The Albert Lea Tribune has been publishing a daily newspaper in Freeborn County for more than 100 years. The first issue was published October 15, 1897 in a converted office building at the corner of Broadway and College Streets.

The first issue was four pages and was delivered to all 4,500 residents of the city. The newspaper sold for 12 cents per week, 50 cents per month and six dollars per year.

The new publication lasted only four months before it went out of business. It resumed publishing in August of 1898 with the Rev. R.N. Joscelyn as the editor

.The Tribune had several owners in the early years. August 15, 1910, the Tribune joined forces with a weekly paper, the Times-Enterprise, and was incorporated as the Albert Lea Publishing Company.

Paul Belknap purchased the newspaper company from Simonson and Whitcomb on September 1, 1944. Belknap moved the newspaper’s offices into its present building at the corner of Front Street and First Avenue on January 1, 1961, after 51 years of the Tribune being located in the old Morin Building on Broadway.

Albert Lea, at the time of the first publication of the Tribune in 1897, boasted three flour mills, three bakeries, a cracker factory, a creamery, two cigar factories, a corset factory, four foundries, three woodworking plants, a water works, two steam laundries, two railroad shops, five printing houses, a packing house and the largest wholesale grocery house in the state outside of the Twin Cities.

The diversity of small and medium-sized industry and business remains the hallmark of the Albert Lea and Freeborn County economy. The county has 30 major industries with employment ranging from 20 to 900. The economy is based on agriculture, retail sales, manufacturing and services.

IN OUR HISTORY Much has appeared in the pages of The Albert Lea Tribune:

*Publishing a daily newspaper in Freeborn County for more than 100 years.

*The first issue was four pages and was delivered to all 4,500 residents of the city.

*The new publication lasted only four months before it went out of business. It resumed publishing in August of 1898 with the Rev. R.N. Joscelyn as the editor

*Tribune joined forces with a weekly paper, the Times-Enterprise, and was incorporated as the Albert Lea Publishing Company.

*The diversity of small and medium-sized industry and business remains the hallmark of the Albert Lea and Freeborn County economy