Editing Albion, Michigan

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Albion
|settlement_type          = City
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

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|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

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|image_map = Calhoun_County_Michigan_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Albion_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Albion, Michigan
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|pushpin_map = Michigan#USA#North America
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Michigan]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Calhoun County, Michigan|Calhoun]]

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|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_26.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 21, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 11.66
|area_land_km2            = 11.42
|area_water_km2           = 0.24
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.50
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.41
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.09

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 7700
|population_density_km2   = 674.14
|population_density_sq_mi = 1746.03

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 290
|elevation_ft             = 951
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|14|48|N|84|45|12|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 49224
|area_code                = [[Area code 517|517]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 26-00980<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0619906<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = 
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}}
'''Albion''' is a city in [[Calhoun County, Michigan|Calhoun County]] in the south central region of the [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Lower Peninsula]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. The population was 7,700 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Albion is part of the [[Battle Creek, Michigan|Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

The earliest English-speaking settlers also called this area ''The Forks'', because it is at the confluence of the north and south branches of the [[Kalamazoo River]]. In the early 20th century, immigrants came to Albion from various eastern European nations, including the current [[Lithuania]] and [[Russia]]. More recently, Latino immigrants have come from Mexico and Central America. The ''Festival of the Forks'' has been held annually since 1967 to celebrate Albion's diverse ethnic heritage.

Since the 19th century, several major manufacturers were established in Albion, which became known as a factory town. This changed after several manufacturers closed. In the 21st century, Albion's culture is changing to that of a college town whose residents have a strong interest in technology and sustainability. [[Albion College]] is a private liberal arts college with a student population of about 1,250. Albion is a [[sister city]] with [[Noisy-le-Roi]], France.

==History==
The first European-American settler, Tenney Peabody, arrived in 1833 along with his brother-in-law, Charles Blanchard, and another young man, Clark Dowling. Peabody's family followed soon after. In 1835, the Albion Company, a land development company formed by [[Jesse Crowell]], [[plat]]ted a village. Peabody's wife was asked to name the settlement. She considered the name "Peabodyville", but selected "Albion" instead, after the former residence of Jesse Crowell. Crowell was appointed in 1838 as the first US postmaster there.

Many early settlers migrated to Albion from western New York and New England, part of a movement after the construction of the Erie Canal and the opening of new lands in Michigan and other Great Lakes territories. They first developed agriculture and it became a rural trading village. Settlers were strong supporters of education and in 1835, [[Methodist Episcopal Church|Methodist]]s established [[Albion College]] affiliated with their church. Its first classes were held in 1843. The college was known by a few other names before 1861. At that time it was fully authorized to confer four-year degrees on both men and women.

Albion incorporated as a village in 1855, following construction of the railroad here in 1852, which stimulated development. It became a city in 1885.<ref>[http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/000910.shtml#TOP "Festival of the Forks"], Frank Passic, ''Morning Star'', September 10, 2000, pg. 9</ref><ref>[http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/960909.shtml "The Passing Scene"], Frank Passic, ''Morning Star'', September 9, 2001, pg. 3</ref>

Mills were constructed to operate on the water power of the forks of the Kalamazoo River. They were the first industry in the town, used to process lumber, grain, and other products to build the village. Albion quickly became a mill town as well as an agricultural market. The river that powered industry also flooded the town.

In the Great Flood of 1908, there was severe property damage. In February, several feet of snow fell across the region. Heavy rains and warmer conditions in early March created water saturation in the ground and risk of flooding because of the rivers' high flow. After the Homer Dam broke around 3 p.m. on March 7, the [[Kalamazoo River]] flooded Albion. By midnight, the bridges surrounding town were underwater. Six buildings in Albion collapsed, resulting in more than $125,000 in damage (1908 dollars).<ref name="WIL">Willard Library. [http://www2.willard.lib.mi.us/bcphotos/floods/index.htm Photographs from Battle Creek History.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810045759/http://www2.willard.lib.mi.us/bcphotos/floods/index.htm |date=2007-08-10 }} Retrieved on 2007-05-06.</ref><ref>Frank Passic. [http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/R990301.shtml "The Great Flood of 1908".] Retrieved on 2007-05-06.</ref> The town struggled to recover.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, numerous Lithuanian and other Eastern European immigrants settled there, most working for the Albion Malleable Iron Company, and some in the coal mine north of town. The iron company initially made agricultural implements, but around World War I shifted to making automotive parts. The Malleable merged in 1969 with the Hayes Corporation, becoming the Hayes-Albion Corporation. Now known as a division of Harvard Industries, the company continues to produce automotive castings in Albion. Molder Statue Park downtown is dedicated to the many molders who dealt with molten iron.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/MM0202.shtml|title=TOKENS OF THE ALBION MALLEABLE IRON COMPANY|publisher=The Mich-Matist|  date= Spring 2002 |issue=#140|access-date=6 May 2022}}</ref>

There were soon enough Lithuanians in town to establish Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, which they built in 1916. It is part of the [[Orthodox Church in America]]. Today its services are in English.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parishes - Holy Ascension Church |url=https://www.oca.org/parishes/oca-mw-malbhac |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.oca.org}}</ref>

Albion's population peaked in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Albion, Michigan Population 2024 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/michigan/albion |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=worldpopulationreview.com}}</ref> In 1973 Albion was named an [[All-America City Award|All-America City]] by the [[National Civic League]]. It celebrated the award on May 15, 1974, when Michigan Governor [[William Milliken]] and many other dignitaries came to town. In 1975 the closure of a major factory began a difficult period of industrial restructuring and decline in jobs and population.

Since that time citizens have mobilized, founding the Albion Community Foundation in 1968. They formed the Albion Volunteer Service Organization in the 1980s, with support from Albion College, to address the challenge of diminishing economic opportunity.

[[Image:Superior Street Commercial Historic District.jpg|thumb|Albion's historic brick main street was first laid in 1903. It was reconstructed in 1993 with hand-laid, kiln-fired clay bricks.]]

[[Freedom of the City|Key to the City Honor]] Bestowed:

*1964: [[Aunt Jemima]] visited Albion on January 25.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/070107.shtml |title=The Key To The City |publisher=Albionmich.com |access-date=2012-09-14}}</ref>
*1960s: Columnist [[Ann Landers]] was presented with a key upon her visit to Starr Commonwealth for Boys.<ref name="autogenerated1" />

== Law and government ==
Albion has a [[Council-manager government|council-manager]] government. City residents elect a mayor [[at-large]] and City Council members from each of six [[single-member district]]s. The council in turn selects a city manager to handle the city's day-to-day affairs. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofalbionmi.gov/government/mayor_and_city_council/mayor.php|title=Mayor|date=May 25, 2019|website=City of Albion|access-date=May 25, 2019|archive-date=May 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525131748/http://www.cityofalbionmi.gov/government/mayor_and_city_council/mayor.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The city levies an income tax of 1% on residents and 0.5% on nonresidents.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gibbons|first1=Lauren|title=Michigan State University, city of East Lansing at odds over proposed income tax|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/08/michigan_state_university_city.html#incart_river_home|access-date=August 16, 2017|work=MLive Lansing|publisher=Mlive Media Group|date=August 16, 2017}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|4.51|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.41|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.10|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref> Albion is 42.24 degrees north of the equator and 84.75 degrees west of the prime meridian.

== Climate ==

<div style="width:75%">
{{Weather box
|location = Albion
|single line = Y

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.62
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.91
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.08
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.25
|May precipitation inch = 4.12
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.06
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.20
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.15
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.27
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.49
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.72
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.42
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 15.2
|Feb snow inch = 6.9
|Mar snow inch = 5.2
|Apr snow inch = 1.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.1
|Nov snow inch = 1.5
|Dec snow inch = 10.5
|year snow inch =

|Jan snow depth inch = 8.4
|Feb snow depth inch = 6.5
|Mar snow depth inch = 3.4
|Apr snow depth inch = 1.1
|May snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
|Oct snow depth inch = 0.1
|Nov snow depth inch = 1.2
|Dec snow depth inch = 5.3
|year snow depth inch = 10.1

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.5
|Feb precipitation days = 9.0
|Mar precipitation days = 8.8
|Apr precipitation days = 11.6
|May precipitation days = 12.3
|Jun precipitation days = 10.6
|Jul precipitation days = 9.9
|Aug precipitation days = 10.4
|Sep precipitation days = 9.5
|Oct precipitation days = 11.4
|Nov precipitation days = 10.5
|Dec precipitation days = 11.7

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 6.1
|Feb snow days = 4.0
|Mar snow days = 2.3
|Apr snow days = 0.4
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 1.0
|Dec snow days = 4.3

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00200094&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Albion, MI
|access-date = June 12, 2024
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=grr
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Grand Rapids
|access-date = June 12, 2024
}}
</ref>
}}
</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 881
|1880= 2716
|1890= 3763
|1900= 4519
|1910= 5833
|1920= 8354
|1930= 8324
|1940= 8345
|1950= 10406
|1960= 12749
|1970= 12112
|1980= 11059
|1990= 10066
|2000= 9144
|2010= 8616
|2020= 7700
|footnote=Source: Census Bureau. Census [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MCD1960-1990C_33608_7.pdf 1960-] 2000, 2010.
}}

===2010 population by gender/age===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| '''Male''' || 4,013 || 46.6%
|-
| '''Female''' || 4,603 || 53.4%
|-
| '''Under 18''' || 1,872 || 21.7%
|-
| '''18 and over''' || 6,744 || 78.3%
|-
| '''20-24''' || 1,364 || 15.8%
|-
| '''25-34''' || 842 || 9.8%
|-
| '''35-49''' || 1,251 || 14.5%
|-
| '''50-64''' || 1,368 || 15.9%
|-
| '''65+''' || 1,124 || 13.0%
|}

===2010 population by ethnicity===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| '''Hispanic or Latino''' || 500 || 5.8%
|-
| '''Non Hispanic or Latino''' || 8,116 || 94.2%
|}

===2010 population by race===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| '''White''' || 5,477 || 63.6%
|-
| '''African American''' || 2,579 || 29.9%
|-
| '''Asian''' || 91 || 1.1%
|-
| '''American Indian and Alaska Native''' || 29 || 0.3%
|-
| '''Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander''' || 17 || 0.2%
|-
| '''Other''' || 90 || 1.0%
|-
| '''Identified by two or more''' || 333 || 3.9%
|}

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
*{{jct|state=MI|I|94}}
*{{jct|state=MI|BL|94|dab1=Albion}}
*{{jct|state=MI|M|99}}
*{{jct|state=MI|M|199}}

===Rail===
[[Amtrak]] provides daily service to Albion, operating its [[Michigan Services|Wolverine]] both directions between [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]] and [[Pontiac, Michigan]], via [[Detroit]].

===Bus===
[[Greyhound Lines]] provides daily intercity city bus service to Albion between Chicago and Detroit.

== Notable people ==
<!-- Note:
· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
· The article must mention how they are associated with Albion, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted.
-->
* [[Kim Cascone]], musician, composer, owner of Silent Records; born in Albion
* [[M. F. K. Fisher]], food writer, born in Albion
* [[Ada Iddings Gale]], author, lived and buried in Albion
* [[Helen Rose Hull]], author and university professor, was born in Albion. Her 1932 book ''Heat Lightning'' concerns a family that owns agricultural implement and automotive parts factories in a small town during the 1930s.
* [[Frank Joranko]], football player and coach for [[Albion College]]
* [[LaVall Jordan]], head men's basketball coach for [[Butler University]], born in Albion
* [[Martin Wells Knapp]], [[Americans|American]] [[Methodist]] evangelist who founded the [[Pilgrim Holiness Church]] and [[God's Bible School and College]], born in Albion.
* [[Bill Laswell]], jazz bassist, record producer and record label owner; raised in Albion
* [[Jerome D. Mack]], banker, director of Las Vegas hotels [[Riviera (hotel and casino)|Riviera]] and [[Dunes (hotel and casino)|Dunes]], founder of [[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]]; born in Albion
* [[Deacon McGuire]], professional baseball player for 26 seasons, lived in Albion
* [[Gary Lee Nelson]], composer, pioneer in electronic and computer music; grew up in Albion<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100630080628/http://www.timara.oberlin.edu/%7Egnelson/gnelson.htm Gary Lee Nelson's home page]</ref>
* [[John Sinclair (poet)|John Sinclair]], poet and political activist, attended Albion College
* [[Jon Scieszka]], children's author, attended Albion College
* [[Brian Tyler (racing driver)|Brian Tyler]], racing driver, born in Albion<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-07-10 |title=Brian Tyler |url=http://www.mmshof.org/inductees/Tyler_Brian.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |archive-date=2010-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710020800/http://www.mmshof.org/inductees/Tyler_Brian.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
* [[Jack Vaughn]], Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador to Panama and Colombia, and Director of the Peace Corps (1966–1969); grew up in Albion
* [[The War and Treaty]], musical duo

==See also==
* [[Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, Albion, Michigan|Holy Ascension Orthodox Church]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Albion, Michigan}}
{{Collier's poster|Albion (Michigan)|Albion, Michigan}}
* [https://cityofalbionmi.gov/ City of Albion official website]
* [http://ci.albion.mi.us/ Albion City Information Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129212147/http://www.ci.albion.mi.us/ |date=2013-01-29 }}
* [http://www.albionlibrary.org/ Albion District Library]
* [http://www.albionmich.com/ Albion Michigan Home Page]
* [http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/TOCsubj.htm Historical Albion Michigan]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928074424/http://www.festivaloftheforks.com/ Festival of the Forks – Albion's annual music and food festival by the forks of the Kalamazoo River]
* [http://www.greateralbionchamber.org/ The Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.albionfoundation.org/ Albion Michigan Community Foundation – For Good. For Ever.]

{{Calhoun County, Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Albion, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Calhoun County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1835]]
[[Category:1835 establishments in Michigan Territory]]