Alton, the hub of Oregon County, is located
approximately 207 miles south of St. Louis and 160 miles
northwest of Memphis, Tennessee in South Central Missouri in the
heart of the Missouri Ozarks and adjoining the state of
Arkansas. Alton has easy access from the north by Highway 19,
from the east and west by Highway 160 and from the south by
Highway 63.
The population of Oregon County is 9,900 and
Alton is the county seat with a population of 692. Oregon County
was organized in 1885 and was named after the Oregon territory
of the far west. Oregon County is one of eleven counties
adjoining the Arkansas border. The region was roamed by various
Indian tribes, and was claimed by the Osage Tribe until 1808. In
1809 early pioneers, largely from Kentucky, Tennessee and other
eastern states settled in this area.
In the northeast corner of the county lies the
historic Irish Wilderness. Here in 1858 Father John Hogan
founded a Catholic colony. The Civil War ended the colony
venture. The area is now located in the Mark Twain National
Forest and is a federal wilderness reserve. The lovely spring
fed Eleven Point River runs from the northwest corner of the
county in a southeasterly direction and is one of the best canoe
float streams in the Ozarks. At the closest point, the river is
about 8 miles from Alton but a number of canoe rental services
provide easy access.
The city of Alton is governed by a council form
of government, and during the past several years much progress
has been made to provide updated services to the residents. In
1995, a one-half cent sales tax was passed to provide funds for
street improvements and a number of projects have been
completed.
A reliable volunteer fire department for both
the city and rural area is an important service offered to
residents. The city operates a police department, and weekly
trash pick-up service is provided. In cooperation with the
Oregon county Recycling Center, a program of recycling many
items which had been considered trash was begun in 1995 and is
growing.
Land is available for industrial development and
financial help can be obtained from several sources. There is
currently one lumber products company which has recently moved
to a new location 2 miles outside of town and is expanding their
operation and a machine shop which is expanding. Alton and
Oregon County have an abundant work force for future industry,
who are instilled with diligent and honest work habits, hoping
to make the Alton area a better place to work and live.
Howell-Oregon Electric Co-op, headquartered in
West Plains, provides the electricity for Alton and most of
Oregon County. Telephone service is provided by CenturyTel.. The
switching office in Alton serves approximately 1,100 customers.
Alton has a good environment for rearing a family. It's apparent
that the children have respect for and a close relationship with
their parents. The people here live with God as the focal point
of their lives. The families in this vicinity take great concern
in preserving their spiritual Values. Educational facilities are
provided by the Alton R-IV School District. The grades range
from Kindergarten to grade 12. The school serves most of the
northern half of Oregon County with 14 buses traveling a total
of 1,100 miles a day. The total enrollment for the school is
721. There are 32 teachers in the elementary school and 32 in
the junior high and high school. The Alton schools have one of
the lowest dropout rates in the state with approximately 95% of
their students graduating. The school is also recognized state
wide for the achievements of the athletic and music
departments.
Alton has 2 city parks, Piney Creek (formerly
Lions Club Park), Piney Creek has restroom facilities and a
pavilion. Two charcoal grills and three picnic tables where
families or groups can cook their meal and eat under the shelter
of the pavilion have been added along with some children's play
equipment and a horseshoe pitching area. Also a little league
diamond Tucker Creek in the summer time offers a swimming pool,
it also has a wonderful walking trail, pavillion picnic ground,
tennis court and basketball goals.
A relatively mild climate providing a 180 day
growing season, and an average rainfall of over 40 inches makes
the area around Alton ideal for small grain, cattle and hog
farming and a number of families make a living this way. Most of
the farm families are longtime residents of the Alton area and
they keep up with the latest methods of farming to produce what
they need and protect the environment.
Approximately 75% of the land is wooded area,
which adds the necessary ingredient for beauty and draws many
people to the area each fall to see the changing colors. This
also provides abundant cover for wildlife, and deer and turkey
are plentiful in the county. A number of Bald Eagles also winter
in Oregon County each year.
The Eleven Point River is a favorite vacation or
weekend destination for many people who come from all over the
country to float this beautiful stream. The river was made a
part of the National Scenic Rivers program in 1968 and is
managed by the National Forest Service. Much of the river runs
through narrow valleys between steep hills which provides
spectacular scenery. Some of the special points of interest
along the river include Cane Bluff, a dolomite cliff that rises
about 250 feet above the river and is named for the cane that
grows along the river bank; Simpson Mill and Boze Spring Mill.
Greer Spring, the second largest spring in the state, is about
eight miles north of Alton, just off Highway 19 and flows into
the Eleven Point. Until 1994 Greer Spring had been privately
owned but is now owned by the National Forest Service and they
have built a walking trail from the highway which makes it more
accessible. The spring is unusual in that there are two sources
of water. Part of the water comes out of the side of the bluff,
while the remainder boils up out of the ground in the stream
bed.
Falling Spring is one of the more unusual
springs in the area as it comes out of the side of a bluff and
falls about 20 feet to the stream bed below. An old mill which
was powered by the spring is still at the site. Other area
attractions are McCormack Lake and Turner Mill.
Just 18 miles south of Alton is Mammoth Spring,
AR and a few miles west of that in Missouri is Grand Gulf, which
has been called the Grand Canyon of the Ozarks. One of the
highlights of the year in Alton is the Ozark Black Gold Walnut
Festival held the first Saturday in October. Last year 50 people
or organizations set up booths around the square for the day and
there was fun, games, and entertainment for everyone.
Alton has quite a variety of businesses, many
more than might often be expected in a town of its size. Many
people like the peace and quiet of a small town and live here
while working in West Plains and here they can find almost
anything they need. Also, many people have started home based
businesses, some part time and some full time.
All in all, Alton is a great place to live,
work, play, or just visit The latch key is always out and the
red carpet is always down You are welcome to come for a day or
come to stay, but come...
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