Bethalto

 

Bethalto, IL, population 9,660, is located in Illinois's Madison county, about 21.3 miles from St Louis and 65.3 miles from Springfield.

Through the 90's Bethalto's population has declined by about 1%. It is estimated that in the first 5 years of this decade the population of Bethalto has grown by about 2%.

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 who 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, there being 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 through the center of town was responsible for the growth of Bethalto.  The town consisted of four blocks facing the railroad -- West Main and Sherman on the south and Mill and 3rd (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 produced in Bethalto.  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 ran out 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.  However, the right-of-way was offered to the Village by the New York Central Railroad Company, which had last operated the line.  The Village did not have the $15,000.00 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, 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.  It stands as a reminder of our humble beginnings.
About Our Logo

The Village logo was designed to be representative of not only historical Bethalto, but also the newer and more progressive era.

The old village hall at the top was built in 1874 and is now listed on the National Historical Register as the oldest, still standing, and functional municipal building in Madison County.  The building was chosen to represent the historical roots of our community.  It originally held the official offices and also served as the “jailhouse”.  The upstairs meeting room was also home to our public library for a considerable period of time.  The building currently is the location of our historical museum.

The coal truck and train represent the rich coal mining that was done in the early days of the village.  The coal was shipped out of town on the railroad which bisected the village running east and west.  Most people know the old train track area as Plegge Boulevard now affectionately called the “expressway”.

The arboretum was developed in 1966 (the land was part of the railroad right-of-way) and was one of the few in the area.  It represents the growth and progressive nature of the community.  A directory of the trees and bushes is available in the mayor and clerk’s offices.  A beautiful place to stroll or power walk, its maturation only makes the experience more pleasant each time you visit.

The airport signifies growth and the ability of Bethalto to take flight and continue to soar to be the best community in which to live and work.  Its small beginning and continued steady growth has turned it into a “highly recognized” airport in the St. Louis metro area.

The center portion is the logo of our civic organization known as Bethalto Spirit.  Spirit is a diverse group of citizens coming together to better the quality of life in our fine town.  The trunk of the tree is a hand raised in volunteerism, the leaves represent the citizens of our village, and the jet is soaring into the sky to show progress.