Albion, MichiganA Community Profile

Hannah McLaughlin, Molly Hungerford, Miriam Holbrook, Laura Cameron, Sarah Deitert

All personal photos by Molly Hungerford

The People of AlbionPopulation Breakdown Population Total:

8,616

Male Population: 46.6%

Female Population: 53.4 %

Median Age: 28.1

Diversity:The Melting Pot of Michigan

“Hang your hat in Albion,Albion, Just Right.It's a happy, pretty college town,Growth and business all around.Population on the bound,That's the place to build your nest.Get in line with all the restand hang your hat in Albion”

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml

Poverty Rate

Albion Poverty Rate 33% Michigan Poverty Rate 15%

http://www.city-data.com/city/Albion-Michigan.html

Education

www.michiganradio.org

http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pagescommunity_facts.xhtml

www.huffingtonpost.com

Albion Industry The Unemployment Rate in city of Albion is 22.7%.

The Unemployment Rate in the state of Michigan is 12.3%.

The top industries in Albion are educational services, health care & social assistance, manufacturing and arts, entertainment, and recreation, accommodation & food.

http://www.city-data.com/work/work-Albion-Michigan.html

Over half of all Albion residents commute out of the city for work.

The high commuter levels mean that the industry in Albion suffers from a lack of consumers and a lack of businesses.

The poor conditions of the buildings in downtown Albion discourage businesses from moving in.

http://www.city-data.com/work/work-Albion-Michigan.html

Community Resources Religion as a building block

Historically created a Methodist Seminary

Over 50 churches with diverse religions

Festival of the Forks Celebrate rich cultural

heritage

Acknowledge community strengths

Albion District Library Resource for children and

adults

Very well maintained – viewed as valuable resource

http://www.city-data.com/city/Albion-Michigan.html

Community Resources Cont. Bohm Theatre

Restoring historically important building

Bringing resources to the community from outside their community

See this as a strength for the community as a whole – community pride

Community Parks Free resource for

individual and family recreation

Well maintained – stark contrast to other houses in nearby areas

BohmTheatre1940 2013

www.albionmich.com

http://www.greateralbionchamber.org/Pages/Playgrounds.aspx

Relationship with Albion College

Albion College is a small, private liberal arts college that was founded in 1835, and lies within the Albion city boundaries.

The College and Community have a complex history marked by both collaboration and disconnect. Mike Frandsen’s focus on the role

that the College President plays. Peggy Sindt’s perspective on the

role of racial tension. Students are not forced to leave

the campus for anything. The college invites community

members to campus events, but does not host much in the community.

There is an expressed hope on part of the community member’s and college staff to create a relationship of mutual support.

College Student Race/Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan

Asian

Black or African American

Hispanic/Latino

Native Hawiian or Pacific Is-lander

Whitewww.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

A Historical Perspective

As the college grew following World War II, it expanded out, taking over surrounding blocks once used for residential use. One after another, the rich tapestry of historic buildings were taken over and demolished as this process progressed.

By 1985, the college had consolidated nearly all housing on campus. This deliberate strategy to concentrate students in college-owned housing led to an increasing disassociation between city and college.

Students who no longer found the once friendly and comfortable associations of small town living, identified how there was “nothing to do” in Albion.

-Isaac D. Kremer Placepromotionblogspot.com

Passic, F. (2013). Albion. Charleston, S.C: Arcadia

Community Weaknesses The lack of employment

opportunities

The poor state of many of the homes

And lack of success with business start-ups.

&

Community STRENGTHS The powerful sense of

community that Albion maintains.

Their optimism about the future of the community.

Their pride in diversity and how they celebrate that. Festival of the Forks Revitalization of the “Bohm

Theatre”

Where to go from here Take advantage of the pro-

active role that the current Albion President wants to take.

Invite new and larger businesses to the city to provide more local employment and to draw neighboring community members to seek employment and entertainment in Albion.

Utilize the large body of young people at Albion College, and engage them in community projects and endeavors.

www.bohmtheatre.org

ReferencesAlbion District Library. (2013). Albion district library: Transforming minds, changing lives. Retrieved from http://www.albionlibrary.org

Albion District Library (Producer). (2013). Logo [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.albionlibrary.org/

American Fact Finder. (2010). Profile of general population and housing. Retrieved from http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml  American Fact Finder. (2011). 2007-2011 American community survey: 5 year estimates. Retrieved from http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml  City Data. (2013). Albion, MI. Retrieved from http://www.citydata.com/city/AlbionMichigan.html  City Data. (2013). [Graph Illustration]. Adherents. Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/work/work-Albion-Michigan.html City Data. (2013). [Graph Illustration]. Most common industries. Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/work/work-Albion-Michigan.html 

Dickerson, D. (2013, October 07). Personal Interview. Frandsen M. (2013, October 09). Personal Interview. Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce (2013). Albion festival of the forks. Retrieved from http://www.festivaloftheforks.org/Pages/default.aspx Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce (2013). Welcome to Albion: Playgrounds. Retrieved from http://www.greateralbionchamber.org/Pages/Playgrounds.aspx

Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce. (Photographer). (2013). Playgrounds [Web Photo]. Retrieved from

http://www.greateralbionchamber.org/Pages/Playgrounds.aspx

Hungerford, M. (Photographer). (2013, October 07). [Print Photo].

Kremer, I.D. (2011). Albion interactive history. Retrieved from http://www.placepromo.com/aih/L LaNoue, M. (2013). Albion, Michigan home page. Retrieved from www.albionmich.com.  Onboard Informatics (2013). [Pie chart of religion statistics of Ablion, MI based on Calhoun County data]. Albion, Michigan City Data. Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/city/Albion-Michigan.html Schultheiss, E. (2013, May 07). Restoration of bohm theatre in Albion, MI. Retrieved from http://www.jeffrisfoundation.org/2013/07/11/restoration-of-the-bohm-theatre-in albion-mi/  Stindt, P. (2013, October 03). Personal Interview.  U.S. Department of Education (2012). College navigator: Albion college. Retrieved fromhttp://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Albion+College&s=all&id=168546#enrolmt