Albert Lea

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 on agriculture, farming support services and manufacturing, and it 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. A major employer was the Wilson & Company meatpacking plant, later known as Farmstead and Farmland. This facility was destroyed by fire in July 2001.

• Name — Albert Lea, Minnesota • Settlement Type — City • Blank Emblem Type — Logo • Blank Emblem Size — 120 • Motto — Land Between the Lakes • Mapsize — 250px within Freeborn County in the state of Minnesota • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Minnesota • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Freeborn • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Rich Murray • Leader Title1 — City Manager • Leader Name1 — Ian Rigg • Leader Title2 — Police Chief • Leader Name2 — Darren Hanson • Leader Title3 — Fire Chief • Leader Name3 — Jeff Laskowske • Established Title — Founded • Established Date — 1855 • Established Title2 — Incorporated (village) • Established Date2 — 1859 • Established Title3 — Incorporated (city) • Established Date3 — 1878 • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Km2 — 39.21 • Area Land Km2 — 34.42 • Area Water Km2 — 4.79 • Area Total Sq Mi — 15.14 • Area Land Sq Mi — 13.29 • Area Water Sq Mi — 1.85 • Area Water Percent — 12.69 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Est — 18269 • Pop Est As Of — 2023 • Population Total — 18492 • Population Density Km2 — 537.27 • Population Density Sq Mi — 1391.53 • Population Urban — 17992 • Population Metro — 30718 (US: 428th) • Population Demonym — Albert Leans • Timezone — CST • Utc Offset — -6 • Timezone Dst — CDT • Utc Offset Dst — -5 • Elevation M — 380 • Elevation Ft — 1247 • Postal Code Type — ZIP Code • Postal Code — 56007 • Area Code — 507 • Blank Name — FIPS code • Blank Info — 27-00694 • Blank1 Name — GNIS feature ID • Blank1 Info — 2393902

• Illustration — Albert Lea, c. 1862 The city is named after Albert Lea Lake, which was named after Albert Miller Lea, a topographer from Tennessee 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 Dragoon unit. Lea later served the Southern rebellion as an engineering officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 14.42 sqmi, of which 12.59 sqmi is land and 1.83 sqmi is water. Myre-Big Island State Park is nearby. There are three main lakes in Albert Lea: Fountain Lake, Pickerel Lake and Albert Lea Lake.

Albert Lea has a humid continental climate of the hot-summer subtype (Köppen Dfa). Albert Lea varies from cold winters to hot summers, with significant contrasts between seasons. Its climate type is typical for inland northern United States locations, but due to its southern position in the state, its summers and winters have higher temperatures than other, more northerly regions of the state. An exception to this rule is the urban core of Minneapolis - St. Paul, which sees higher temperatures typical of an urban heat island, but Albert Lea is significantly warmer than locations such as Duluth.

As of the 2020 census, Albert Lea had a population of 18,492. The median age was 42.3 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.4 males age 18 and over. 97.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.0% lived in rural areas. There were 7,951 households in Albert Lea, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.3% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 8,574 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%. Racial composition as of the 2020 census • Race — Number — Percent • White — 14,504 — 78.4% • Black or African American — 430 — 2.3% • American Indian and Alaska Native — 111 — 0.6% • Asian — 987 — 5.3% • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander — 3 — 0.0% • Some other race — 1,086 — 5.9% • Two or more races — 1,371 — 7.4% • Hispanic or Latino (of any race) — 2,719 — 14.7%

As of the census of 2010, there were 18,016 people, 7,774 households, and 4,644 families living in the city. The population density was 1431.0 PD/sqmi. There were 8,410 housing units at an average density of 668.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 90.0% White, 1.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.2% of the population. There were 7,774 households, of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age in the city was 44 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 22.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,356 people, 7,785 households, and 4,826 families living in the city. The population density was 1,702.5 PD/sqmi. There were 8,133 housing units at an average density of 754.3 /sqmi. 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.

The Marion Ross Performing Arts Center is a historic building in downtown Albert Lea. The 255-seat theater is used for the arts, business meetings, and seminars. The Freeborn County Fair takes place annually in Albert Lea, and includes live entertainment, an antique tractor show, a draft horse show, a small and baby animal show, a midway featuring rides, concessions, and other attractions, and a Sunday church service. A number of well-known and popular Country and Western bands have appeared at the Fair, including Kelly Pickler, Jason Aldean, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Statler Brothers, among many others. The Albert Lea Art Center hosts public events.

• Illustration — Bancroft Bay Park during a cross country meet Albert Lea maintains multiple park sites. The Blazing Star State Trail is an eight-mile bike path from Frank Hall Park through Myre-Big Island State Park to Hayward, Minnesota. The trail runs through wetlands, oak savanna, big woods, and prairie environments. When complete, it will run to Austin, Minnesota and connect to the Shooting Star State Trail. Bancroft Bay Park encompasses wooded trails, views of Fountain Lake, and a disc golf course. The city bought the land from a mink farm in 1972, and the park opened in 1976. Albert Lea's Blue Zones Walkway was established after Dan Buettner launched a pilot project to make Albert Lea a blue zone in 2009. The walkway passes Brookside Park, City Beach, City Hall, Lakeview Park, and Pioneer Park.

The Albert Lea Thunder was a junior hockey team that played at Albert Lea Ice Arena and was a member of the North American Hockey League. The team operated for two seasons in 2008–10 and 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 2010–11 season. Its roster was sold to the expansion Amarillo, Texas, franchise the Amarillo Bulls on May 26, 2010.

Albert Lea's city hall is at 221 East Clark St. Albert Lea is in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, represented by Brad Finstad, a Republican from New Ulm. It is in Minnesota State Senate District 23, represented by State Senator Gene Dornink, a Republican from Brownsdale, and in Minnesota's House District 23A, represented by Peggy Bennett, a Republican. Precinct General Election Results • Year — Republican — Democratic — Third parties • 2020 — 51.4% 4,742 — 46.5% 4,296 — 2.1% 192 • 2016 — 49.8% 4,316 — 42.2% 3,657 — 8.0% 692 • 2012 — 39.0% 3,523 — 58.8% 5,303 — 2.2% 202 • 2008 — 37.9% 3,522 — 59.8% 5,562 — 2.3% 211 • 2004 — 40.9% 2,801 — 57.8% 5,377 — 1.4% 126 • 2000 — 39.3% 3,381 — 55.2% 4,749 — 5.5% 479 • 1996 — 30.6% 2,576 — 56.7% 4,772 — 12.7% 1,072 • 1992 — 29.0% 2,727 — 47.5% 4,463 — 23.5% 2,201 • 1988 — 43.7% 3,608 — 56.3% 4,654 — 0.0% 0 • 1984 — 45.1% 4,158 — 54.9% 5,060 — 0.0% 0 • 1980 — 45.3% 4,048 — 49.1% 4,392 — 5.6% 503 • 1976 — 46.9% 4,255 — 51.9% 4,711 — 1.2% 110 • 1972 — 56.2% 4,825 — 42.8% 3,679 — 1.0% 82 • 1968 — 42.5% 3,374 — 54.7% 4,344 — 2.8% 226 • 1964 — 37.0% 2,969 — 62.9% 5,048 — 0.1% 14 • 1960 — 54.2% 4,231 — 45.7% 3,563 — 0.1% 11

• 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

The Albert Lea Tribune, founded in 1897, is a newspaper published Monday through Saturday in Albert Lea. It is owned by Boone Newspapers. Radio stations with Albert Lea as the city of license include: • KATE an AM radio station broadcasting at 1450 kHz. The station airs news/talk programming and is owned by Alpha Media. • KCPI "94.9 The Breeze" an FM radio station broadcasting at 94.9 MHz. The station airs an adult contemporary music programming and is owned by Alpha Media. • KQPR "Power 96" an FM radio station broadcasting at 96.1 MHz. The station airs classic rock music programming and is owned by D&Z Media LLC.

• Illustration — Albert Lea Municipal Airport Local bus service in Albert Lea is provided by SMART. SMART operates one deviated fixed route and paratransit service.

• Clare Hibbs Armstrong, brigadier general during World War II • Alfred Berglund, Minnesota state senator and farmer • Beatrice Gjertsen Bessesen (1886–1935), operatic soprano and namesake of the Bessesen Building • Tom Brown (Canadian football), Minnesota Golden Gophers and BC Lions football star • Richard Carlson, sci-fi and horror, writer, director and actor • Vinny Cerrato, former Washington Redskins general manager • Eddie Cochran, rockabilly musician • Robert Crumb, cartoonist and musician • Richard Fitzgerald, farmer, businessman, and Minnesota state legislator • Al Franken, comedian, commentator and U.S. Senator • Joan Claire Graham, writer, editor and publisher • Alexander Grinager, an artist most noted for his murals, born in Albert Lea • Rudolph Hanson, lawyer and Minnesota state legislator • Steve Heitzeg, composer, born in Albert Lea • Mary Kelly, conceptual artist • Jodi Jill, author, also known for having been raised as a child in a public storage facility • John A. Lovely, Minnesota Supreme Court justice • Paul Overgaard, businessman and Minnesota state legislator • Tim Penny, U.S. Representative (1983–1995), born in Albert Lea • Mark Piepho, businessman and Minnesota state legislator • Marion Ross, actress (Happy Days) • Olive Nelson Russell, composer, organist, and pianist • Perry Saturn, professional wrestler • William B. Sieglaff, double Navy Cross recipient and US Navy Admiral • Warren Stowell, teacher, businessman, and Minnesota state legislator • Ben Woodside, Professional Basketball Player