Alexander, IL

Alexander is a small town located in Macoupin County, Illinois. The population was 1,811 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Macoupin County.

The first settlers arrived in Alexander in 1833. The town was named for Alexander Hamilton, who was then Secretary of the Treasury. Alexander became an important shipping point on the Sangamon River and grew rapidly as a result. By 1850, it had a population of 1,500 and boasted two churches, three stores, two hotels and several mills.

Alexander's fortunes changed dramatically with the arrival of the railroad in 1856. The town quickly developed into a major transportation hub for goods moving between Chicago and St Louis. By 1900, Alexander had a population of 5,000 and boasted six banks, fifteen businesses and four newspapers.

Today, Alexander is still an important transportation center; however, its economy is more diversified than it once was. The town has several manufacturing plants and serves as the headquarters for several large companies including Caterpillar Inc., Kraft Foods Group Inc., Motorola Solutions Inc., Owens- Illinois Inc., Sears Holdings Corporation and United Parcel Service (UPS). Additionally, Alexander is home to Illinois Wesleyan University as well as numerous smaller businesses that provide services to local residents