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A+History
History · Albion

Albion’s post office opened in 1826, and 46% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 96% of U.S. towns · #121 of 758 in New York. What drives it

4 places in town are on the National Register, among them three historic districts with 80 buildings between them. Below: 20 old photos and papers, maps from 1884 on, and the census since 1830.

1826first post office
4on the National Register
46%homes built before 1940
20old photos & papers
6famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Albion’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Albion began

When was Albion founded?

1826

The Albion post office opened in 1826, the earliest record of the town by name. Wikidata gives 1875. Another post office, Riches Corners (1891), opened inside today’s town and later closed.

First census: 669 in 18302020 census: 7,639200 years

How historic is Albion?

A+

More historic than 96% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: the first Albion post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Wikidata: 1875.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Albion’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Albion is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #121 of 758 in New York. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its age lowest.

A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Albion’s overall grade.
Founding era1826, from the first post office: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194046.1% of homes (±6.9) · typical NY town 26.6% · U.S. 8.4%A+National Register4 listings, 82 historic buildings, 114 per 10,000 residents · typical NY town 12.3 · U.S. 2.4A−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 96%
NewerOlder
New York towns of 2,500+ (758)Ahead of 84%

New York towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New York town has 12.3 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Albion’s 114 sits above most of its state (77% of New York towns have fewer) while its 82 historic buildings outnumber those of 88% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.9 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date; Wikidata gives 1875.

Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Albion’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Shrank, then grewLost half of its people between 1880 and 1950, then grew 7-fold.A town in old photos20 old photos, postcards and papers.Mapped building by building7 fire insurance maps, 1884 to 1917, drew every building in Albion.A historic districtThe North Main-Bank Streets Historic District takes in 43 historic buildings.
★ What stands out · People over time

Albion, census by census

02,0004,0006,0008,00018501900195020002,569 in 1880Low: 1,036

Lost half of its people between 1880 and 1950, then grew 7-fold.

20 censuses, 1830–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Albion’s Wikipedia page.

By decade

Albion, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1940s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1940s15 items
Albion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on Nesbitt's farm1942Albion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on N…Albion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on Nesbitt's farm1942Albion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on N…Albion, New York. The Friends of Richwood, West Virginia and their new employers, the Nesbitts1942Albion, New York. The Friends of Richwood, West Virgi…Albion, New York (vicinity). Hazel Friend sweeping out her new home on the Nesbitt farm1942Albion, New York (vicinity). Hazel Friend sweeping ou…Albion, New York (vicinity). The Friends moving into their new home on the Nesbitt farm1942Albion, New York (vicinity). The Friends moving into …Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on Nesbitt's farm1942Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York…Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on Nesbitt's farm1942Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York…Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on Nesbitt's farm1942Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York…Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on Nesbitt's farm1942Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York…Albion, New York (vicinity). The Friends' new home on the Nesbitt farm, where they will live rent free and work1942Albion, New York (vicinity). The Friends' new home on…Albion, New York (vicinity). The Friends' new home had been vacant for many years but they play to rebuild the place an…1942Albion, New York (vicinity). The Friends' new home ha…Albion, New York (vicinity). So urgent was the need for immediate farm labor that even before the Friends had moved in,…1942Albion, New York (vicinity). So urgent was the need f…Albion, New York (vicinity). So urgent was the need for immediate farm labor that even before the Friends had moved in,…1942Albion, New York (vicinity). So urgent was the need f…Albion, New York (vicinity). Charles R. Nesbitt who hired the Friend family to work on his farm at forty cents an hour,…1942Albion, New York (vicinity). Charles R. Nesbitt who h…Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York (vicinity). So urgent was the need for immediate farm labor that …1942Untitled photo, possibly related to: Albion, New York…
1950s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Date unknown5 to date
Lanson HouseDate?Lanson HouseFirst Presbyterian Church, East State StreetDate?First Presbyterian Church, East State StreetD. A. R. House, North Main StreetDate?D. A. R. House, North Main StreetBlott-Bartlett House, 135 West Bank StreetDate?Blott-Bartlett House, 135 West Bank StreetPratt Opera House, 114-120 North Main StreetDate?Pratt Opera House, 114-120 North Main Street
Every building

Albion, building by building, 1884–1917

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Albion fire insurance map, 1884, sheet 21884Sheet 2 of 4
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

The story

How Albion came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Albion.

Read it all →

The Town of Albion was created in 1875 by the division of the Town of Barre. The population in 1890 was 1,304.

Mount Albion Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Albion in 1871

Passages that mention Albion, cut from the printed page as they were published.

The most considerable of these is "MotriirT Albion Cemetery," situate two miles south-east from the village of Albion. This burying place, including about twenty-five acres, was purchased by the village of Albion, in May, 1843, for $1,000. It was then an unbroken forest. The natural advantages of t…
Pioneer history of Orleans County, New York1871 · page 69Read the page →
Read the text

The most considerable of these is "MotriirT Albion Cemetery," situate two miles south-east from the village of Albion. This burying place, including about twenty-five acres, was purchased by the village of Albion, in May, 1843, for $1,000. It was then an unbroken forest. The natural advantages of this Cemetery, for the purpose designed, can scarcely be equal-

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
''The First Presbyterian Society of Albion" was incorporated March 20, 1826, and was the second religious society incorporated in the town of Barre, and the first in the village of Albion. Its first Trustees were Harvey Goodrich, Joseph Hart, Ebenezer Rogers, William Wliite, Hiram Sickels, and Milt…
Pioneer history of Orleans County, New York1871 · page 75Read the page →
Read the text

''The First Presbyterian Society of Albion" was incorporated March 20, 1826, and was the second religious society incorporated in the town of Barre, and the first in the village of Albion. Its first Trustees were Harvey Goodrich, Joseph Hart, Ebenezer Rogers, William Wliite, Hiram Sickels, and Milton W. Hopkins. Their first house of worship, the same now occupied by the Episcopalians, was erected in 1830. —

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Albion, 1826 to 2020

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1826Post officeThe Albion post office opens
  3. 1842Born hereElizabeth Denio is born here
  4. 1843BuiltMt. Albion Cemetery is built
  5. 1891Post officeThe Riches Corners post office opens
  6. 1897On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  7. 20th century
  8. 1902Post officeThe Riches Corners post office closes
  9. 1922Born hereWilliam Fitts Ryan is born here
  10. 1928Born herePeter Sacco is born here
  11. 1942In the archiveAlbion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on Nesbitt's farm
  12. 1947Born hereLeonard Mann is born here
  13. 21st century
  14. 2020CensusPopulation peaks at 7,639
On the map

Albion on the map, 1897 to 1950

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Albion. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Albion on the 1897 USGS mapAlbion on the 1950 USGS map1897Albion sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Albion.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Albion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on Nesbitt's farm
Retake this viewAlbion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting tomatoes on Nesbitt's farm, 1942

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Albion’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

4 listings protect 82 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
4
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
82
each building in a district counts
first listed
1976
Mt. Albion Cemetery
Mt. Albion Cemetery, built 1843Orleans County Courthouse Historic DistrictWilliam V. N. Barlow HouseNorth Main-Bank Streets Historic District
BuildingsDistricts

Architectural styles listings

Italianate3
Greek Revival2
Second Empire2
Queen Anne2
Eastlake2
Gothic Revival1
Mt. Albion CemeteryBuilt 1843
Orleans County Courthouse Historic DistrictGothic Revival
William V. N. Barlow HouseEastlake
North Main-Bank Streets Historic DistrictGreek Revival

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

6 famous people were born in Albion

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Leonard MannItalian actor · b. 1947
William Fitts RyanAmerican politician · b. 1922
Elizabeth DenioFirst faculty to give art history lectures at W… · b. 1842
P
Peter SaccoAmerican composer · b. 1928
D
Daniel H. PinneyAmerican judge · b. 1837
C
Chad WalterNASCAR crew chief · b. 1971
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Albion’s post office has been open since 1826. Another post office, Riches Corners, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Albion
1826–today
Riches Corners
1891–1902
18201920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Eagle Harbor StationRichs CornersWestside Mobile Home Park
Gone or out of use
Orleans County Home and HospitalhospitalOrleans Drive-InlocaleSchool Number 2schoolSchool Number 3schoolSchool Number 8schoolSchool Number 9school
5cemeteries and burying grounds inside Albion
AnnisChristianMount AlbionSaint JosephsTanner

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Albion’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo5 archive items have no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewAlbion, New York (vicinity). Harvesting…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Barre1 historic placeAGaines5 historic placesARidgeway7 historic placesA+

Questions about Albion’s history

What year was Albion founded?

The Albion post office opened in 1826, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1875.

How does Albion rank for history?

Albion is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #121 of 758 in New York. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Albion?

4 listings: 1 building and 3 historic districts, the Mt. Albion Cemetery, the Orleans County Courthouse Historic District and the North Main-Bank Streets Historic District, with 80 contributing buildings. 82 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Albion?

46% of Albion’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.9 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1951.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From the Library of Congress (20), the National Register of Historic Places (4), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.