Alton, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alton, Alabama
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 Alton, Alabama
Location in Alabama
Alton, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Jefferson |
| Elevation | 781 ft (238 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
35015
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| Area codes | 205, 659 |
| GNIS feature ID | 113052 |
Alton is a small place in Jefferson County, Alabama, in the United States. It is known as an "unincorporated community." This means it's a neighborhood or area that doesn't have its own city government. Instead, it's managed by the larger county government.
Alton is located about 10 miles (which is about 16 kilometers) east-northeast of downtown Birmingham. It sits right along a big road called Interstate 459. Even though it's an unincorporated area, Alton has its own post office with a special code, 35015. Some parts of Alton have become part of the city of Birmingham, while other parts are still unincorporated areas, surrounded by the city.
What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community is a place where people live that is not part of an official city or town. It doesn't have its own mayor or city council. Instead, the local county government provides services like police, fire, and roads.
- No local government: These communities don't have their own elected officials.
- County services: The county government handles things like public safety and road maintenance.
- Often near cities: Many unincorporated communities are found right next to larger cities.
Sometimes, a city might grow and "annex" (or take in) parts of an unincorporated community. This means those areas then become part of the city and get city services.
