Albion,_Michigan

{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = Albion, Michigan
|settlement_type = [[City]]
|nickname =
|motto =


|image_skyline =
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|image_map = Calhoun_County_Michigan_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Albion_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250x200px
|map_caption = Location of Albion, Michigan
|image_map1 =
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|subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Michigan]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Calhoun County, Michigan|Calhoun]]


|government_footnotes =
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|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes =

|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 11.6
|area_land_km2 = 11.6
|area_water_km2 = 0.1
|area_total_sq_mi = 4.5
|area_land_sq_mi = 4.5
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.0


|population_as_of = [[United States Census, 2000|2000]]
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 9144
|population_density_km2 = 791.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 2050.2


|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 290
|elevation_ft = 951
|latd = 42 |latm = 14 |lats = 48 |latNS = N
|longd = 84 |longm = 45 |longs = 12 |longEW = W


|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{{GR|2}}
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 0619906{{GR|3}}
|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 9,144 at the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]] and is part of the [[Battle Creek, Michigan|Battle Creek]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. From the time that the earliest [[English language|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. [[Albion College]] is a private liberal arts college with a student population of about 1,950. Albion is [[Sister city]] to [[Noisy-le-Roi]], France.

Albion is the birthplace of food writer [[M. F. K. Fisher]].

Albion is also the home of Stonehawk East Narconon facility. Stonehawk is based in Battle Creek, MI and is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Its programs are based on the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard although the term Scientology is not used at the facility. Students generally stay 3 to 6 months and it is known as one of the most difficult and best rehabilitation facilities in America.

==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 Church|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 [[Watermill|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 Award|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.

[[Freedom_of_the_City|Key to the City Honor]] Bestowed:

*1964: [[Aunt Jemima]] visits Albion on January 25, 1964. [http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/070107.shtml]
*1960s: [[Ann Landers]] was presented with a key upon her visit to Starr Commonwealth for Boys. [http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/070107.shtml]

== Law and government ==
Albion has a [[Council-manager government|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==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 4.5 square miles (11.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 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]][[Geographic references#2|<sup>2</sup>]] of 2000, there were 9,144 people, 3,252 households, and 2,061 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 2,050.2 per square mile (791.6/km²). There were 3,591 housing units at an average density of 805.1/sq mi (310.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.05% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 33.22% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.36% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.69% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.61% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.07% from two or more races. 4.55% of the population were [[Hispanics in the United States|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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.

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

==See also==
* [[U.S. Highway 12|Old U.S. 12]]

==External links==
* [http://www.albionmich.com/ Albion Michigan Home Page]
* [http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/TOCsubj.htm Historical Albion Michigan]
* [http://www.ci.albion.mi.us/ Official City of Albion Government Home Page]
* [http://www.albionenews.com/ Albion E-News -- Local News, Obituaries, Classifieds]
* [http://www.albionecalendar.com/ Albion E-Calendar -- Community Calendar of Events]
* [http://www.albionedirectory.com/ Albion E-Directory -- Business and Nonprofit Organization Directory]
* [http://www.jacksoncommunity.net/ Albion Mi Community]
* [http://www.albionbizexpo.biz/ Albion Biz Expo -- Albion Mich. Online Virtual Tradeshow]
* [http://www.albionartists.com/ Albion Artists -- Albion Michigan Artists showing and selling works of art]
* [http://www.albioncharacter.org/ Albion Character -- Albion MI Character Education, teaching the 6 Pillars of Character]
* [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.]
* [http://www.ismonhouse.org/ Ismon House -- Community Meeting Place in Albion Mich.]
* [http://www.albionyouththeatre.com/ Albion Youth Theatre -- Children's theater group in Albion]

{{Geolinks-US-cityscale|42.2464|-84.7569}}

{{Michigan}}

[[Category:Calhoun County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Cities in Michigan]]
[[Category:Albion, Michigan| ]]

[[lmo:Albion, Michigan]]
[[nl:Albion (Michigan)]]
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