Albion is a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

Orleans County, New York Orleans County is a county in the western part of the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,343. The county seat is Albion. The county received its name at the insistence of Nehemiah Ingersoll though historians ...

, United States. The population was 5,637 as of the 2020 census, down 419 from the 2010 census. The village is centrally located in the county, the village is partly within the towns of both

Albion Albion is an alternative name for Great Britain. The oldest attestation of the toponym comes from the Greek language. It is sometimes used poetically and generally to refer to the island, but is less common than 'Britain' today. The name for Scot ...

and Gaines. It is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Orleans County and is about west/northwest of the

Rochester Rochester may refer to: Places Australia * Rochester, Victoria Canada * Rochester, Alberta United Kingdom *Rochester, Kent ** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area ** History of Rochester, Kent ** HM Prison ...

. Albion is part of the Rochester metropolitan area.

History

The Albion area was first settled by European Americans in 1812. This area attracted few residents before the announcement, near the end of the decade, that the

Erie Canal The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east-west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing t ...

would be constructed through here. In 1822, an entrepreneur named Nehemiah Ingersoll bought much of the land near the planned intersection of the canal and Oak Orchard Road, the main north-south route through the area at the time. The property was soon subdivided, and the village, then known as Newport, began to grow. Orleans County was created two years later. State officials considered both Gaines (then more populous) and Newport as the county seat due to their central locations within the new county. They chose Newport in 1826 due to its location on the canal and the West Branch of Sandy Creek, where a mill had already been established. The next year the village changed its name to Albion to avoid postal confusion with New York's other Newport, in Oneida County. In 1828 it was incorporated as a village. The William V. N. Barlow House,

North Main–Bank Streets Historic District The North Main–Bank Streets Historic District is located along those streets in Albion, New York, United States. It is one of two historic districts in the village, comprising the commercial core of the village, developed during its years as a ...

Orleans County Courthouse Historic District The Orleans County Courthouse Historic District is one of two located in downtown Albion, New York, United States. Centered on Courthouse Square, it includes many significant buildings in the village, such as its post office and churches from sev ...

Tousley-Church House The Tousley-Church House is located on North Main Street (New York State Route 98) in Albion, New York, United States. It is a brick house in the Greek Revival architectural style built in two different stages in the mid-19th century. It shows t ...

, and

United States Post Office The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U. ...

are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

Government

Village of Albion Board of Trustees

The village elected a president. The following list is of those who held office. Village of Albion Presidents The new village charter changed the term of president from one year to three years starting in 1879. According to a new village charter, the name of the head of the village was changed from "president" to "mayor" starting in June 1951. Village of Albion Mayors * Resigned as mayor to fill vacancy of village clerk-treasurer. ** Filled vacancy created by death of William A. Monacelli in June 1972. *** Resigned position as Mayor in September 1991. **** Resigned from position as Mayor.

Geography

Albion is located at (43.247211, -78.191264). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the village has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.7 km²), all land. The

passes through the community. Albion is the site of the junction of east-west highway NYS Route 31 (East Avenue and West Avenue) and north-south highway NYS Route 98 (Main Street). NYS Route 279 joins NY-98 immediately north of Albion. It is located 30 miles or 159,700 feet west of Rochester NY.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 7,438 people, 2,307 households, and 1,444 families residing in the village. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 2,501.8 people per square mile (966.9/km²). There were 2,566 housing units at an average density of 863.1 per square mile (333.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 73.88%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 18.20%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.69% Native American, 0.58%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.08%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 4.99% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.59% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 9.32% of the population. There were 2,307 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14. In the village, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 141.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 150.6 males. The median income for a household in the village was $30,010, and the median income for a family was $34,881. Males had a median income of $31,660 versus $22,157 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the village was $13,531. About 13.0% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Albion Central School District The Albion Central School District is a public school district in New York State that serves approximately 2,600 children in the village of Albion; most of the towns of Albion, Barre, Carlton, and Gaines; small parts of the towns of Kendall, ...

. * A branch campus of

Genesee Community College Genesee Community College (GCC) is a public community college with its main campus in Batavia, New York. It has campus centers in Albion, Medina, Warsaw, Dansville, Arcade, Lima (previously Lakeville), New York. Thus, the college covers areas no ...

Public transportation

Public transportation in Albion is provided by the OTS, which is part of the

Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority The Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) is a New York State public-benefit corporation which provides transportation services in the eight-county area in and around Rochester, New York. Currently, RGRTA oversees the daily ...

(RGRTA).

Economy

* Albion is the center of the

Medina sandstone Medina sandstone is a geographic subset of the Medina Group stratigraphic formation in New York state and beyond. The name refers specifically to sandstone first quarried in Medina, NY and later quarried in other locations in Orleans County and ...

industry. It also is a trading and shipping village for a good farming region; the primary commodity crops are

apple An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple fruit tree, trees are agriculture, cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, wh ...

cabbage Cabbage, comprising several cultivars of ''Brassica oleracea'', is a leafy green, red (purple), or white (pale green) biennial plant grown as an annual vegetable crop for its dense-leaved heads. It is descended from the wild cabbage ( ''B.&nb ...

s and

bean A bean is the seed of several plants in the family Fabaceae, which are used as vegetables for human or animal food. They can be cooked in many different ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional dishes th ...

Notable people

* Grace Bedell, (1848–1936), suggested in 1860 (aged 11) that Abraham Lincoln grow a beard. *

Sanford E. Church Sanford Elias Church (April 18, 1815 – May 14, 1880) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician. He served as Lieutenant Governor of the state of New York and chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals. Early life Born in Milford, Ot ...

, (1815–1880), born in Albion, politician who became Lieutenant Governor of New York, New York State Comptroller, and Chief Judge of New York State Court of Appeals. * Dan H. Cole, (1811-1881), politician and former New York State Senator. *

Tommy Colella Thomas Anthony Colella (July 3, 1918May 15, 1992) was an American football halfback and punter in the National Football League (NFL) and All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Rams, Cleveland Browns and Buffa ...

, (1918-1992), retired pro football player. * John Chamberlain Collins, (1850-1928), influential Christian social worker of the 19th century, believed to be the boy present for the execution of conspirators connected to the Lincoln assassination in 1865. *

John Cunneen John Cunneen (May 18, 1848 near Ennis, County Clare, Ireland – February 21, 1907 Buffalo, Erie County, New York, USA) was an American lawyer and politician. Life He came to the United States when 14 years old to live with relatives at ...

, (1848–1907), Irish immigrant and attorney, New York State Attorney General. * Noah Davis, (1818-1902), politician and jurist, former US Congressman, New York State Supreme Court Justice. * Elizabeth H. Denio, PhD, (1842-1922), born at Albion, professor at

Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States, closely follo ...

and

Wellesley College Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant as a female seminary, it is a member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges, an unofficial g ...

, organizer of Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery. *

Gilbert De La Matyr Gilbert De La Matyr (July 8, 1825 in Pharsalia, New York – May 17, 1892 in Akron, Ohio) was an American cleric and politician from New York and Indiana, serving one term in the U.S. House from 1879 to 1881. Life He graduated from a theologic ...

, (1825-1892), former US Congressman from Indiana, lived in Albion during the 1850s and 1860s. *

Geoffrey Giuliano Geoffrey Giuliano (born September 11, 1953)
''Tell Me What Y ...

,(1953– ), author, actor and syndicated radio show host; lived on and off in Albion from his birth until the age of twenty three. *

Henry Moore Harrington Henry Moore Harrington (April 30, 1849 – June 25, 1876) was a military officer in the 7th United States Cavalry Regiment who went Missing in action during the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana Territory. Early life Henry Moore Harri ...

, (1849-1876), born at Albion, West Point Military Academy graduate, member of 7th US Cavalry killed at Battle of Little Bighorn. *

Elizur K. Hart Elizur Kirke Hart (April 8, 1841 – February 18, 1893) was an American banker and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1877 to 1879. Biography Born in Albion, New York, to Elizur Hart and Loraine F ...

, (1841–1893), born in Albion, founder of newspaper ''Rochester Post-Express'', and elected as

United States Congressman The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from New York. * Charles H. Holmes, (1827–1874), born in Albion, United States Congressman from New York. *

Charles W. Howard Charles Willis Howard (June 15, 1896 – May 1, 1966) was an American actor and teacher most famous for portraying Santa Claus in department stores and parades. In 1937, he established the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School which today is the ...

, (1896–1966), portrayed Santa Claus. * Derek Kinder, (1986– ), football player, NCAA College Football standout for Pitt. Drafted by

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...

as a Compensatory selection in the 2009 NFL Draft. * Charles H. Nesbitt, (1947– ), decorated Vietnam veteran and politician, former NYS Assemblyman and NYS Assembly Minority Leader of the Republican Party, current president of the NYS Division of Tax Appeals and Tax Appeals Tribunal. * Don Sisson, (1979– ), White House Staffer for President Barack H. Obama * Daniel H. Pinney, (1837-1921), lawyer and jurist. * Henry "Hank" Porter, (1900-1951), born in Albion, artist for

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

and credited with creating more than 1,200 drawings during World War Two that were related to the war effort. *

George Pullman George Mortimer Pullman (March 3, 1831 – October 19, 1897) was an American engineer and industrialist. He designed and manufactured the Pullman sleeping car and founded a company town, Pullman, for the workers who manufactured it. This ulti ...

, (1831–1897), sleeper car magnate, Chicago businessman, lived in Albion with his family for some time. Built the

Pullman Memorial Universalist Church The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church of Albion (village), New York, Albion, New York was constructed in 1894 (dedicated 1895) as a memorial to the parents of inventor and industrialist George Mortimer Pullman. The structure, built of pink Me ...

at 10 East Park Street (1894) in memory of his parents. * Edwin R. Reynolds, (1816-1908), former US Congressman. * Benjamin Titus Roberts, (1823-1893), founder of the

Free Methodist Church of North America The Free Methodist Church (FMC) is a Methodist Christian denomination within the holiness movement, based in the United States. It is evangelical in nature and is Wesleyan–Arminian in theology. The Free Methodist Church has members in over 1 ...

, minister at Albion during the mid-1850s. *

John G. Sawyer John Gilbert Sawyer (June 5, 1825 – September 5, 1898) was a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from New York (state), New York. Background Born in Brandon, Vermont on June 5, 1825, Sawyer was the eldest of seven ...

, (1825-1898), last US Congressman elected from Orleans County. * Loren Stiles, (1826-1863), founder of the first Congregational Free Methodist Church in 1859.

References

External links

The Village of Albion website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Albion (Village), New York Villages in New York (state) County seats in New York (state) Rochester metropolitan area, New York Populated places established in 1812 Villages in Orleans County, New York 1812 establishments in New York (state)