Albion, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Albion is a city in Calhoun County
in the south central region of the Lower Peninsula
of the US state of Michigan
. The population was 9,144 at the 2000 census and is part of the Battle Creek
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. From the time that the earliest English-speaking settlers arrived, the area has also been known as The Forks, because it is situated at the confluence of the north and south branches of the Kalamazoo River
. The Festival of the Forks has been held annually since 1967 to celebrate Albion's ethnic heritage.
The presence of several major manufacturers since the 19th century has given Albion the reputation of a factory town. This has changed with the closure of several manufacturers, and Albion's culture is changing to that of a college town with a strong interest in technology and sustainability issues. Albion College
is a private liberal arts college with a student population of about 1,750. Albion is a sister city with Noisy-le-Roi
, France.
Albion is the birthplace of food writer M. F. K. Fisher
.
, plat
ted a village and Peabody's wife was asked to name the settlement. She considered the name "Peabodyville", but "Albion" was selected instead, after the former residence of Jesse Crowell. Crowell became the first postmaster in 1838. Albion incorporated as a village in 1855 and as a city in 1885.
In 1835, Methodist Episcopal
settlers established Albion College
, which was known by a few other names before 1861 when the college was fully authorized to confer four-year degrees on both men and women. The first classes were held in Albion in 1843.
The forks of the Kalamazoo River provided power for mills
, and Albion quickly became a mill town as well as an agricultural market. A railroad line arrived in 1852, fostering the development of other industries.
In 1973 Albion was named an All-America City
by the National Civic League
. It celebrated winning the award on May 15, 1974 when the Governor of Michigan, William Milliken
, and many dignitaries came to town. However, in 1975 the closure of a major factory cut the celebration short and new challenges were created overnight.
Since that time citizens have mobilized, with support from the Albion Community Foundation founded in 1968, and the Albion Volunteer Service Organization, founded in the 1980s with support from Albion College, to address the challenge of diminishing economic opportunity.
Key to the City Honor
Bestowed:
form of government. City residents elect a Mayor and City Council members from six districts. The council in turn selects a City Manager to handle day-to-day affairs of the city. The mayor presides over and is a voting member of the council. Council members are elected to four-year terms, staggered every two years. A mayor is elected every two years.
, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.89%) is water. Albion is positioned 42.24 degrees north of the equator and 84.75 degrees west of the prime meridian.
was 2,050.2 per square mile (791.6/km²). There were 3,591 housing units at an average density of 805.1 per square mile (310.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.05% White, 33.22% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 1.61% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. 4.55% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino of any race.
There were 3,252 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 19.7% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,245, and the median income for a family was $37,399. Males had a median income of $35,956 versus $22,975 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,165. About 15.0% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line
, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
, the national passenger rail system, provides daily service to Albion, operating its Wolverine
both directions between Chicago, Illinois
and Pontiac, Michigan
via Detroit
.
Calhoun County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-94* I-194* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Albion.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Battle Creek.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Marshall.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-37* M-60* M-66* M-78* M-89* M-96* M-99...
in the south central region of the Lower Peninsula
Lower Peninsula of Michigan
The Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the southern of the two major landmasses of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is surrounded by water on all sides except its southern border, which it shares with Ohio and Indiana. Geographically, the Lower Peninsula has a recognizable shape that many people...
of the US state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The population was 9,144 at the 2000 census and is part of the Battle Creek
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
United States metropolitan area
In the United States a metropolitan statistical area is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are not legally incorporated as a city or town would be, nor are they legal administrative divisions like...
. From the time that the earliest English-speaking settlers arrived, the area has also been known as The Forks, because it is situated at the confluence of the north and south branches of the Kalamazoo River
Kalamazoo River
The Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to when one includes the South Branch...
. The Festival of the Forks has been held annually since 1967 to celebrate Albion's ethnic heritage.
The presence of several major manufacturers since the 19th century has given Albion the reputation of a factory town. This has changed with the closure of several manufacturers, and Albion's culture is changing to that of a college town with a strong interest in technology and sustainability issues. Albion College
Albion College
Albion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion, Michigan. Related to the United Methodist Church, it was founded in 1835 and was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It has a student population of about 1500.The school's sports teams are...
is a private liberal arts college with a student population of about 1,750. Albion is a sister city with Noisy-le-Roi
Noisy-le-Roi
Noisy-le-Roi is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-References:*...
, France.
Albion is the birthplace of food writer M. F. K. Fisher
M. F. K. Fisher
Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher was a preeminent American food writer. She was also a founder of the Napa Valley Wine Library. She wrote some 27 books, including a translation of The Physiology of Taste by Brillat-Savarin. Two volumes of her journals and correspondence came out shortly before her...
.
History
The first European-American settler, Tenney Peabody, arrived in 1833 along with his brother-in-law Charles Blanchard, and a young man named Clark Dowling. Peabody's family followed soon after. In 1835, the Albion Company, a land development company formed by Jesse CrowellJesse Crowell
Jesse Crowell was a pioneer settler in Michigan, who platted Albion, Michigan in 1836, was its first postmaster, and played an important role in the public affairs and the development of Albion. He is renowned as Albion's Greatest Benefactor.Mr...
, plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted a village and Peabody's wife was asked to name the settlement. She considered the name "Peabodyville", but "Albion" was selected instead, after the former residence of Jesse Crowell. Crowell became the first postmaster in 1838. Albion incorporated as a village in 1855 and as a city in 1885.
In 1835, Methodist Episcopal
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
settlers established Albion College
Albion College
Albion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion, Michigan. Related to the United Methodist Church, it was founded in 1835 and was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It has a student population of about 1500.The school's sports teams are...
, which was known by a few other names before 1861 when the college was fully authorized to confer four-year degrees on both men and women. The first classes were held in Albion in 1843.
The forks of the Kalamazoo River provided power for mills
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
, and Albion quickly became a mill town as well as an agricultural market. A railroad line arrived in 1852, fostering the development of other industries.
In 1973 Albion was named an All-America City
All-America City Award
The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States.The oldest community recognition program in the nation, the award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon...
by the National Civic League
National Civic League
The National Civic League is an American non-profit organization that advocates for transparency, effectiveness, and openness in local government...
. It celebrated winning the award on May 15, 1974 when the Governor of Michigan, William Milliken
William Milliken
William Grawn Milliken , is an American politician and served as the 44th Governor of Michigan from January 1969 to January 1983.-Biography:...
, and many dignitaries came to town. However, in 1975 the closure of a major factory cut the celebration short and new challenges were created overnight.
Since that time citizens have mobilized, with support from the Albion Community Foundation founded in 1968, and the Albion Volunteer Service Organization, founded in the 1980s with support from Albion College, to address the challenge of diminishing economic opportunity.
Key to the City Honor
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
Bestowed:
- 1964: Aunt JemimaAunt JemimaAunt Jemima is a trademark for pancake flour, syrup, and other breakfast foods currently owned by the Quaker Oats Company of Chicago. The trademark dates to 1893, although Aunt Jemima pancake mix debuted in 1889. The Quaker Oats Company first registered the Aunt Jemima trademark in April 1937...
visits Albion on January 25, 1964. - 1960s: Ann Landers was presented with a key upon her visit to Starr Commonwealth for Boys.
Law and government
Albion has a Council-ManagerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. City residents elect a Mayor and City Council members from six districts. The council in turn selects a City Manager to handle day-to-day affairs of the city. The mayor presides over and is a voting member of the council. Council members are elected to four-year terms, staggered every two years. A mayor is elected every two years.
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 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.89%) is water. Albion is positioned 42.24 degrees north of the equator and 84.75 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,144 people, 3,252 households, and 2,061 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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 2,050.2 per square mile (791.6/km²). There were 3,591 housing units at an average density of 805.1 per square mile (310.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.05% White, 33.22% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 1.61% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. 4.55% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
or Latino of any race.
There were 3,252 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 21.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 19.7% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,245, and the median income for a family was $37,399. Males had a median income of $35,956 versus $22,975 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 $14,165. About 15.0% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line
Poverty threshold
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country...
, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
Rail transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national passenger rail system, provides daily service to Albion, operating its Wolverine
Michigan Services
Michigan Services is an umbrella term used by Amtrak to describe passenger rail service by three routes connecting Chicago, Illinois, with the Michigan cities of Grand Rapids, Port Huron, and Detroit, and other stations along the three lines...
both directions between Chicago, Illinois
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
via Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
Notable residents
- Jack VaughnJack VaughnJack Hood Vaughn was the second Director of the United States Peace Corps succeeding Sargent Shriver. Vaughn was appointed Peace Corps Director in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson and was the first Republican to head the agency....
, Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador to Panama and Colombia, and Director of the Peace Corps from 1966 to 1969 grew up in Albion. - Bill LaswellBill LaswellBill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and record label owner....
, Jazz bassist, record producer and record label owner grew up in Albion graduating from Albion High School. - Gary Lee NelsonGary Lee NelsonGary Lee Nelson is a composer and media artist who taught at Oberlin College in the Technology in Music and Related Arts department. He specializes in algorithmic composition, real-time interactive sound and video along with digital film making.-Biography:In 1964, Nelson attended Utrecht...
, Composer, pioneer in electronic and computer music grew up in Albion. Gary Lee Nelson's home page - Floyd E. Starr, American social work pioneer, graduated Albion College 1910, founded Starr Commonwealth for Boys at Albion in 1913, originator of phrase "There's no such thing as a bad boy", died Albion 1980.
Internal links
- Holy Ascension Orthodox Church
External links
- Albion District Library
- Albion Michigan Home Page
- Historical Albion Michigan
- Official City of Albion Government Home Page
- Albion E-News – Local News, Obituaries, Classifieds
- Albion E-Calendar – Community Calendar of Events
- Albion E-Directory – Business and Nonprofit Organization Directory
- Albion Mi Community
- Albion Biz Expo – Albion Mich. Online Virtual Tradeshow
- Albion Artists – Albion Michigan Artists showing and selling works of art
- Albion Character – Albion MI Character Education, teaching the 6 Pillars of Character
- Festival of the Forks – Albion's annual music and food festival by the forks of the Kalamazoo River
- Holy Ascension Orthodox Church on Austin Avenue
- The Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce
- Albion Michigan Community Foundation – For Good. For Ever.
- Ismon House – Community Meeting Place in Albion Mich.
- Albion Youth Theatre – Children's theater group in Albion
- iAlbion.com Online Social Community
- ialbion.org Local Blog/Rebuilding Albion/community input for positive change