ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA

'Albert Lea' is a city located in Freeborn County in southeast Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,356. It is the county seat of Freeborn County⁶. The city is at the junction of I-90 and I-35, about 90 miles south of the Twin Cities. It is on the shores of Fountain Lake, Pickerel Lake, Albert Lea Lake, Goose Lake, School Lake, and Lake Chapeau. Fountain Lake is part of the Shell Rock River flowage and Albert Lea Lake. The city's early growth was based upon agriculture, farming support services and manufacturing. At one time it was the site of Cargill's headquarters. Other manufacturing included Edwards Manufacturing, Scotsman Ice Machines, Streater Store fixtures, and Universal Milking Machines. Like many U.S. towns much of the manufacturing base has diminished. A long-time center of the city's job opportunity was the Wilson & Company meat packing plant, later known as Farmstead and Farmland. This facility was destroyed by fire. The largest employer is currently Albert Lea Medical Center/Mayo with over 1,500 jobs.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Politics

Education

Famous people born or raised in Albert Lea

References

See also

External links

History

The city is named after Albert Miller Lea, a topographer with the United States Dragoons which surveyed southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in 1835, including the current site of Albert Lea. The Early Settlement of Albert Lea Captain Nathan Boone, a son of Daniel Boone, was the scout for Lea's unit.
Albert Lea received national attention in 1959 after Local 6 of the United Packinghouse Workers of America went on strike against Wilson & Co. (one of the Big Four meatpacking plants at the time) over issues involving mandatory overtime requirements.^[1] When Wilson & Co. attempted to operate the plant with replacement workers, violence erupted and split the town. During the 109 day strike Governor Orville Freeman acted to quell the violence by closing the plant, calling in the Minnesota National Guard, and declaring martial law. Although widely criticized in the editorial press, a Federal district court in Minneapolis upheld the Governor's decision but ordered the plant turned back to Wilson & Co. just days later.^[2]
The city hall is located at 221 East Clark St, Albert Lea, MN 56007

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.5 km² (12.6 mi²). 27.9 km² (10.8 mi²) of it is land and 4.6 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 14.17% water. Myre-Big Island State Park is nearby.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 18,356 people, 7,785 households, and 4,826 families residing in the city. The population density was 657.4/km² (1,702.5/mi²). There were 8,133 housing units at an average density of 291.3/km² (754.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.80% White, 0.37% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.54% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 9.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 7,785 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.88.
23.0% of Albert Lea's population were under the age of 18, 7.9% were 18 to 24, 24.6% were 25 to 44, 23.2% were from 45 to 64, and 21.3% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,841, and the median income for a family was $42,407. Males had a median income of $31,383 versus $21,114 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,979. 10.2% of the population and 6.9% of families were below the poverty line. 10.6% of those under the age of 18 and 10.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Politics

★ Albert Lea is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, represented by Mankato educator Tim Walz, a Democrat.

★ Albert Lea is located in Minnesota's Senate District 27, represented by State Senator Dan Sparks, a member of the DFL.

★ Albert Lea is located in Minnesota's House District 27A, represented in the Minnesota House of Representatives by Robin Brown, a member of the DFL.

Education

★ Elementary schools

★
★ Sibley Elementary

★
★ Hawthorne Elementary

★
★ Halverson Elementary

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★ Lakeview Elementary

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★ St. Theodore's Catholic School

★ Middle schools

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★ Southwest Middle School

★ High school

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★ Albert Lea High School

★ Higher education

★
★ Riverland Community College

★ Community education

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★ Albert Lea Community Ed

Famous people born or raised in Albert Lea

★ Rockabilly musician Eddie Cochran (composer of "Summertime Blues")

★ Conceptual artist Mary Kelly

★ Actress Marion Ross (''Happy Days'')

★ Washington Redskins General Manager Vinny Cerrato

★ Former St.Cloud State Hockey Coach Craig Dahl

★ 2x NCAA and 2x NAIA Wrestling National Champion Chuck Jean

★ Comedian and liberal commentator Al Franken briefly lived in Albert Lea during elementary school.

★ American model and actress Audra Lynn. She was Miss October 2003 in Playboy magazine.

★ Penkala Burton, character on NBC TV series Heroes.

References

1. Register,Cheri.2001.Packinghouse Daughter.HarperCollins.isbn 0060936843.
2. Frost, Richard T.1961.Cases in State and Local Government.Prentice-Hall.isbn=not available.

See also

★ Albert Lea Art Center

External links

★ Albert Lea News and Info Website

★ Albert Lea official website

★ Albert Lea Area Schools website

★ Riverland Community College website

★ Albert Lea Tribune website

★ Albert Lea Weblink website

★ Albert Lea Journal website