St. Patricks .. my mom went there ..my aunt went there .........so I went there .. I practically lived across the street from St. Marys on Henry ...but family tradition is just that!

[2beamissourian]

Originally Posted by skipcromer

The School has almost a 98% graduation rate. The school also made AYP this year.

I did not go to Alton High School but had friends that did. It is not a bad school district at all. In fact, they just built a brand new high 3 or 4 years ago.

I dont know about all of this ---

I went out of the district to Catholic School because of CRIME in the school.

Lets see in 7th grade there was a girl stabbed in the stair case ........

Pregnancy rates?
Crime?
...

umm lets see the kids have to be SCANNED to go to class ...........

and Alton like the rest of the schools in the area built new schools ... and Altons looks like a Prison yard as much as Jerseyvilles looks like a prison cell!

in the area the new schools that were built - Alton, Jerseyville, Grafton, Edwardsville, ......... I am sure I am forgetting someone ..........
Now in those areas who experienced HUGE TAX increase?