File:AlbertLeaMNdowntown_(cropped3).JPG · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- State
- Minnesota
- County
- Freeborn
- Mayor
- Rich Murray
- City manager
- Ian Rigg
- Police chief
- Darren Hanson
- Fire chief
- Jeff Laskowske
- City
- 15.14 sq mi (39.21 km )
- Land
- 13.29 sq mi (34.42 km )
- Water
- 1.85 sq mi (4.79 km ) 12.69%
- Elevation
- 1,250 ft (380 m)
- Estimate 2023
- 18,269
- Density
- 1,391.5/sq mi (537.27/km )
- Urban
- 17,992
- Metro
- 30,718 (US: 428th )
- Demonym
- Albert Leans
- Time zone
- UTC-6 ( CST )
- Summer dst
- UTC-5 (CDT)
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Official name
- Albert Lea
- Population
- 18492
- Area
- 37.361108
- Elevation
- 379
- Official website
- www.cityofalbertlea.org
- Image
- AlbertLeaMNdowntown.JPG
- Households
- 7816
- Dialing code
- 507
Show 6 more facts
- Commons category
- Albert Lea, Minnesota
- postal code
- 56007
- inception
- 1855-00-00
- P8168
- Papyrus 19
- water as percent of area
- 12.7064
- per capita income
- 27857
Sources (9)
via Wikidata · CC0
~11 min read
Article
Albert Lea (/ˌælbərt ˈliː/ AL-bərt LEE) is a city in Freeborn County, in southern Minnesota. It is the county seat. Its population was 18,492 at the 2020 census. The city is at the junction of Interstates 35 and 90, about 90 miles (140 km) 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. As in many U.S. cities, Albert Lea's manufacturing base has substantially diminished. A major employer was the Wilson & Company meatpacking plant, later known as Farmstead and Farmland. This facility was destroyed by fire in July 2001.