Situated in the south-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan, the city of Albion is in east-central Calhoun County, bordered by Sheridan Township to the north and northwest, and Albion Township to the south, southwest, and southeast, with a small portion of the city bounded by Parma Township in Jackson County.
Interstate Highway 94 passes just north of the city, with BL-94 entering the north-central part of the city and existing in the east-central borders. Michigan Highway 99 (M-99) enters the south-central part of the city. Concord is 8.4 miles southeast, Homer is 9.4 miles southwest, Parma is 9.4 miles east, Springport is 10.9 miles north, and Marshall is 11.7 miles west of Albion.
The Kalamazoo River enters the city at its central-eastern border, flowing west, then turns south to exit in the central-southern part of the city, while the North Branch of the Kalamazoo River joins with it just after the river turns south.
The land upon which the city was built was purchased by land speculators in 1830, and Tenney Peabody acquired their holdings in 1833, moving to the area with his brother, Charles Blanchard, and another man by the name of Clark Dowling. Peabody's family soon followed, becoming the first settlers.
Peabody built a grist mill along the river in partnership with Jesse Crowell, who established the Albion Company, a land development company, in 1835. Crowell platted the village in 1836, naming it for his home town in New York, and becoming its first postmaster on May 5, 1838. Albion was incorporated as a village in 1855 and became a city in 1885.
Construction began on a building to house Wesleyan Seminary in 1841, and classes were first held in the local Methodist Church in 1843, moving to the newly constructed Central Building in 1844. The Albion Female Collegiate Institute was founded by the Wesleyan Seminary Corporation in 1850, and the two schools consolidated in 1857 as the Wesleyan Seminary and Female College at Albion, becoming Albion College in 1861.
The forks of the Kalamazoo River provided power for several mills, allowing Albion to become a significant mill town, as well as an agricultural market. The Central Line railroad arrived in Albion in 1844, soon afterward becoming the Michigan Central Railroad, enhancing the town's industrial interests. Albion's other railroad, then known as the Northern Michigan Railroad, and later the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern's Lansing Division, came through in 1872. Currently, Albion hosts an Amtrak Station, whose Wolverine line provides daily passenger service to Albion, in both directions between Chicago, Illinois and Pontiac, Michigan, via Detroit.
In the last couple of decades, the closure of several local manufacturers has diminished Albion's manufacturing role, while the city has transitioned into a college town. Situated on 574 acres in the southeastern sector of the city, Albion College has a student population of about 1,500 and is a major employer.
Topics related to Albion, Michigan is the focus of this category. This includes, of course, any websites representing the city government or its departments and services, as well as those of individuals, businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, or other entities based in Albion.
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Recommended Resources
Albion College is a liberal arts, undergraduate institution in Albion, Michigan. Its history, student demographics, key facts, awards and recognition, student and alumni success stories, and its strategic plan are posted to the site, along with a campus directory, administrative divisions, and employment opportunities. Its academics, athletics, student life, and alumni programs are highlighted, along with its admissions policies and criteria, financial services, and applications.
https://albion.edu/
Incorporated in 1968, the Albion Community Foundation is a non-profit community foundation created to strengthen the Albion, Michigan region through community improvement projects, cultural heritage, and youth development, distributing grants to charitable causes in the community. Previous grants are reported, along with the eligibility requirements and restrictions, application deadlines, fund descriptions, and award limits, and a grant applicant portal.
https://www.albionfoundation.org/
Featuring Albion, Michigan businesses and organizations, viewers can locate listed businesses by browsing its categories, which are based on the business type, or through the site’s search feature. For each listed business, the name, contacts, address, phone number, web address (when available), and a brief description of the business or organization is provided. Other resources include driving directions to the city. New listings may be submitted for consideration.
http://www.albionedirectory.com/
The non-profit company offers news and a guide to the city of Albion, Michigan, with a particular interest in the city’s churches and local businesses. News topics are sorted into several categories, including business, entertainment, food, health, sports, tech, travel, and weather, as well as local, state, and national news, editor’s picks, and weekly advertising. A community event calendar is also featured. Contacts and advertising opportunities are put forth.
http://albionminews.com/
Although published in Boone County, Nebraska, Albion News covers the Albion, Michigan region, as well as Boone County. While access to the complete electronic edition of the newspaper requires a subscription, selected items are available without a login, including news, business reports, sports stories, obituaries, special events, and opinion columns. A classified section is also featured. Subscriptions may be purchased online, and advertising opportunities may be available.
https://albionnewsonline.com/
A general guide to the city of Albion, the site features a directory of links for Albion College, the Albion city government, community institutions, local events, entrepreneurs and artists, and history resources, as well as class reunion information, community calendars, entertainment venues, and links to Albion area business websites. Links to educational and children’s resources are also provided, along with computer tips and links to additional computer resources.
http://www.albionmich.com/
Although it took several forms and occupied a number of locations over the years, Cascarelli’s has long been a part of the Albion, Michigan community. Currently, an Italian restaurant and fine dining establishment in downtown Albion, its hours of operation, daily menu, catering services, and entertainment are featured, along with a history of the business, local and family history, and an overview of the arts community in Albion. A map shows the location of the business.
http://www.cascarellisalbion.com/
The official municipal website for the city of Albion, Michigan presents a profile and history of the city, and a guide to city departments and services, a calendar of events, maps, demographics, and information about licenses, permits, and reservations. Property taxes may be paid online. Other resources include its capital improvement plan, comprehensive plan, a senior guide to assisted living, and information about regularly scheduled festivals and events.
http://www.cityofalbionmi.gov/
Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
The Chamber is a non-profit membership organization of businesses in the greater Albion, Michigan region. Its board of directors, staff, and volunteers are acknowledged, and member benefits, marketing opportunities, networking, and member-to-member deals are highlighted, and a member application is provided, along with a private member login. A guide to local lodging, shopping, dining, entertainment, real estate, and outdoor recreation opportunities is included.
https://www.greateralbionchamber.org/
Funded in part by the Michigan Humanities Council, the site represents the Hickory Hill installation that was dedicated at Holland Park in Albion, Michigan in 2016, as part of the Holland Park Transformation Project. The site includes a timeline of Albion’s West Ward School, a history of the school, oral interviews with former West Ward School students, an overview of the neighborhood, and the migration of African-Americans from the American South to the North from 1910 and 1970.
http://albionwestward.net/
