Albion, Dane County, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town of Albion
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Albion town hall
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Location in Dane County and the state of Wisconsin.
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 Albion, Dane County, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
Albion, Dane County, Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Dane |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.8 sq mi (92.7 km2) |
| • Land | 35.2 sq mi (91.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 860 ft (262 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,069 |
| • Density | 51.8/sq mi (20.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 608 |
| FIPS code | 55-00875 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1582668 |
| Website | http://townofalbionwi.com/home |
The Town of Albion is a community located in Dane County, Wisconsin, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,069 people lived here. Several smaller communities are part of the Town of Albion, including Albion, Highwood, Hillside, and Indian Heights.
Contents
History of Albion
Early Settlers and Community Life
The Town of Albion has a long history. It was first settled in August 1841 by Freeborn Sweet, who moved here from Oneida County, New York. More settlers arrived soon after.
In 1842, the first people arrived in what would become the small community of Albion. The next year, they started a Seventh Day Baptist Church. This church became a very important part of the community.
Growth and Development
By 1844, people also began settling in the northern part of the town, an area known as "Albion Prairie." A school was set up in the same year. A Primitive Methodist Church was also started, but it sadly burned down in the 1860s. A new church building was built in the early 1870s and can still be seen near Rice Lake today. Another church, a Methodist Episcopal Church, was built in 1868 but was taken down in the 1930s.
In the 1800s, the community of Albion was a busy place for shopping and services. It had a general store, a shop that made wagons and worked with metal, a mill that produced wagons and sleighs, a harness shop, and even a hotel.
Albion Academy: A Special School
In 1854, a very important school called Albion Academy was founded by the Seventh Day Baptists in Albion. This academy offered a wide range of subjects, including classic literature, math, science, and music. It was one of the first schools in Wisconsin where both boys and girls could study together.
Many notable people were connected to Albion Academy. Some of the teachers included Thure Kumlien, a famous Swedish-American naturalist (someone who studies nature), and Rasmus Anderson, a Norwegian-American author and diplomat.
Famous graduates of the academy include:
- Edward Lee Greene, a naturalist
- John Q. Emery, an educator
- Christopher J. Rollis, a newspaper editor
- Alva Adams, who became the governor of Colorado
- Knute Nelson, who became a U.S. Senator for Minnesota
The last building of the academy, Kumlien Hall, was destroyed by fire in the 1960s. However, it was rebuilt! Today, it is a museum dedicated to the academy and the early history of education in southern Wisconsin. The museum has many interesting items, including a canoe paddle made by Sterling North. Sterling North was the author of the popular 1963 book Rascal. He made the paddle for a canoe he built at his childhood home. Sadly, the canoe was lost in the 1960s fire.
Geography
The Town of Albion covers a total area of about 35.8 square miles (92.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.2 square miles (91.1 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 0.6 square miles (1.6 square kilometers) is water.
Population and People
As of the 2020 Census, the Town of Albion had a population of 2,069 people. In 2000, there were 1,823 people living in the town. People of all ages live in Albion, with a mix of families and individuals.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to the Town of Albion:
- Nicholas Anderson: A farmer and politician who was born in the town and graduated from Albion Academy.
- Rasmus B. Anderson: A historian and diplomat who was also a teacher at Albion Academy.
- Lars O. Lein: A farmer and politician born in Albion who also attended Albion Academy.
- Stanley Slagg: A lawyer and politician.
- Lawrence C. Whittet: A businessman and politician who was born in the town.
See also
In Spanish: Albion (condado de Dane, Wisconsin) para niños
