| Official Name: | Alto, Texas |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Texas |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Cherokee |
| Government Type: | Mayor-Council |
| Leader Title: | City Council |
| Leader Name: | Mayor Jimmy Allen Ell Thacker (Mayor Pro-Term) Carey Palmer Jerry Flowers Steve Cox Randy Selman |
| Leader Title1: | Chief of Police |
| Leader Name1: | Jeremy Jackson |
| Established Date: | 1849 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 4.42 |
| Area Land Km2: | 4.42 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.71 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.71 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1027 |
| Population Density Km2: | 280.83 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 727.27 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 133 |
| Elevation Ft: | 436 |
| Coordinates: | 31.65°N -95.0739°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 75925 |
| Area Code: | 936 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 48-02188[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1372283[3] |
Alto is a town in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. With a population of 1,027 at the 2020 U.S. census,[4] Alto is the closest municipality to the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, an archaeological site dating back to 800 BC, featuring a prehistoric village and ceremonial center.
An early settler in the region was Martin Lacy, who built Lacy's Fort just to the west to the current site of Alto in around 1838. In 1838 and 1839, during the campaign to suppress the Córdova Rebellion, the fort served as an operations and supply base for the Third Militia brigade commanded by Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Rusk.[5]
The town of Alto was laid out in 1849 and named for the Spanish word meaning "high," on account of the site's elevation on a drainage divide between the Neches and Angelina Rivers.[6]
Alto is located at 31.65°N -95.0739°W (31.650131, –95.073810).[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.7sqmi, all land.Alto had a prisoner of war camp during World War II, which served the Cherokee County area.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Alto has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[8]
| White (NH) | 416 | 40.51% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 268 | 26.1% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 2 | 0.19% | |
| Asian (NH) | 1 | 0.1% | |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 38 | 3.7% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 302 | 29.41% | |
| Total | 1,027 |
According to the 2000 U.S. census, there were 1,190 people, 452 households, and 282 families residing in the town. The population density was 707.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 534 housing units at an average density of 317.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 65.55% White, 24.79% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 6.81% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.25% of the population.
Public schools are managed by the Alto Independent School District. These are Alto High School, Alto Middle School, and Alto Elementary School.[10]
In 2011, the city eliminated its entire police force after the city council cut the police budget to zero,[11] causing residents to brace for increased crime.[12] A councilman is quoted as saying "The police department, being a non-money-making entity, was the easiest to get rid of." Meanwhile, police services are provided by the county sheriff and, assuming the town's finances improve, it will be opened up again in December.[13]