Albert Lea, Minnesota

''For the musician, see Albert Lee

Albert Lea is a city in and the county seat of Freeborn County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census.

The city is at the junction of Interstates 35 and 90, about 90 mi 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 and Albert Lea Lake are part of the Shell Rock River flowage.

The city's early growth was based upon agriculture, farming support services and manufacturing and was a significant rail center. At one time it was the site of Cargill's headquarters. Other manufacturing included Edwards Manufacturing (barn equipment), 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 Mayo Clinic Health System with over 1,500 employees.

History
The city is named after Albert Miller Lea, a topographer with the United States Dragoons, who surveyed southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in 1835, including the current site 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. 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 (on December 11) declaring martial law. A Federal district court in Minneapolis ruled against the Governor on December 23, and the plant turned back to Wilson & Co. just days later.

Government
The city hall is located at 221 East Clark St, Albert Lea, MN 56007. Albert Lea is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, represented by Mankato educator Tim Walz, a Democrat (DFL). The Minnesota State Senate District is 27, represented by State Senator Dan Sparks, a member of the DFL. It is in Minnesota's House District 27A, represented in the Minnesota House of Representatives by Rich Murray, a member of the GOP.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.6 square miles (32.5 km²), of which, 10.8 square miles (27.9 km²) of it is land and 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 14.17% water. Myre-Big Island State Park is nearby. There are 3 main lakes in Albert Lea,Fountain Lake, Pickeral Lake and Albert Lea Lake.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,356 people, 7,785 households, and 4,826 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,702.5 people per square mile (657.4/km²). There were 8,133 housing units at an average density of 754.3 per square mile (291.3/km²). 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.

Education

 * School District 241
 * Alternative Learning Center
 * Elementary schools
 * Halverson Elementary
 * Hawthorne Elementary
 * Lakeview Elementary
 * Sibley Elementary
 * St. Theodore's Catholic School
 * Middle schools
 * Southwest Middle School
 * High school
 * Albert Lea High School
 * Higher education
 * Riverland Community College
 * Lea College, operated 1966-1973
 * Community education
 * Albert Lea Community Ed

Notable natives

 * Alexander Grinager, an artist most noted for his murals, was born in Albert Lea.
 * College basketball star Ben Woodside of the North Dakota State Bison was born and raised in Albert Lea.
 * Comedian, commentator, and Senator Al Franken briefly lived in Albert Lea where he attended Hawthorne Elementary. He moved when his father's business failed.
 * Rockabilly musician Eddie Cochran (composer of "Summertime Blues" and "Twenty Flight Rock")
 * Conceptual artist Mary Kelly
 * Actress Marion Ross (Happy Days)
 * Professional Wrestler Perry Saturn
 * Former Washington Redskins General Manager Vinny Cerrato
 * Writer, editor and publisher Joan Claire Graham
 * Former radio voice of the Houston Rockets, Gene Peterson
 * Tom Brown (Canadian football), Minnesota Golden Gophers and BC Lions football star; 1960 Outland Trophy winner and Heisman Trophy runner up; College Football Hall of Fame and Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Sports
The Albert Lea Thunder was a junior hockey team who played at Albert Lea Ice Arena and was a member of the North American Hockey League. The team operated for two seasons 2008-2010 and was folded due to financial difficulties. On May 11, 2010, it was reported that the team had found new owners and would relocate to Texas for the 2010-2011 season.[5] Their roster was officially sold to the expansion Amarillo, TX franchise, the Amarillo Bulls, on May 26, 2010. .