Bethalto, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bethalto, Illinois
Village
From top, left to right: Old Bethalto Village Hall and log cabin, Old Downtown, Historic Klein's Store, the current Village Hall, St. Louis Regional Airport, and the Bethalto sign outside Village Hall
Seal
Motto(s):  Home of the Eagles
Location in Madison County, Illinois
Bethalto, Illinois Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Madison
Townships	Wood River Fort Russell Foster
Area
• Total	7.64 sq mi (19.79 km2)
• Land	7.59 sq mi (19.66 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation	532 ft (162 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,310
• Density	1,226.45/sq mi (473.52/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	62010
Area code(s)	618
FIPS code	17-05599
GNIS feature ID	2398108
Wikimedia Commons	Bethalto, Illinois

Bethalto is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. It's part of the Metro East area, which is close to St. Louis.

Long ago, Bethalto was a railway town. Trains were very important for moving goods and people. In the 1800s, the village had mills that processed grain from local farms and also had coal mining. Later, the train tracks changed direction. By the mid-1900s, Bethalto became known as a "bedroom town." This means many people who live there travel to nearby cities for work.

In 2020, about 9,310 people lived in Bethalto.

History of Bethalto

How Bethalto Got Its Name

The name "Bethalto" comes from two older names. The first name for the town was "Bethel." This name came from the first church in the area. But the Post Office needed the name to change. This was to avoid confusion with another town called Bethel in Clay County, Illinois. So, they combined "Bethel" with the name of a nearby city, Alton, to create "Bethalto."

Early Days of the Village

Before American settlers arrived, many Native Americans lived in this area. Kickapoo villages were found along Indian Creek. In 1804, a man named Thomas Rattan came from Ohio. He started the first settlement, which people called "Rattan's Prairie." The town was officially planned by Joel U. Starkey in 1854.

The Milling Industry

In the late 1800s, the main business in Bethalto was milling. This meant grinding grain into flour. In 1859, the President Mill and Elevator Company started. Over the years, it changed owners and grew. In 1881, John W. Kaufman owned it.

Around 1895 or 1896, the flour mill was destroyed by a fire. Kaufman decided not to rebuild it in Bethalto. Instead, he bought a mill in St. Louis. Losing the mill had a big effect on Bethalto. The population dropped from 879 people in 1890 to only 447 by 1910.

The Red Barn Landmark

North of Bethalto, there was a famous old barn. People just called it "the red barn." It was a landmark that helped people give directions. On July 26, 2012, a fire started in the barn. Firefighters tried to save it, but it was too late. The barn was thought to be about 100 years old.

How Bethalto is Governed

Bethalto became an official village in 1869. It was re-established in 1873 under Illinois law. The village is led by an elected village president and a group of village trustees. These leaders are chosen by the people who live in Bethalto.

Geography of Bethalto

A sign near Bethalto marking the 90th West Meridian

Bethalto is located in the northwest part of Madison County. It is about 9 miles east of Alton. It's also about 10 miles northwest of Edwardsville, which is the county seat. St. Louis is about 30 miles to the south-southwest.

The village covers about 7.64 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. Most of the water flows into the East Fork of the Wood River. This river eventually flows into the Mississippi River.

Neighboring towns, villages and places

	Foster Township	Foster Township	Moro
	Cottage Hills		Meadowbrook
		Bethalto
	Rosewood Heights	Wood River	Fort Russell Township

Population Changes

The population of Bethalto has changed a lot over the years. After the flour mill closed, the number of people living in the village dropped. But then, it started to grow steadily. By 1970, the population was over 7,000. In 2020, about 9,310 people lived in Bethalto.

Transportation

Highways

Bethalto is connected to other areas by several main roads. Illinois Route 140 goes east and west through the village. It connects Bethalto to Hamel and Alton. Illinois Route 111 also connects Bethalto to the wider Metro East area.

In 2006, a new four-lane highway, Illinois Route 255, was extended. It passes through the west side of Bethalto. This highway connects Bethalto to the larger Interstate Highway System.

St. Louis Regional Airport

Bethalto is home to the St. Louis Regional Airport. It was first called Civic Memorial Airport and started in 1946. The airport offers different services for planes. In 1996, an F/A-18 Hornet plane crashed into a home shortly after taking off from the airport.

Education

Public schools in Bethalto are run by the Bethalto Community Unit School District 8. This district was started in 1950, along with Civic Memorial High School.

Bethalto also has two private schools. Our Lady Queen of Peace is a Catholic school that opened in 1962. Zion Lutheran is a Lutheran school that also opened in 1962. Both schools teach students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Churches and Religious Groups

Bethalto has many different churches and religious groups. They include both small and large communities.

Here is a list of some churches in Bethalto:

Parks and Fun Places

Central Park

Central Park is in the middle of the village, behind the current village hall. It's built on land that used to be part of a railroad line. The park has walking paths, a bandstand, tennis courts, baseball fields, and a basketball court. The Bethalto Homecoming event happens here every year.

Bethalto Arboretum

Right next to Central Park is the Bethalto Arboretum. An arboretum is like a park with many different kinds of trees and bushes. This one was created in 1966, also on old railroad property. You can find a list of all the trees and bushes at the mayor's office. Many plaques are placed next to trees to remember important people from Bethalto. There's also a special display of old rail wheels on a piece of railroad track. This track is still in its original spot from when it was used to move coal.

Steve Bryant Park

This park used to be called "Culp Lane Park." In 2014, it was renamed after former mayor Steve Bryant. He helped turn an old town lagoon into this family park. It has a fishing lake, a play area for kids, walking paths, and picnic spots.

Bethalto Sports Complex

The Bethalto Sports Complex is on the north side of town. It was finished in 2006. The complex has baseball fields, softball fields, and soccer fields. It also has a grandstand for watching games and a concession stand for snacks. This complex is used by high school sports teams and local baseball teams.

Southside Park

Southside Park is sometimes called the "Field of Dreams." It's on the south side of Bethalto. This complex has four lighted baseball and softball fields. It's mainly used for local Boys & Girls Clubs of America youth games. Many private baseball teams also play here in the summer.

Notable People from Bethalto

• Wilbur Trimpe (1906-1996), was the first superintendent of Bethalto schools and later a president of Lewis and Clark Community College.
• Steve Davis (born 1949), used to be a representative in the Illinois General Assembly.
• Alison Krauss, a famous bluegrass and country singer, sometimes practiced in Bethalto with a local band.
• Joe Odom (born 1979), played American football for the Chicago Bears.
• Brent Madison (born 1989), is a producer for the movie The Crusades (2023 film).

Images for kids

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  Bandstand in Central Park

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  Entrance to the arboretum

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  Steve Bryant Park

• 

  Bethalto Sports Complex

See also

In Spanish: Bethalto (Illinois) para niños