Bethalto, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Bethalto is a village located in Madison County
, Illinois
, USA
. Bethalto, like the rest of Madison County, is part of the Illinois Metro-East
portion of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The population of Bethalto was recorded to be 9,454 in the 2000 census, and 9,961 in a July 2009 estimate.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²), all of it land.
The original name of Bethalto was Bethel. However, when the first post office was established, it was discovered that there was already a Bethel, Illinois. There is a general consensus that the name "Bethalto" came from the first four letters of Bethel and the first four letters of nearby Alton, Illinois
. It is believed that Bethalto is the only town of that name anywhere because of this unusual naming strategy.
Three words sum up the early history of Bethalto: grain, coal and trains. The first settlers in the area arrived in the early 19th century and found a land blessed with rich soil and various outcroppings of coal. The construction of the Alton-Terre Haute Railroad in the mid 1850s ensured Bethalto’s destiny as a farming and mining center.
It was around 1809 when large numbers of settlers arrived in this area—many of them Dutch and German settlers who came to farm. Indians were also found in the area, so numerous at one time along Indian Creek that there were Kickapoo villages, and that creek became named after the Indians. Many Indian relics have been found in that vicinity. Block houses were built in case protection might be needed, but there were few problems and only one recorded massacre in 1814.
Bethalto was favored in many ways to become an early settlement. It had good soil for growing grain and all needed food. There was a good vein of coal which had outcroppings that were discovered at an early date. There was a healthy growth of timber, especially on the west, north and south sides of the site which included oak, hickory, walnut and other trees suitable for making building materials. The roads were also better than usual in a time when trails were the roads and ferries were the bridges. Game was plentiful, with an abundance of squirrels, rabbits, turkey, prairie hens and other game.
About the time that the railroad was being constructed in the 1840s and 1850s, the population had grown to the point that it was necessary to plat further development. The first plat was laid out by Joe Starkey and was recorded on June 23, 1854. This is considered to be the humble beginning for Bethalto.
At one time, a railroad track was located where Erwin Plegge Expressway is today. The railroad, the second one built in Madison County, passed through the center of town and was responsible for the growth of Bethalto. The town consisted of four blocks facing the railroad—West Main and Sherman Streets on the south and Mill and Third (now Central) to Oak Street on the north. The railroad, built between 1854 and 1856, was extended to St. Louis and was known as the St. Louis & Terre Haute. Later, it was taken over by the Big Four and then the New York Central. Railroads were the major transportation before the days of the car. Therefore, most towns were located near a railroad. The railroad linked Bethalto to the Mississippi River so the people could market flour and coal. The opening of the rail line through Bethalto enabled the coal milled here to be transported to a dock on the Mississippi River near what is now the town of Hartford. From there, coal was carried by steamboat to towns throughout the Midwest. This encouraged the development of more mines. At one time, there were at least 40 mines in or near Bethalto.
Yankee Diggins, one of the largest coal mines in the state of Illinois, was located in Bethalto. During the Civil War in 1861-1865, mine production was down. Following the Civil War, coal production rose; but by 1900, almost all the mines were gone. One by one, they closed during the first decades of the 20th century as the coal supply was deleted and the market diminished. Today, there are no coal mines operating anywhere in Madison County.
Mills also formed a very important part of Bethalto’s early history. Construction of the railroad through the Village proved to be as pivotal for the milling industry as it had been for coal mining. At one time, Bethalto was one of the most important flour milling towns in the nation and was home to the largest mill in Illinois.
As the 20th century progressed, Bethalto underwent a gentle transformation. Flour milling and coal mining gave way to corn and soybean farms and industry. Transportation remained a major factor in the Village’s development, however, the methods changed.
Construction began in 1946 on what was then called Walston Aviation. Now known as St. Louis Regional Airport, subsequent expansion and addition of an office and industrial park are helping to propel Bethalto, into the future.
The railroad era ended for Bethalto in 1966. The right-of-way was offered to the Village by the New York Central Railroad Company, which last operated the line. The Village did not have the $15,000 the rail company was asking for the 32 acres of land, so Bethalto National Bank stepped in and provided assistance for the purchase. This made possible the cross-town Expressway, a new home for the bank and a park and arboretum for the Village.
While Bethalto has moved forward, the Village has not forgotten its past. The old Village Hall, built in 1873 and enlarged in 1885, is a two-story brick Victorian/Italianate town hall. It is the oldest governmental building still in use in Madison County. Recognizing its historical significance, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and serves as our Bethalto Museum. The city’s tiny one-room jail can still be seen today. The Museum contains exhibits on Bethalto’s past including the role of its citizens in World Wars I and II. Other exhibits include the founding of the town, the annual Homecoming Celebration, and a recreated classroom from the past. In 1998, a fire at a local home revealed a perfectly protected log cabin within the structure. State historical preservationists estimate that the cabin was built in the mid-1800s. Bethalto school children were asked by the Bethalto Rotary Club to help raise the funds needed to move and restore the cabin to its present site next to the Museum. The "History Makes Cents" campaign collected more than one million pennies ($10,000.) The Bethalto Log Cabin stands as a symbol of the village’s pioneer past as well as the resourcefulness of its present youth.
of 2000, there were 9,454 people, 3,810 households, and 2,647 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,437.3 people per square mile (554.7/km²). There were 4,007 housing units at an average density of 609.2 per square mile (235.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.84% White, 0.76% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.33% from other races
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 3,810 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $42,201, and the median income for a family was $50,764. Males had a median income of $41,512 versus $22,981 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $18,697. About 6.5% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
stands, which is actually located in Moro, a community north of Bethalto; RF Technologies, North America's largest independent service center for drive-thru communication systems; and West Star Aviation, an aircraft servicing and manufacturing company located at the St. louis Regional Airport. Major governmental institutions include St. Louis Regional Airport
, Bethalto Community Unit School District 8 and the Bethalto Public Library. Local restaurants include Geno's 140 Club, The Eagle's Nest, El Mezcal, Airport Restaurant, Lo Cal Cafe, Ge Gee's Cafe, and Roma's Pizza.
In late October 2006, the segment of four-lane, controlled-access Illinois Route 255
(an extension of Interstate 255) between Illinois Route 143
and Fosterburg Road was opened. This highway provides Bethalto residents with convenient access to the area's freeway system and provides greater thru traffic to further economic development for the region.
is held every year. During the event bands play, carnival rides may be ridden for small fees and a variety of culturally diverse food and beverage stands are set up. The park is conveniently located in the center of town, directly adjacent to the village hall
.
on the east end of town that was developed in 1966 after the demise of the railroad era in Bethalto. It is one of the few arboretums in the area. A directory of trees and bushes contained in the arboretum may be viewed in the mayor
and clerk's offices. There area also many plaques in memory of Bethalto's notable persons placed next to many of the trees in the park. The park is centered around a road truck (Rail Wheels) on top of a short slab of railroad track. The short piece of track remains in its original position as part of the old railroad tracks that existed to transport coal to and from the area.
The list of schools & links to their respective website are as follows:
The churches in Bethalto are listed here in alphabetical order:
Madison County, Illinois
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. Madison County is part of the Metro-East region of the St. Louis Metro Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 269,282, which is an increase of 4.0% from 258,941 in 2000. The county seat is Edwardsville, home to...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Bethalto, like the rest of Madison County, is part of the Illinois Metro-East
Metro-East
Metro East is a region in Illinois that comprises the eastern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It encompasses five Southern Illinois counties in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region's most populated city is Belleville at 45,000 residents...
portion of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The population of Bethalto was recorded to be 9,454 in the 2000 census, and 9,961 in a July 2009 estimate.
Geography
Bethalto is located at 38°54′15"N 90°2′48"W (38.904197, -90.046579).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²), all of it land.
Early Beginnings
Bethalto was founded in 1834, incorporated April 19, 1869 under a special charter and again in 1873 under the State of Illinois’ general law. It is governed by a Village President and six (6) trustees elected at large.The original name of Bethalto was Bethel. However, when the first post office was established, it was discovered that there was already a Bethel, Illinois. There is a general consensus that the name "Bethalto" came from the first four letters of Bethel and the first four letters of nearby Alton, Illinois
Alton, Illinois
Alton is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 27,865 at the 2010 census. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois...
. It is believed that Bethalto is the only town of that name anywhere because of this unusual naming strategy.
Three words sum up the early history of Bethalto: grain, coal and trains. The first settlers in the area arrived in the early 19th century and found a land blessed with rich soil and various outcroppings of coal. The construction of the Alton-Terre Haute Railroad in the mid 1850s ensured Bethalto’s destiny as a farming and mining center.
It was around 1809 when large numbers of settlers arrived in this area—many of them Dutch and German settlers who came to farm. Indians were also found in the area, so numerous at one time along Indian Creek that there were Kickapoo villages, and that creek became named after the Indians. Many Indian relics have been found in that vicinity. Block houses were built in case protection might be needed, but there were few problems and only one recorded massacre in 1814.
Bethalto was favored in many ways to become an early settlement. It had good soil for growing grain and all needed food. There was a good vein of coal which had outcroppings that were discovered at an early date. There was a healthy growth of timber, especially on the west, north and south sides of the site which included oak, hickory, walnut and other trees suitable for making building materials. The roads were also better than usual in a time when trails were the roads and ferries were the bridges. Game was plentiful, with an abundance of squirrels, rabbits, turkey, prairie hens and other game.
About the time that the railroad was being constructed in the 1840s and 1850s, the population had grown to the point that it was necessary to plat further development. The first plat was laid out by Joe Starkey and was recorded on June 23, 1854. This is considered to be the humble beginning for Bethalto.
At one time, a railroad track was located where Erwin Plegge Expressway is today. The railroad, the second one built in Madison County, passed through the center of town and was responsible for the growth of Bethalto. The town consisted of four blocks facing the railroad—West Main and Sherman Streets on the south and Mill and Third (now Central) to Oak Street on the north. The railroad, built between 1854 and 1856, was extended to St. Louis and was known as the St. Louis & Terre Haute. Later, it was taken over by the Big Four and then the New York Central. Railroads were the major transportation before the days of the car. Therefore, most towns were located near a railroad. The railroad linked Bethalto to the Mississippi River so the people could market flour and coal. The opening of the rail line through Bethalto enabled the coal milled here to be transported to a dock on the Mississippi River near what is now the town of Hartford. From there, coal was carried by steamboat to towns throughout the Midwest. This encouraged the development of more mines. At one time, there were at least 40 mines in or near Bethalto.
Yankee Diggins, one of the largest coal mines in the state of Illinois, was located in Bethalto. During the Civil War in 1861-1865, mine production was down. Following the Civil War, coal production rose; but by 1900, almost all the mines were gone. One by one, they closed during the first decades of the 20th century as the coal supply was deleted and the market diminished. Today, there are no coal mines operating anywhere in Madison County.
Mills also formed a very important part of Bethalto’s early history. Construction of the railroad through the Village proved to be as pivotal for the milling industry as it had been for coal mining. At one time, Bethalto was one of the most important flour milling towns in the nation and was home to the largest mill in Illinois.
As the 20th century progressed, Bethalto underwent a gentle transformation. Flour milling and coal mining gave way to corn and soybean farms and industry. Transportation remained a major factor in the Village’s development, however, the methods changed.
Construction began in 1946 on what was then called Walston Aviation. Now known as St. Louis Regional Airport, subsequent expansion and addition of an office and industrial park are helping to propel Bethalto, into the future.
The railroad era ended for Bethalto in 1966. The right-of-way was offered to the Village by the New York Central Railroad Company, which last operated the line. The Village did not have the $15,000 the rail company was asking for the 32 acres of land, so Bethalto National Bank stepped in and provided assistance for the purchase. This made possible the cross-town Expressway, a new home for the bank and a park and arboretum for the Village.
While Bethalto has moved forward, the Village has not forgotten its past. The old Village Hall, built in 1873 and enlarged in 1885, is a two-story brick Victorian/Italianate town hall. It is the oldest governmental building still in use in Madison County. Recognizing its historical significance, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and serves as our Bethalto Museum. The city’s tiny one-room jail can still be seen today. The Museum contains exhibits on Bethalto’s past including the role of its citizens in World Wars I and II. Other exhibits include the founding of the town, the annual Homecoming Celebration, and a recreated classroom from the past. In 1998, a fire at a local home revealed a perfectly protected log cabin within the structure. State historical preservationists estimate that the cabin was built in the mid-1800s. Bethalto school children were asked by the Bethalto Rotary Club to help raise the funds needed to move and restore the cabin to its present site next to the Museum. The "History Makes Cents" campaign collected more than one million pennies ($10,000.) The Bethalto Log Cabin stands as a symbol of the village’s pioneer past as well as the resourcefulness of its present youth.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,454 people, 3,810 households, and 2,647 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,437.3 people per square mile (554.7/km²). There were 4,007 housing units at an average density of 609.2 per square mile (235.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.84% White, 0.76% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.33% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 3,810 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $42,201, and the median income for a family was $50,764. Males had a median income of $41,512 versus $22,981 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $18,697. About 6.5% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Business and industry
As a bedroom community, Bethalto is not an industrial powerhouse. Nevertheless, it is home to a thriving cottage industry that includes Specialty Stands, the world's leading manufacturer of custom oak slot machineSlot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
stands, which is actually located in Moro, a community north of Bethalto; RF Technologies, North America's largest independent service center for drive-thru communication systems; and West Star Aviation, an aircraft servicing and manufacturing company located at the St. louis Regional Airport. Major governmental institutions include St. Louis Regional Airport
St. Louis Regional Airport
St. Louis Regional Airport is a public airport located four miles east of the central business district of Alton, a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States...
, Bethalto Community Unit School District 8 and the Bethalto Public Library. Local restaurants include Geno's 140 Club, The Eagle's Nest, El Mezcal, Airport Restaurant, Lo Cal Cafe, Ge Gee's Cafe, and Roma's Pizza.
In late October 2006, the segment of four-lane, controlled-access Illinois Route 255
Illinois Route 255
Illinois Route 255, also referred to as the Alton Bypass , is a northwesterly extension of Interstate 255 in southwestern Illinois...
(an extension of Interstate 255) between Illinois Route 143
Illinois Route 143
Illinois Route 143 is an east–west state highway in southwestern Illinois. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 67 in Alton. Its eastern terminus at Illinois Route 127 at a rural intersection west of Tamalco...
and Fosterburg Road was opened. This highway provides Bethalto residents with convenient access to the area's freeway system and provides greater thru traffic to further economic development for the region.
Bethalto Municipal Park
The main park in Bethalto consists of a stage amphitheater with bench seating, swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, skateboard park, and a newly re-modeled basketball court. The park is also where the Bethalto HomecomingHomecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
is held every year. During the event bands play, carnival rides may be ridden for small fees and a variety of culturally diverse food and beverage stands are set up. The park is conveniently located in the center of town, directly adjacent to the village hall
Village hall
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a city hall does within cities.In the United Kingdom, a village hall is usually a building within a village which contains at least one large room, usually owned by and run for the benefit of the local...
.
Bethalto Arboretum
The Bethalto Arboretum is an arboretumArboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
on the east end of town that was developed in 1966 after the demise of the railroad era in Bethalto. It is one of the few arboretums in the area. A directory of trees and bushes contained in the arboretum may be viewed in the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and clerk's offices. There area also many plaques in memory of Bethalto's notable persons placed next to many of the trees in the park. The park is centered around a road truck (Rail Wheels) on top of a short slab of railroad track. The short piece of track remains in its original position as part of the old railroad tracks that existed to transport coal to and from the area.
Culp Lane Park
Culp Lane Park is a large park on the northwest end of town that was established in 2005. Among its many features are a lake (fishing is allowed), a children's play area, and a new arboretum. It has become a popular site for Bethalto residents to come for exercise as well as leisure. The park is a great spot for events like sports parties or picnics. Wilbur Trimpe Middle School also goes on class trips to fish there before colder seasons occur.Bethalto Sports Complex
The Bethalto Sports Complex is located on the North side of town just off of Culp Lane. The complex was completed in 2006 and is made up of 2 baseball fields, 2 softball fields, 2 soccer fields, a grand stand, and a concession stand in the middle of it all. The complex, which is maintained by the City of Bethalto, replaced the old baseball and soccer fields located at Civic Memorial High School for Varsity and Jr. Varsity baseball, softball and soccer teams. The Indians, the Bethalto Legion team, also calls the complex home.Khoury League Diamonds
The Bethalto Khoury League Diamonds are located on the South side of town in the Chateaux residential area. The complex consists of 4 Lighted diamonds with a concession stand in the center. The fields are primarily set up to handle all of the local youth Boys & Girls Clubs of America baseball and softball games. The fields are also home to a number of private and select legaue baseball teams that play there every summer.Schools
Bethalto Unit Schools are the not only the largest employer in Bethalto, but also have the greatest area impact in terms of land and government spending. The School district tagged as, Bethalto Unit School District 8 (BCUSD8), is made up of 2 Intermediate Schools, 2 Primary Schools, 1 Middle School, 1 High School, 2 Private schools K-8, a special needs school, an administration building, and industrial complex.The list of schools & links to their respective website are as follows:
- Bethalto Community Unit School District 8
- Civic Memorial High School (Wiki)Civic Memorial High SchoolCivic Memorial High School is a high school for 9th to 12th grade students located in Bethalto, Illinois, United States. It serves students from Bethalto, Meadowbrook, Cottage Hills, and parts of Rosewood Heights and Moro .The school was originally named Bethalto High School...
- Trimpe Middle School
- Bethalto East Primary School
- Parkside Primary School
- Bethalto West Intermediate School
- Meadowbrook Intermediate School
- Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic School
- Zion Lutheran School
Churches
Bethalto is home to a number of religious organizations, consisting of both small and large congregations.The churches in Bethalto are listed here in alphabetical order:
- Assembly of God
- Bethalto United Methodist
- Bethalto United Presbyterian
- Bethel General Baptist
- Bible Baptist Church
- Church of God
- Concordia Lutheran
- Cottage Hills Baptist Church
- First Baptist Church
- First Church of God
- First Christian Church
- First General Baptist
- First Southern Baptist Church
- Grace Community Church
- Heart's Harvest
- Landmark Worship Center
- Meadowbrook Assembly of God
- Metro Presbyterian Church
- Our Lady Queen of Peace
- Riverbend Calvary Chapel
- St. Paul's United Methodist
- Zion Lutheran