Albion, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albion, Illinois
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Edwards County Courthouse, a local landmark
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Location of Albion in Edwards County, Illinois.
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 Albion, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Albion, Illinois
Location in the United States
Albion, Illinois
Location in North America
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Edwards |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.18 sq mi (5.65 km2) |
| • Land | 2.14 sq mi (5.53 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2) |
| Elevation | 525 ft (160 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,971 |
| • Density | 922.75/sq mi (356.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62806
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-00568 |
| GNIS ID | 2393906 |
Albion is a city in Illinois, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Edwards County. In 2020, about 1,971 people lived there. The city's name, "Albion," comes from an old, poetic name for Great Britain.
Contents
History of Albion: From Prairie to County Seat
Albion started as "Mr. Morris Birkbeck's English Prairie." Morris Birkbeck, an English Quaker, and George Flower, a co-founder, created it in 1817. They wanted it to be a perfect community. In 1818, Birkbeck and Flower had a disagreement. The part of the prairie where Flower lived was then named Albion.
Becoming the County Seat
In 1821, Albion became the county seat of Edwards County. This meant it was the main town for government. The county seat moved from Palmyra to Albion. However, people in the larger town of Mount Carmel thought their town should be the county seat.
Four groups of soldiers from Mount Carmel marched toward Albion. They wanted to take the county documents from the courthouse. The problem was solved in 1824. Wabash County was separated from Edwards County. Mount Carmel then became the seat of Wabash County. These two counties are among the smallest in Illinois.
English Roots and a Fight for Freedom
Albion has a special connection to England and brewing. George Flower and Morris Birkbeck bought a lot of land in the Illinois Territory. They encouraged English settlers to come and join them. Among these settlers was Richard Flower, George's father. Richard was an experienced brewer. He taught his son how to make popular beers like London Porter.
The settlement of Albion strongly believed in ending slavery. People who had escaped slavery from Kentucky came to live in Albion. The Flower family and other leaders helped them. But these free people were always in danger. People called bounty hunters tried to kidnap them and force them back into slavery.
Around 1823-1824, a group of kidnappers took some free African-American residents from Albion. They headed south with their captives. An angry armed group, led by Richard's youngest son, Edward Fordham Flower, chased them. Edward was only 18 years old. His group successfully caught the kidnappers. They freed the captives and brought the kidnappers to face the law.
Edward Flower's Journey
Some allies of the kidnappers wanted revenge. They planned to harm Edward Flower or his father. One time, a bullet was shot through a window of Richard's house. It hit a mirror right above his head. The family decided it was safest for Edward to leave the country.
After 1825, Edward went back to England. He decided to continue his family's brewing business. His brewery, Flower's Brewery, in Stratford-upon-Avon became very famous. It was a separate company until the 1950s and is still a brand today.
Edward missed his life in America. He often thought about returning. During the American Civil War, Edward spoke in Britain and Ireland. He supported the Union and spoke against slavery. In 1866, after the war, he visited the U.S. with his wife.
Geography of Albion
Albion is located in the southern part of Edwards County. Two important roads, Illinois Route 130 and Illinois Route 15, meet there.
- Route 130 goes north about 25 miles (40 km) to Olney. It goes south about 10 miles (16 km) to Grayville.
- Route 15 goes east about 16 miles (26 km) to Mount Carmel. It goes west about 16 miles (26 km) to Fairfield.
Albion covers a total area of about 2.18 square miles (5.65 km2). Most of this area, about 2.14 square miles (5.53 km2), is land. The rest, about 0.05 square miles (0.12 km2), is water.
On September 19, 2017, a small earthquake happened near the city. It was a 3.8-magnitude earthquake.
Climate in Albion: Weather Overview
Albion has a varied climate throughout the year. Summers are warm, and winters are cold. The city receives a good amount of rain each year.
| Climate data for Albion | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39.9 (4.4) |
43.7 (6.5) |
55.2 (12.9) |
67.7 (19.8) |
77.6 (25.3) |
86.3 (30.2) |
90.0 (32.2) |
88.6 (31.4) |
82.2 (27.9) |
70.3 (21.3) |
55.7 (13.2) |
43.2 (6.2) |
66.7 (19.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.2 (−4.9) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
35.0 (1.7) |
45.3 (7.4) |
55.0 (12.8) |
63.6 (17.6) |
67.2 (19.6) |
65.5 (18.6) |
58.6 (14.8) |
46.7 (8.2) |
36.4 (2.4) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
45.7 (7.6) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.2 (81) |
2.7 (69) |
4.4 (110) |
4.4 (110) |
4.8 (120) |
4.1 (100) |
3.6 (91) |
3.4 (86) |
3.0 (76) |
2.9 (74) |
3.7 (94) |
3.3 (84) |
43.4 (1,100) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Demographics: Who Lives in Albion?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 365 | — | |
| 1870 | 613 | — | |
| 1880 | 875 | 42.7% | |
| 1890 | 937 | 7.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,162 | 24.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,281 | 10.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,584 | 23.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,666 | 5.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,855 | 11.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,287 | 23.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,025 | −11.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,791 | −11.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,285 | 27.6% | |
| 1990 | 2,116 | −7.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,933 | −8.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,988 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,971 | −0.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 census, 1,971 people lived in Albion. There were 926 households, and 532 families. The city had about 903 people per square mile (356 per km2). There were 953 homes in total.
Population Makeup
Most people in Albion are White, making up 94.11% of the population. Other groups include:
- 0.61% African American
- 1.01% Asian
- 0.36% Pacific Islander
- 0.51% from other backgrounds
- 3.40% from two or more backgrounds
People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 1.52% of the population.
Households and Families
Out of 926 households:
- 36.1% had children under 18 living with them.
- 38.66% were married couples.
- 15.98% were led by a female with no husband present.
- 42.55% were not families.
About 36.61% of all households were single individuals. About 16.95% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 3.04 people. The average family had 2.36 people.
Age and Income
The median age in Albion was 38.9 years.
- 27.9% of the population was under 18.
- 17.5% was 65 years or older.
The median income for a household was $43,971. For a family, it was $64,375. The average income per person was $24,818. About 16.5% of families and 18.1% of all people lived below the poverty line. This included 23.4% of those under 18.
Notable People from Albion
Many interesting people have connections to Albion:
- Harold Huntley Bassett – A major general in the U.S. Air Force.
- Morris Birkbeck – One of Albion's founders and the first Secretary of State for Illinois.
- Louis Lincoln Emmerson – Served as Secretary of State and Governor of Illinois.
- Benjamin Orange Flower – A well-known journalist.
- Edward Fordham Flower – An English brewer who became very successful.
- Harold A. Garman – A U.S. Army medic who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
- Guy U. Hardy – A former congressman from Colorado.
- Jeff Keener – A former pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.
- H. H. Kohlsaat – A publisher and close friend to five U.S. presidents.
- George Frederick Pentecost – A famous clergyman and evangelist.
- William Pickering – The fifth governor of Washington Territory.
Images for kids
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Edwards County Courthouse, a local landmark
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Location of Albion in Edwards County, Illinois.
See Also
In Spanish: Albion (Illinois) para niños
