|
| | Albion, Michigan
|
County: Calhoun
Population: 9,144 (2000 U.S.
Census)
Official Web Site of
Albion, Michigan
|
|
Located at the junction of the east and south branches of the Kalamazoo
River, Albion sits in south-central Michigan along Interstate 94 between
Detroit and Chicago. The closest city of note is Battle Creek, and the state
capital of Lansing is only 50 miles to the north. Albion College, a liberal
arts school of 1,900 students, is the city's largest employer. For much of
its history, Albion's economy was rooted in agriculture and manufacturing.
But with the closing of its last foundry in 2002 due to continuing changes
in the automobile industry, Albion is undergoing a major economic
transformation. Economic expansion is occurring at the new Andersons ethanol
plant on the city's west side, along with significant job growth at Guardian
Industries, Patriot Antenna Systems and other area businesses. The city is a
diverse one: 61 percent of the population is white, 33 percent is black and
4.5 percent is Hispanic or Latino. The median income for a household in the
city is $30,245. Twenty percent of the population and 15 percent of families
live below the poverty level, with children under the age of 18 making up
better than a quarter of those living in poverty. Although some businesses
in the city shut down during the last several years, the Downtown
Development Authority and the city recently completed a marketing study that
provides a blueprint for future growth. One of the key recommendations of
the study is the redevelopment of the Cass Street corridor connecting the
the downtown center with the college campus.
Albion, arguably, was the first U.S. community to celebrate Mother's Day.
From an official Michigan historical marker: "On May 13, 1877, the
second Sunday of the month, Juliet Calhoun Blakeley stepped into the pulpit
of the Methodist-Episcopal Church and completed the sermon for the Reverend
Myron Daughterty. According to local legend, Daughterty was distraught
because an antitemperance group had forced his son to spend the night in a
saloon. Proud of their mother's achievement, Charles and Moses Blakeley
encouraged other to pay tribute to their mothers. In the 1880's the Albion
Methodist church began celebrating Mother's Day in Blakeley's honor."
-from
Mike Householder
|
Google Maps JavaScript API Example
|
Attractions
|
Albion College
It was awarded a charter by the Michigan Territorial Legislature in 1835.
Early attempts at coeducation were made in 1850 when the Legislature
approved the founding of the "Albion Female Collegiate
Institute." This school for women was controlled by the Wesleyan
Seminary corporation until 1857 when the two schools merged under the name
of "The Wesleyan Seminary and Female College at Albion." On Feb.
25, 1861, Albion was fully authorized by the Legislature to confer a full
four-year college degree upon both men and women. From the time the
cornerstone was laid for the first permanent building in 1840 until today,
Albion College has remained on the same site, the original part of which
is now called "the Quad." In 1861 there were only two classroom
buildings. By 1901, Albion had added a chapel, an observatory, a
gymnasium, a chemistry building and a library. Albion today stands on 225
acres with more than 30 major buildings, and from 500 students in 1901,
enrollment has grown to nearly quadruple that amount. Full-time faculty
today number 126, and the college has more than 17,000 living alumni.
Emphasis on excellence in liberal arts education became the Albion College
hallmark through the years, and in 1940 Albion was the first private
college in Michigan to be awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
|
CASS
STREET BRIDGE |
|
CONSUMERS
POWERHOUSE
|
D.A.R.
ROCK |
| DICKIE’S
FOLLY |
DUTCHTOWN |
| G.A.R.
BOULDER |
G.A.R.
CANNON |
| GAR
HALL SERVED CIVIL WAR VETERANS |
HOWARD
HALL WAS A MAJOR ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IN ALBION |
| INTERURBAN
OFFICE BUILDING 100 YEARS OLD |
LOTTIE
ESLOW BUILDING |
| MORGAN
FIELD |
PARKER
INN PROMINENT LANDMARK |
| PEABODY/GOTHIC/MILLRACE |
PONTO
SINK HOLE |
| RED
MILL POWERHOUSE |
RED
MILL PROPERTY |
| THE
BLACK DITCH |
THE
CASS STREET BRIDGE |
| TOWN
OF BRIDGES |
TREE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD |
| WHITE
MILL ONCE STOOD AT LLOYD PARK LOCATION |
|
|
