Albion is a city in Calhoun County, located in the south central part of the Lower Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the 2020 census, the population of Albion was 7,700. Albion is part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The first English-speaking settlers named the area "The Forks" because it is where the north and south branches of the Kalamazoo River meet. In the early 1900s, people from several countries in eastern Europe, including modern-day Lithuania and Russia, moved to Albion. More recently, immigrants from Mexico and Central America have also come to live there. The Festival of the Forks has been held every year since 1967 to honor Albion’s diverse cultural background.

Starting in the 1800s, several large factories were built in Albion, making it known as a factory town. This changed when many of these factories closed. In the 21st century, Albion’s culture has shifted to reflect that of a college town, where many people are interested in technology and sustainability. Albion College is a private liberal arts college with about 1,250 students. Albion is also a sister city to Noisy-le-Roi, France.

History

In 1833, the first European-American settler, Tenney Peabody, arrived in Albion with his brother-in-law, Charles Blanchard, and a young man named Clark Dowling. Peabody's family arrived soon after. In 1835, the Albion Company, created by Jesse Crowell, planned the village layout. Peabody's wife was asked to choose a name for the settlement. She considered "Peabodyville" but chose "Albion," after the place where Jesse Crowell once lived. Crowell became the first U.S. postmaster in Albion in 1838.

Many early settlers came to Albion from western New York and New England. This movement happened after the Erie Canal was built and new lands in Michigan and other Great Lakes areas became available. These settlers first focused on farming, and Albion became a small trading village. Education was important to the settlers. In 1835, Methodists started Albion College, which was connected to their church. The first classes were held in 1843. Before 1861, the college had other names. In 1861, it was officially allowed to give four-year degrees to both men and women.

Albion became a village in 1855, after a railroad was built there in 1852. The railroad helped the town grow. Albion became a city in 1885.

Mills were built near the forks of the Kalamazoo River to use the river's power. These mills processed lumber, grain, and other materials to help build the village. Albion became a mill town and an agricultural market. However, the same river that powered industry also caused floods in the town.

In the Great Flood of 1908, there was serious damage to property. In February, several feet of snow fell in the area. Heavy rains and warmer weather in early March made the ground very wet, increasing the risk of flooding because the rivers were flowing strongly. When the Homer Dam broke around 3 p.m. on March 7, the Kalamazoo River flooded Albion. By midnight, the bridges around town were underwater. Six buildings in Albion collapsed, causing more than $125,000 in damage (in 1908 dollars). The town struggled to recover from the flood.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Lithuanians and other Eastern Europeans moved to Albion. Many worked for the Albion Malleable Iron Company, while others worked in a coal mine near the town. The iron company first made farming tools but later switched to making parts for cars during World War I. In 1969, the company merged with the Hayes Corporation, becoming the Hayes-Albion Corporation. Today, it is part of Harvard Industries and still makes car parts in Albion. A park downtown, called Molder Statue Park, honors the workers who handled molten iron.

There were enough Lithuanians in Albion to build Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in 1916. The church is part of the Orthodox Church in America. Today, its services are held in English.

Albion's population was the highest in 1960. In 1973, Albion was named an All-America City by the National Civic League. The town celebrated the award on May 15, 1974, when Michigan Governor William Milliken and other leaders visited. In 1975, the closing of a major factory began a difficult time for Albion, leading to fewer jobs and a drop in population.

To help the town, citizens started the Albion Community Foundation in 1968. In the 1980s, they created the Albion Volunteer Service Organization with help from Albion College to address challenges caused by fewer job opportunities.

Key to the City Honor Bestowed:
– 1964: Aunt Jemima visited Albion on January 25.
– 1960s: Columnist Ann Landers received a key during her visit to Starr Commonwealth for Boys.

Law and government

Albion uses a council-manager system of government. City residents vote for a mayor who represents the entire city and for City Council members who represent six separate districts. The City Council chooses a city manager to oversee daily operations. The mayor is a member of the Council and can vote on issues. Council members serve four-year terms, with half of them elected every two years. The mayor is elected every two years. The city collects a 1% income tax from residents and a 0.5% income tax from nonresidents.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers an area of 4.51 square miles (11.68 km²), with 4.41 square miles (11.42 km²) being land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km²) being water. Albion is located 42.24 degrees north of the equator and 84.75 degrees west of the prime meridian.

Transportation

• I-94
• BL I-94
• M-99
• M-199

Amtrak operates the Wolverine train daily to Albion, traveling both directions between Chicago, Illinois, and Pontiac, Michigan, with a stop in Detroit.

Greyhound Lines offers daily intercity bus service to Albion, connecting Chicago and Detroit.

Notable people

• Kim Cascone, musician, composer, and owner of a record label called Silent Records; born in Albion
• M. F. K. Fisher, food writer; born in Albion
• Ada Iddings Gale, author; lived and was buried in Albion
• Helen Rose Hull, author and university professor; born in Albion. Her 1932 book Heat Lightning is about a family that owns factories that make farming tools and car parts 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, American Methodist preacher who started 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 and director of Las Vegas hotels Riviera and 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 and pioneer in electronic and computer music; grew up in Albion
• John Sinclair, poet and political activist; attended Albion College
• Jon Scieszka, children’s author; attended Albion College
• Brian Tyler, racing driver; born in Albion
• 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