Born here
65
notable people
Best known
Miles Davis
in 99 Wikipedia languages
Youngest
1994
Dakota Mermis
Most common field
Sports
14 people
What stands out about Alton’s famous people ★ What stands out · The best known Born in Alton By how many languages cover them, Miles Davis comes first (99), then Robert Wadlow (58) and Ricochet (26).
#1 Music Miles Davis 1926–1991 American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer
#2 Notable Robert Wadlow 1918–1940 American who was the tallest recorded person in history
#3 Sports Ricochet born 1988 American professional wrestler
Known for What Alton is known for The field furthest above the usual share is scientists and doctors, at 2.1 times.
Sports 14 people 22%below usual Politics & Law 13 people 20%about usual Writing & Arts 12 people 18%1.8× usual Science & Medicine 8 people 12%2.1× usual Notable 6 people 9% Film, TV & Stage 5 people 8%about usual Music 3 people 5%about usual Business 3 people 5%1.8× usual Faith 1 person 2%about usual The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
Through the years When Alton’s famous people were born More were born in the 1940s than in any other decade: 8.
A new nation Mills & railroads The American century Today 1850 1900 1950 2000 Miles Davis Ricochet Sports Politics & Law Writing & Arts Science & Medicine Notable Film, TV & Stage Music Business Faith
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone Everyone else born in Alton Another 62, the earliest born in 1837.
All · 62 Politics & Law · 13 Sports · 13 Music · 2 Film, TV & Stage · 5 Writing & Arts · 12 Science & Medicine · 8 Business · 3 Faith · 1 Notable · 5
Any time A new nation · 7 Mills & railroads · 19 The American century · 29 Today · 6
Don "The Dragon" Wilson born 1954 American kickboxer
Christina Romer born 1958 Economist
Mary Beth Hughes 1919–1995 Actress
EW Edward Weisenburger born 1960 American Catholic Archbishop
AS Andrew Schlafly born 1961 American lawyer, founder of Conservapedia
CL Carlyle A. Luer 1922–2019 American botanist
JJ Jon Jerde 1940–2015 American architect
WS William Sears born 1939 1939- American activist
Jesse White born 1934 American politician
Richard Lee Metcalfe 1861–1954 American politician
RR Red Rhodes 1930–1995 American guitarist
TS Thomas N. Scortia 1926–1986 American writer
BJ Brian Jun born 1979 Film director, writer, Editor
Craig Hentrich born 1971 Player of American football
IF Inglis Fletcher 1879–1969 American novelist
JW Joey Wright born 1968 American basketball player/coach in Australia
John M. Olin 1892–1982 American businessman
VB Vaneta Becker born 1949 American politician
William Jesse Goad Land 1865–1942 U.S. botanist
William Sachtleben 1868–1953 American journalist, lecturer and touring cyclist
Arthur Gilman 1837–1909 United States writer and educator
WH William R. Haine 1944–2021 American politician
BL Bill Lyons born 1958 American baseball player
Carolyn Conant Van Blarcom 1879–1960 1879-1960 , nurse and midwife
CB Charlie T. Black 1901–1988 American college basketball player and coach
DB Dick Burwell 1940–2023 American baseball player
Don Lenhardt 1922–2014 American baseball player and coach
Jacob Eisenberg 1898–1964 American pianist, teacher, author
JO Joe Odom born 1979 American football player
LS Larry Smith born 1968 American former basketball player
Lloyd Nelson Hand born 1929 American politician
PR Paul E. Riley 1942–2001 United States federal judge
William E. Lee 1852–1920 American politician
AN Antonio Neal born 1973 Musical artist
AR Arch Reilly 1891–1963 American baseball player and coach, football coach, basketball coach, college athletics administrator
Dakota Mermis born 1994 American ice hockey player
DA David J Apple 1941–2011 American ophthalmologist
Ernest R. House born 1937 American academic
Helen Gatch 1861–1942 American photographer
John J. Mitchell 1853–1927 American banker
Jumbo McGinnis 1854–1934 American baseball player
Kenneth Prewitt 1936–2026 American academic
Lawrence Leritz born 1962 American ballet dancer and choreographer
MC March F. Chase 1876–1935 American chemist
MH Michael Ann Holly born 1944 American art historian
Nancy J. Rosenstengel born 1968 United States District Judge
RT Richard Thatcher 1846–1901 American educator
RW Riley Wallace born 1941 American basketball player-coach
RR Rosey Rowswell 1884–1955 American radio sportscaster
SO Spencer Truman Olin 1900–1995 American businessman
AR Agnes M. Richmond 1870–1964 1870 - 1964 | American | Painter
BN Barbara Nejman born 1950 American diver
CW Christopher Warwick American politician
DO Daniel O'Neill born 1928 American politician
FB Frank Ballard 1929–2010 American puppeteer and educator
Helen Virginia Stelle 1884–1947 American librarian
John F. Douthitt born 1856 John L. Rothacher 1889–1962 American football player and coach
John W. Coppinger 1852–1900 American politician and lawyer
LM Lee Mary Manning born 1972 American photographer
RY Rick Yager 1909–1995 American cartoonist
TT Tracy Yerkes Thomas 1899–1983 American mathematician
No one matches both filters.
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Did you grow up with someone famous from Alton? → Who should be on this list but isn’t? → Next door Famous people from the towns next door Nearby, Godfrey has the most on record, with 3.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Alton and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (32) Miles Davis: Tom Palumbo from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Robert Wadlow: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Ricochet: Mike Kalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Don "The Dragon" Wilson: Ivan Bessedin, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Christina Romer: Obama-Biden Transition Project, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Mary Beth Hughes: trailer screenshot (MGM), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Jesse White: HenryMcH, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Richard Lee Metcalfe: Hallen, Ernest or Haskin, Frederic J., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Craig Hentrich: Ray Montgomery. Cropped by User:Blueag9., CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons John M. Olin: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons William Jesse Goad Land: Unidentified photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons William Sachtleben: William Sachtleben and Thomas Allen., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Arthur Gilman: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Carolyn Conant Van Blarcom: Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Don Lenhardt: Bowman Gum, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Jacob Eisenberg: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Lloyd Nelson Hand: LBJ Library from Austin, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons William E. Lee: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Dakota Mermis: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Ernest R. House: Genevglass, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Helen Gatch: C.M. Bell Studio Collection, Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division [Reproduction number e.g., LC-DIG-ppmsca-123456]., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons John J. Mitchell: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Jumbo McGinnis: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Kenneth Prewitt: United States Census Bureau, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Lawrence Leritz: Leritz26, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons Nancy J. Rosenstengel: January 8, 2014, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Helen Virginia Stelle: Public domain. Image may be used with the credit line: "Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.", CC0 , Wikimedia Commons John F. Douthitt: "The Decorator and Furnisher", 1890, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons John L. Rothacher: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons John W. Coppinger: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Brent Hawkins: Canada Hky, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Joe Astroth: Bowman, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons