Bethalto, IL

Travel from Saint Louis, Missouri northeast along I-255 for roughly 26 miles and you’ll find the cozy suburb of Bethalto, Illinois. Bethalto dates back to 1804 when the first settler, Thomas Rattan, arrived. Soon, more settlers moved in. Originally Rattan’s Prairie, the name was changed to Bethel in 1834, the same name as a nearby church. When the village established a post office, they realized there was already a Bethel, Illinois, so they got creative. They borrowed letters of the neighboring town, Alton, and merged them with Bethel. Learn more about Bethalto’s history at the Bethalto Historical Museum, located in the original village hall built in 1873.

South of Bethalto Drive, much of the village is given to the St. Louis Regional Airport. The north side contains beautiful neighborhoods, a variety of shops, historic buildings along Main Street, Bethalto Park, and the Bethalto Arboretum. Bethalto Park includes a splash pad, a playground, and picnic areas. Just south of Bethalto, residents can golf at Belk Park Golf Course or attend classes at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Residents will find plenty of shops, restaurants, and other businesses along Bethalto Drive, including local favorites like Roma’s Pizza and El Mezcal Mexican. For more entertainment, theaters, and museums, Saint Louis is a short drive away.