Blog · October 14, 2026 · Illinois
Using the Alton GIS Map
Parcel data for Alton comes from the county, and the viewer is free.
Main page: Madison County, IL GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, county facts and neighboring maps).
Platbookmapper is an Amazon Associate. If you buy through an Amazon link on this page, we earn a commission. The link is a product, not the county map.
For a parcel in or near Alton, the Alton GIS map lays out parcel boundaries plus basic tax data. What this Alton guide covers: where that map lives, how to search it, and the limits worth knowing.
Opening the Alton GIS map: start here
For a tract near Roxana, some cities also run their own GIS portal for utilities or zoning; that can add detail on top of the county map.
The free map to start with
Your first stop is the Madison County parcel viewer; it covers every tax parcel in the county, Wood River included. Near Wood River, enter a street address, an owner's name or a parcel number, then pick the result to center the map on it. In and around Wood River, a pop-up or side panel normally shows the owner of record, assessed acreage, a parcel ID and in many cases the last transfer.
When a parcel crosses a boundary
Madison County meets Bond County, Clinton County, Jersey County, Macoupin County, and Montgomery County, and each of those keeps its own parcel map. Acreage along the edge near Bethalto may be split across two assessors' files, so check the adjacent map before you assume the acreage. On ground around Hartford, the Platbookmapper state page lists each bordering county map for Illinois.
Reading the legal description
Illinois uses the Public Land Survey System, so deeds around Roxana reference sections and townships. A standard section is about one square mile, roughly 640 acres, and a township holds 36 of them, though real sections near Godfrey vary in size. Copy the legal description from the record for the parcel near Godfrey before you request a deed or survey.
Where Alton fits in
Alton is part of Madison County, Illinois, which means parcel data comes from the county. On ground around Bethalto, city or town hall handles things like zoning, permits and utilities within town limits, but the county runs assessment and recording. Lots just outside the town limits out by Bethalto usually answers to county rules, not municipal ones.
Troubleshooting the viewer
When the map won't open around Godfrey, try a desktop browser or clear the cache; the Platbookmapper county page tracks the current link.
Getting your bearings
Edwardsville holds the county offices, home to the main records offices. Smaller places on the map include East Alton, Wood River, Godfrey, and Bethalto, each with its own cluster of lots. Around 262,752 people call Madison County home (Census Bureau estimate, 2023) across about 716 square miles. Madison County was organized in 1812, and some chains of title near Wood River are long. Features like Mississippi River and Horseshoe Lake make handy reference points on the map near Bethalto.
Three ways to find a parcel
By address works best for lots around Highland; owner names are usually entered last name first. With a lot near Godfrey, searching by parcel number never misses, and it carries over to every office in the county.
Who handles what
For assessment questions about property around Godfrey are handled by the Supervisor of Assessments, working with township assessors, which maintains the tax roll. Building or septic questions for a lot near Roxana are for the local planning and health departments, and the answer depends on jurisdiction.
Aerials, labels and overlays
On ground around Hartford, layer lists often include municipal boundaries, floodplain and sometimes zoning; availability varies.
On site with the map
The parcel map usually runs in a mobile browser, handy when you're parked on a road near East Alton, though signal can drop in rural spots. A printout of the tract near Wood River keeps working without signal.
Saving what you find
Print or screenshot the parcel near Roxana with its ID visible, which helps later when you ask the assessor or a title company.
Owner, value and acreage
Recent sales on nearby lots in the city are a useful starting point; an appraiser is the real authority around Granite City.
Deeds, plats and who keeps them
When the details count, request the recorded deed from the county Recorder of Deeds (in many counties the County Clerk and Recorder); the parcel map near Godfrey only summarizes it. For acreage around Bethalto, have ready the book and page shown in the record panel so staff can find the deed fast.
Alton: common questions
What layers does the parcel viewer have near Wood River?
In and around Bethalto, many viewers offer aerial imagery plus layers like city limits, zoning or flood zones.
How do I find who owns a lot near Roxana?
For most people, the parcel record for a lot near Roxana lists the owner of record, or search by address instead.
Is the Alton GIS map free?
It depends, but there's no fee to use the parcel viewer near Roxana, though printing may be limited.
Can I use the city GIS map for a fence near Wood River near Granite City?
It depends, but lines near East Alton can be off by several feet or more; get a survey before a fence.
Who keeps deeds for property around Collinsville?
For land near Bethalto, assessment goes to the Supervisor of Assessments, working with township assessors and deeds to the county Recorder of Deeds (in many counties the County Clerk and Recorder).
Open the official Madison County, IL parcel map See it in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.