Albert Lea, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Albert Lea is a city in and the county seat
of Freeborn County
in the southeastern part of the U.S. state
of Minnesota
. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census.
The city is at the junction of Interstates 35
and 90
, about 90 miles (144.8 km) south of the Twin Cities. It is on the shores of Fountain Lake, Pickerel Lake, Albert Lea Lake, Goose Lake, School Lake, and Lake Chapeau. Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake are part of the Shell Rock River
flowage.
The city's early growth was based upon agriculture
, farming support services and manufacturing
and was a significant rail center. At one time it was the site of Cargill
's headquarters. Other manufacturing included Edwards Manufacturing (barn equipment), Scotsman Ice Machines, Streater Store fixtures, and Universal Milking Machines. Like many U.S. towns much of the manufacturing base has diminished. A long-time center of the city's job opportunity was the Wilson & Company meat packing plant, later known as Farmstead and Farmland. This facility was destroyed by fire. The largest employer is currently Mayo Clinic
Health System with over 1,500 employees.
The city is named after Albert Miller Lea
, a topographer with the United States Dragoons, who surveyed southern Minnesota and northern Iowa
in 1835, including the current site of Albert Lea. Captain Nathan Boone, a son of Daniel Boone
, was the scout for Lea's unit.
Albert Lea received national attention in 1959 after Local 6 of the United Packinghouse Workers of America
went on strike against Wilson & Co. (one of the Big Four meatpacking plants at the time) over issues involving mandatory overtime requirements. When Wilson & Co. attempted to operate the plant with replacement workers, violence erupted and split the town. During the 109-day strike, Governor Orville Freeman
acted to quell the violence by closing the plant, calling in the Minnesota National Guard
, and (on December 11) declaring martial law. A Federal district court in Minneapolis ruled against the Governor on December 23, and the plant turned back to Wilson & Co. just days later.
, represented by Mankato
educator Tim Walz
, a Democrat (DFL). The Minnesota State Senate District is 27, represented by State Senator Dan Sparks, a member of the DFL. It is in Minnesota's House District 27A, represented in the Minnesota House of Representatives by Rich Murray, a member of the GOP.
, the city has a total area of 12.6 square miles (32.6 km²), of which 10.8 square miles (28 km²) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) is water. Myre-Big Island State Park
is nearby. There are three main lakes in Albert Lea: Fountain Lake, Pickerel Lake and Albert Lea Lake.
of 2000, there were 18,356 people, 7,785 households, and 4,826 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,702.5 people per square mile (657.4/km²). There were 8,133 housing units at an average density of 754.3 per square mile (291.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.80% White, 0.37% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.54% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 9.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 7,785 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.88.
23.0% of Albert Lea's population were under the age of 18, 7.9% were 18 to 24, 24.6% were 25 to 44, 23.2% were from 45 to 64, and 21.3% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,841, and the median income for a family was $42,407. Males had a median income of $31,383 versus $21,114 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,979. 10.2% of the population and 6.9% of families were below the poverty line. 10.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
was a junior hockey team who played at Albert Lea Ice Arena and was a member of the North American Hockey League
. The team operated for two seasons 2008-2010 and was folded due to financial difficulties.
On May 11, 2010, it was reported that the team had found new owners and would relocate to Texas for the 2010-2011 season.[5] Their roster was officially sold to the expansion Amarillo, TX franchise, the Amarillo Bulls, on May 26, 2010.
.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Freeborn County
Freeborn County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,584 people, 13,356 households, and 9,015 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile . There were 13,996 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
in the southeastern part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census.
The city is at the junction of Interstates 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
and 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
, about 90 miles (144.8 km) south of the Twin Cities. It is on the shores of Fountain Lake, Pickerel Lake, Albert Lea Lake, Goose Lake, School Lake, and Lake Chapeau. Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake are part of the Shell Rock River
Shell Rock River
The Shell Rock River is a tributary of the Cedar River in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in the United States. Via the Cedar and Iowa rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. The United States Board on Geographic Names settled on "Shell Rock River" as the stream's name...
flowage.
The city's early growth was based upon agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, farming support services and manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
and was a significant rail center. At one time it was the site of Cargill
Cargill
Cargill, Incorporated is a privately held, multinational corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1865, it is now the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2011, number 13 on the Fortune 500,...
's headquarters. Other manufacturing included Edwards Manufacturing (barn equipment), Scotsman Ice Machines, Streater Store fixtures, and Universal Milking Machines. Like many U.S. towns much of the manufacturing base has diminished. A long-time center of the city's job opportunity was the Wilson & Company meat packing plant, later known as Farmstead and Farmland. This facility was destroyed by fire. The largest employer is currently Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
Health System with over 1,500 employees.
History
Albert Miller Lea
Albert Miller Lea was an American engineer, soldier, and topographer with the United States Dragoons who surveyed southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in 1835.-Biography:...
, a topographer with the United States Dragoons, who surveyed southern Minnesota and northern Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
in 1835, including the current site of Albert Lea. Captain Nathan Boone, a son of Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
, was the scout for Lea's unit.
Albert Lea received national attention in 1959 after Local 6 of the United Packinghouse Workers of America
United Packinghouse Workers of America
The United Packinghouse Workers of America , later the United Packinghouse, Food and Allied Workers, was a labor union that represented workers in the meatpacking industry....
went on strike against Wilson & Co. (one of the Big Four meatpacking plants at the time) over issues involving mandatory overtime requirements. When Wilson & Co. attempted to operate the plant with replacement workers, violence erupted and split the town. During the 109-day strike, Governor Orville Freeman
Orville Freeman
Orville Lothrop Freeman was an American Democratic politician who served as the 29th Governor of Minnesota from January 5, 1955 to January 2, 1961, and as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1961 to 1969 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson...
acted to quell the violence by closing the plant, calling in the Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
, and (on December 11) declaring martial law. A Federal district court in Minneapolis ruled against the Governor on December 23, and the plant turned back to Wilson & Co. just days later.
Government
The city hall is located at 221 East Clark St, Albert Lea, MN 56007. Albert Lea is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional districtMinnesota's 1st congressional district
Minnesota's 1st congressional district extends across southern Minnesota from the border with South Dakota to the border with Wisconsin. The First District is primarily a rural district built on a strong history of agriculture, although this is changing rapidly due to strong population growth in...
, represented by Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
educator Tim Walz
Tim Walz
Timothy James Walz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party .The district comprises the state's southern end, running along the entire border with Iowa...
, a Democrat (DFL). The Minnesota State Senate District is 27, represented by State Senator Dan Sparks, a member of the DFL. It is in Minnesota's House District 27A, represented in the Minnesota House of Representatives by Rich Murray, a member of the GOP.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 12.6 square miles (32.6 km²), of which 10.8 square miles (28 km²) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) is water. Myre-Big Island State Park
Myre-Big Island State Park
Myre-Big Island State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, just outside the city of Albert Lea. It has an area of . The park protects of shoreline on Albert Lea Lake. The nucleus of the park is Big Island, a island attached to the mainland by a causeway. In turn a causeway connects Big...
is nearby. There are three main lakes in Albert Lea: Fountain Lake, Pickerel Lake and Albert Lea Lake.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 18,356 people, 7,785 households, and 4,826 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,702.5 people per square mile (657.4/km²). There were 8,133 housing units at an average density of 754.3 per square mile (291.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.80% White, 0.37% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.54% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 9.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 7,785 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.88.
23.0% of Albert Lea's population were under the age of 18, 7.9% were 18 to 24, 24.6% were 25 to 44, 23.2% were from 45 to 64, and 21.3% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,841, and the median income for a family was $42,407. Males had a median income of $31,383 versus $21,114 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,979. 10.2% of the population and 6.9% of families were below the poverty line. 10.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Education
- School DistrictSchool districtSchool districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
241 - Elementary schoolsPrimary educationA primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
- Middle schoolMiddle schoolMiddle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s - High schoolHigh schoolHigh school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
- Higher educationHigher educationHigher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
- Riverland Community CollegeRiverland Community CollegeRiverland Community College is a community college that is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. It has campuses in:*Albert Lea, Minnesota**Previously Albert Lea Technical College.*Austin, Minnesota...
- Lea CollegeLea CollegeLea College was a private liberal arts college that operated from 1966 to 1973 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Lea was one of several Midwestern colleges established by local civic leaders with the support and encouragement of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa...
, operated 1966-1973
- Riverland Community College
- Community education
Notable natives
- Rockabilly musician Eddie CochranEddie CochranEddie Cochran , was an American rock and roll pioneer who in his brief career had a small but lasting influence on rock music through his guitar playing. Cochran's rockabilly songs, such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues", captured teenage frustration and desire in the...
(composer of "Summertime BluesSummertime Blues"Summertime Blues" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American rockabilly artist Eddie Cochran. It was written in the late 1950s by Cochran and his manager Jerry Capehart. Originally a single B-side, it was released in August 1958 and peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 on...
" and "Twenty Flight RockTwenty Flight Rock"Twenty Flight Rock" is a song originally performed by Eddie Cochran in the 1956 film comedy The Girl Can't Help It, and released as a single in 1957. Cochran's biographer notes Cochran was granted a co-writer credit, but no royalties, a standard ego-salving arrangement between publishers and...
") - Alexander GrinagerAlexander GrinagerAlexander Grinager was an American artist most noted for his murals and scenic painting.-Background:Alexander Grinager was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the son of Mons and Anna Egge Grinager. His parents had immigrated from the district of Hadeland, Norway...
, an artist most noted for his murals, was born in Albert Lea. - College basketball star Ben WoodsideBen WoodsideBen Woodside is an American basketball player. He currently plays point guard for Union Olimpija in Slovenia.-High school:He attended Albert Lea High School where he set school career records for points, assists and steals.-College:...
of the North Dakota State BisonNorth Dakota State BisonThe North Dakota State Bison is the name of the athletic teams of North Dakota State University which is located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota. The teams are often called the "Thundering Herd"...
was born and raised in Albert Lea. - Comedian, commentator, and Senator Al FrankenAl FrankenAlan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
briefly lived in Albert Lea where he attended Hawthorne Elementary. He moved when his father's business failed. - Conceptual artist Mary KellyMary Kelly (artist)Mary Kelly is an American conceptual artist, feminist, educator, and writer. has contributed extensively to the discourse of feminism and postmodernism through her large-scale narrative installations and theoretical writings. Kelly’s work mediates between conceptual art and the more intimate...
- Actress Marion RossMarion RossMarion Ross is an American actress best known for her role as Marion Cunningham on the television series Happy Days from 1974 to 1984.-Early life:...
(Happy DaysHappy DaysHappy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
) - Professional Wrestler Perry Saturn
- Former Washington Redskins General Manager Vinny CerratoVinny CerratoVinny Cerrato is the former Executive Vice President for Football Operations for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League and actor in the feature film Kindergarten Ninja.-Playing career:...
- Writer, editor and publisher Joan Claire GrahamJoan Claire GrahamJoan Claire Graham is a songwriter, playwright, publisher, editor, and writer. Among other literary endeavors, she is known for her chronicling of Minnesota history.-Early life:...
- Former radio voice of the Houston Rockets, Gene Peterson
- Tom Brown (Canadian football), Minnesota Golden GophersMinnesota Golden GophersThe Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
and BC LionsBC LionsThe BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
football star; 1960 Outland TrophyOutland TrophyThe Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
winner and Heisman TrophyHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
runner up; College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
and Canadian Football Hall of FameCanadian Football Hall of FameThe Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
inductee.
Sports
The Albert Lea ThunderAlbert Lea Thunder
The Albert Lea Thunder was a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Central Division. The team was an expansion franchise for the 2008-2009 season and played their home games at the Albert Lea Ice Arena in Albert Lea, Minnesota....
was a junior hockey team who played at Albert Lea Ice Arena and was a member of the North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
. The team operated for two seasons 2008-2010 and was folded due to financial difficulties.
On May 11, 2010, it was reported that the team had found new owners and would relocate to Texas for the 2010-2011 season.[5] Their roster was officially sold to the expansion Amarillo, TX franchise, the Amarillo Bulls, on May 26, 2010.
.
See also
- Albert Lea Art CenterAlbert Lea Art CenterThe Albert Lea Art Center is located in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The Albert Lea Art Center, Bessessen Historic Opera House Building, was built in 1916, by Van Kirk and Cederburg, St. Paul architects. It was built to showcase the talents of internationally acclaimed opera prima donna Beatrice Bessessen...
- Albert Lea Municipal AirportAlbert Lea Municipal AirportAlbert Lea Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located three nautical miles north of the central business district of the city of Albert Lea, in Freeborn County, Minnesota, United States....
- Albert Lea Public LibraryAlbert Lea Public LibraryThe Albert Lea Public Library serves the City of Albert Lea, Minnesota and surrounding communities, and is a member of Southeastern Libraries Cooperating, the SE Minnesota library region. Recently renovated in 2007, the library features a state of the art computer lab and 20 public access computers...
- AARP/Blue Zones Vitality ProjectAARP/Blue Zones Vitality ProjectIn January 2009, the City of Albert Lea, Minnesota began the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project. Sponsored by United Health Foundation and led by Dan Buettner, the author of The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest, the Vitality Project's goal was to add...