Albion, Michigan
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Albion is a city located in Calhoun County in the south central region of Michigan. 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 celebrated annually since 1967, celebrating Albion's ethnic heritage.
The presence of several major manufacturers through its history has given Albion the reputation of a factory town, though the presence of several major educational institutions has given small town Albion an intellectual character. Albion College is a nationally renowned private liberal arts college with a student population of about 1,600. Albion is Sister city to Noisy-le-Roi, France.
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History
The first white settler, Tenney Peabody, arrived in 1833. As local legend goes, Peabody's wife decided to name the city after Albion, Oswego County, New York where another prominent pioneer, Jesse Crowell, came from. The city was almost named Peabodyville, but Albion was the preferred choice.
Crowell arrived in 1835 and established the Albion Company to lay out the plan for the village and to sell property to other pioneers as they arrived. He 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.
Albion was named an All-America City in 1973 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.
Law and government
Albion has a Council-Manager 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
MIMap-doton-Albion.PNG
Location of Albion, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.7 km² (4.5 mi²). 11.6 km² (4.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.89% water. Albion is positioned 42.24 degrees north of the equator and 84.75 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 9,144 people, 3,252 households, and 2,061 families residing in the city. The population density is 791.6/km² (2,050.2/mi²). There are 3,591 housing units at an average density of 310.9/km² (805.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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 are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,252 households out of which 31.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% are married couples living together, 21.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% are non-families. 31.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 3.07.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years. For every 100 females there are 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 76.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $30,245, and the median income for a family is $37,399. Males have a median income of $35,956 versus $22,975 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,165. 20.0% of the population and 15.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.6% of those under the age of 18 and 13.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
See also
External links
- AlbionVision.com (http://albionvision.com/)
- Albion Michigan Home Page (http://www.albionmich.com/)
- Historical Albion Michigan (http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/TOCsubj.htm)
- City of Albion (http://www.ci.albion.mi.us/)