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Alto, Georgia
Town
Alto City Hall
FlagSeal
Location in Banks County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 34°27′54″N 83°34′22″W / 34.46500°N 83.57278°W / 34.46500; -83.57278
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Counties	Habersham, Banks
Government
• Mayor	Patrica Gail Armour
Area
• Total	1.13 sq mi (2.94 km)
• Land	1.13 sq mi (2.94 km)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km)
Elevation	1,339 ft (408 m)
Population
• Total	970
• Density	855.38/sq mi (330.34/km)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30510, 30596
Area code	706
FIPS code	13-01948
GNIS feature ID	2405145
Website	townofaltoga.org

Alto is a town in Banks and Habersham counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 1,172, up from 876 at the 2000 census.

History

Alto was so named on account of its (relatively) lofty elevation (1,394 feet above mean sea level). A post office called Alto has been in operation since 1879. The town incorporated in 1895.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.9 km), all land.

Demographics

2020 census

In the 2020 census, Alto had 1,172 people. The Alto population by county breakdown was as follows: 656 in Habersham County and 516 in Banks County.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 876 people, 304 households, and 227 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,061.2 inhabitants per square mile (409.7/km). There were 325 housing units at an average density of 393.7 per square mile (152.0/km). The racial makeup of the town was 79.22% White, 3.08% African American, 0.34% Native American, 5.94% Asian, 9.02% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.09% of the population.

There were 304 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,750, and the median income for a family was $36,094. Males had a median income of $23,393 versus $18,571 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,434. Below the poverty line were 15.6% of people, 11.2% of families, 12.2% of those under 18 and 15.6% of those over 64.

Government and infrastructure

The government for the town of Alto is housed in a structure with an unusual history. When the new Cornelia Bank was built in nearby Cornelia in the late 1970s, the small building housing the old remote drive-in teller windows was moved to its current location on a lot across Georgia Hwy 441 from the Riegel Textile Mill (now Mt. Vernon Mills) in Alto and converted for office use.

The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Arrendale State Prison in unincorporated Habersham County, near Alto.

Education

The portion in Banks County is in the Banks County School District. Students in that portion are zoned to Banks County High School.

The portion in Habersham County is in the Habersham County School District.

References

1. https://nowhabersham.com/almagno-armour-and-early-win-local-mayoral-races/
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Alto, Georgia
4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Alto town, Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
6. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 4. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
7. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
9. "General Highway Map Banks County Georgia" (PDF). Georgia Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
10. "Arrendale State Prison Archived 2014-01-16 at the Wayback Machine." Georgia Department of Corrections. Retrieved on November 15, 2010. "ADDRESS: 2023 GAINESVILLE HWY SOUTH POST OFFICE BOX 709 ALTO, GA 30510."
11. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Banks County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2023. - Text list
12. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Habersham County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2023. - Text list

v t e Municipalities and communities of Banks County, Georgia, United States
County seat: Homer
Cities	Baldwin‡ Gillsville‡ Lula‡
Towns	Alto‡ Homer Maysville‡
Unincorporated communities	Arp Hollingsworth Narrows
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Georgia portal United States portal

v t e Municipalities and communities of Habersham County, Georgia, United States
County seat: Clarkesville
Cities	Baldwin‡ Clarkesville Cornelia Demorest
Towns	Alto‡ Mount Airy Tallulah Falls‡
CDP	Raoul
Unincorporated communities	Aerial Batesville Habersham Hollywood New Switzerland Turnerville
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Georgia portal United States portal

• Towns in Banks County, Georgia
• Towns in Habersham County, Georgia
• Towns in Georgia (U.S. state)