Editing Albany County, New York

{{Short description|County in New York, United States}}
{{Redirect|Albany County|the county in Wyoming|Albany County, Wyoming}}
{{For|its county seat|Albany, New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county             = Albany County
| state              = New York
| type = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
| seal               = AlbanyCountySeal.svg
| seal size          = 90px   
| flag               = Flag of Albany County, New York.jpg
| flag size          = 110px
| founded year       = {{start date and age|1683|11|1}}{{efn|name="Sullivan-founding"}}
| seat wl            = Albany
| largest city wl    = Albany
| area_total_sq_mi   = 533
| area_land_sq_mi    = 523
| area_water_sq_mi   = 10
| area percentage    = 2.0
| census estimate yr = 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Population%20Total&g=0400000US36%240500000&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29|access-date=January 2, 2022|title=US Census 2020 Population Dataset Tables for New York|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| pop                = 314,848 {{gain}}
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_est     =
| density_sq_mi      = 602.13
| time zone          = Eastern
| district           = 20th
| website            = {{URL|https://www.albanycountyny.gov/|albanycountyny.gov}}
| named for          = [[James II of England|Prince James]], [[Duke of York]] and [[Duke of Albany|of Albany]]
| ex image           = AlbanyCapitolFromEast2.JPG
| ex image cap       = [[New York State Capitol]] in [[Albany, New York|Albany]]
| footnotes          =
}}

'''Albany County''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=Albany.ogg|ˈ|ɔː|l|b|ə|n|i}} {{Respell|AWL|bə|nee}}) is a [[county (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[New York (state)|New York]], United States. Its northern border is formed by the [[Mohawk River]], at its confluence with the [[Hudson River]], which is to the east. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 314,848.<ref name="census.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/albanycountynewyork,US/POP010220#POP010220 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Albany County, New York; United States |publisher=Census.gov |date= |access-date=July 20, 2022}}</ref> The county seat and largest city is [[Albany, New York|Albany]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> which is also the [[List of U.S. state capitals|state capital]] of New York. As originally established by the English government in the colonial era, Albany County had an indefinite amount of land, but has had an area of {{convert|530|sqmi}} since March 3, 1888. The county is named for the [[Duke of York]] and [[Duke of Albany|of Albany]], who became [[James II of England]] (James VII of Scotland). The county is part of the [[Capital District (New York)|Capital District]] region of the state.

==History==

===Colonial===
After [[England]] took control of the [[colony]] of [[New Netherland]] from the [[Dutch colonization of the Americas|Dutch]], Albany County was created on November 1, 1683,{{efn|name="Sullivan-founding"}} by [[New York Governor]] [[Thomas Dongan, 2nd Earl of Limerick|Thomas Dongan]], and confirmed on October 1, 1691.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Howell|editor-first=George Rogers|editor2-last=Tenney|editor2-first=Jonathan|title=Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations.|publication-place=New York|publisher=W. W. Munsell & Co.|year=1886|lccn=01014041|oclc=2367801|url={{Google Books|HGkJAQAAIAAJ|plainurl=yes}}|page=12}}</ref> The act creating the county vaguely defined its territory "to containe the Towns of Albany, the [[Manor of Rensselaerswyck|''Collony'' Rensselaerwyck]], [[Schenectady, New York|Schonecteda]], and all the villages, neighborhoods, and Christian ''Plantaçons'' on the east side of Hudson River from Roelef's Creek, and on the west side from Sawyer's Creek ([[Saugerties (village), New York|Saugerties]]) to the Sarraghtoga."<ref name="Howell1886p70">{{cite book|editor-last=Howell|editor-first=George Rogers|editor2-last=Tenney|editor2-first=Jonathan|title=Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations.|publication-place=New York|publisher=W. W. Munsell & Co.|year=1886|lccn=01014041|oclc=2367801|url={{Google Books|HGkJAQAAIAAJ|plainurl=yes}}|page=70}}</ref> The confirmation declared in 1691 was similar but omitted the Town of Albany, substituted "''Mannor'' of Ranselaerswyck" for "''Collony'' Rensselaerwyck", and stated "to the uttermost end of Sarraghtoga" instead of just "to Sarraghtoga". Livingston Manor was annexed to Albany County from Dutchess County in 1717.<ref name="Howell1886p70"/>

Albany's boundaries were defined more closely as state statutes would add land to the county, or more commonly subtract land for the formation of new counties.<ref name="Howell1886p71">{{cite book|editor-last=Howell|editor-first=George Rogers|editor2-last=Tenney|editor2-first=Jonathan|title=Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations.|publication-place=New York|publisher=W. W. Munsell & Co.|year=1886|lccn=01014041|oclc=2367801|url={{Google Books|HGkJAQAAIAAJ|plainurl=yes}}|page=71}}</ref> In 1772 with the creation of [[Tryon County, New York|Tryon]] and [[Charlotte County, Province of New York|Charlotte]] counties, Albany gained definitive boundaries and included what are now Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties; large parts of Greene and Washington counties; and the disputed southwest corner of Vermont.<ref name=Genealogy>{{cite web | title = The Districts of Albany County, New York, 1772–1784 | publisher = The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society | author = David Kendall Martin | url = http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=72 | access-date = August 30, 2009 | date =Fall 1990}}</ref>{{efn|name="Sullivan-founding"}}

The city of Albany was the first municipality within this large county,<ref name="Howell1886p71"/> founded as the village (dorp in Dutch) of [[Beverwyck]] by the [[Director-General of New Amsterdam]], [[Pieter Stuyvesant]], who also established the first court in Albany.<ref>{{cite book| title = The Settlement and Early History of Albany | url = https://archive.org/details/settlementandea00barngoog | first = William| last = Barnes | publisher = Gould, Banks, & Gould | year = 1851 | page = [https://archive.org/details/settlementandea00barngoog/page/n23 17]}}</ref> Albany was established as a city in 1686 by Governor Dongan through the [[Dongan Charter]] after the English took over the colony.<ref name="Howell1886p71"/> [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]] to the west was given a patent with some municipal rights in 1684 and became a borough in 1765.<ref name=Genealogy/>

The [[Manor of Rensselaerswyck]] was created as a district within the county in 1772, and later divided into two districts, one on each side of the Hudson River in 1779. The west district included all of what is now Albany County other than lands were in the city of Albany at the time.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Howell|editor-first=George Rogers|editor2-last=Tenney|editor2-first=Jonathan|title=Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations.|publication-place=New York|publisher=W. W. Munsell & Co.|year=1886|lccn=01014041|oclc=2367801|url={{Google Books|HGkJAQAAIAAJ|plainurl=yes}}|page=72}}</ref> Though the Manor of Rensselaerswyck was the only district (along with the city of Albany) in what is today Albany County, it was not the only district in what was Albany County at the time. [[Pittstown, New York|Pittstown]] in 1761, and [[Duanesburgh, New York|Duanesburgh]] in 1764, were created as townships. But when districts were created in 1772, those townships were incorporated into new districts, Pittstown in [[Schaghticoke, New York|Schaghticoke]] and Duanesburgh into the United Districts of Duanesburgh and Schoharie.<ref name=Genealogy/> Schenectady was also made from a borough to a district in 1772.<ref name=Gazetteer>{{cite book | title = Gazetteer of the State of New York | first = John| last = French | page = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_R_zHwh4xByQC/page/n626 598] | url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_R_zHwh4xByQC | year = 1860 | access-date = August 30, 2009 | publisher = R. Pearsall Smith}}</ref> Other districts established in 1772 were [[Hoosick, New York|Hoosick]], [[Coxsackie, New York|Coxsackie]], [[Cambridge, New York|Cambridge]], [[Saratoga, New York|Saratoga]], [[Halfmoon, New York|Halfmoon]], [[Kinderhook, New York|Kinderhook]], [[Canaan, New York|Kings]], [[Claverack, New York|Claverack]], [[Catskill (town), New York|Great Imboght]], and the [[Livingston Manor|Manor of Livingston]].

In a census of 1697, there were 1,452 individuals living in Albany County; two years later it would be counted as 2,016 at the beginning of [[King William's War]]. By the end of the war in 1698, the population had dropped to 1,482, but rebounded quickly and was at 2,273 by 1703. By 1723, it had increased to 6,501 and in 1731 to 8,573, which was slightly less than the population of the city of New York in the same year. In 1737, the inhabitants of Albany County would outnumber those of New York County by 17 people. In 1774, Albany County, with 42,706 people, was the largest county in colonial New York. According to the first Federal Census in 1790, Albany County reached 75,921 inhabitants and was still the state's largest county.<ref>{{cite web | title = Albany County | publisher = New York State Museum | url = http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/albanycounty.html | access-date = August 30, 2009 | archive-date = March 3, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211948/http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/albanycounty.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Formation of towns===
On March 7, 1788, the state of New York divided the entire state into towns eliminating districts as administrative units by passing New York Laws of 1788, Chapters 63 and 64.<ref name=Law>{{cite book | title = Laws of the State of New York | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=GBWxAAAAIAAJ&q=an%20act%20for%20dividing%20the%20counties%20of%20this%20state%20into%20towns&pg=PA748 | page = 748 | publisher = State of New York | year = 1788 | access-date = August 31, 2009 | author1 = (state), New York}}</ref>

===Timeline of boundary changes===
[[File:Albany County 1777.png|thumb|left|300px|Albany County in 1777 in green]]
Albany County was one of the original twelve counties created by the [[Province of New York]] on November 1, 1683.<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch 4/1:122)</ref> At the time, it included all of New York state north of [[Dutchess County, New York|Dutchess]] and [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster]] counties, all of what is now [[Bennington County, Vermont|Bennington County]] in [[Vermont]].<ref name="NYATLAS">Thorne, Kathryn Ford, Compiler & Long, John H., Editor: ''New York Atlas of Historical County Boundaries''; The Newberry Library; 1993.</ref>

On May 27, 1717, Albany County was adjusted to gain an indefinite amount of land from Dutchess County and other non-county lands.<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch 333/1:915).</ref>

On October 7, 1763, [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]], as part of his [[Proclamation of 1763]], created the new [[Province of Quebec (1763–91)|province of Quebec]], implicitly setting the northern limit of New York at the parallel of [[45th parallel north|45 degrees north latitude]] from the Atlantic-St. Lawrence watershed westward to the [[St. Lawrence River]], implicitly setting the northern limit of Albany County, but it was never mapped.<ref>(Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 1, 77, 90; Shortt and Doughty, 119—120).</ref>

On July 20, 1764, King George III established the boundary between [[New Hampshire]] and New York along the west bank of the [[Connecticut River]], north of [[Massachusetts]] and south of the parallel of [[45th parallel north|45 degrees north latitude]]. Albany County implicitly gained present-day [[Vermont]]. Although disputes occasionally broke out later, this line became the boundary between New Hampshire and Vermont, and has remained unchanged to the present. When New York refused to recognize land titles through the [[New Hampshire Grants]] (towns created earlier by New Hampshire in present Vermont), dissatisfied colonists organized in opposition, which led to the creation of [[Vermont Republic|independent Vermont]] in 1777.<ref>(Slade, 13—19; Van Zandt, 63).</ref>

On July 3, 1766, [[Cumberland County, New York|Cumberland County]] was partitioned from Albany County to cover all territory to the northern and eastern limits of the colony, including [[Windsor County, Vermont|Windsor County]], most of [[Windham County, Vermont|Windham County]], and parts of [[Bennington County, Vermont|Bennington]] and [[Rutland County, Vermont|Rutland]] counties in present-day [[Vermont]].<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch. 1297/4:904).</ref>

On June 26, 1767, Albany County regained all of Cumberland County.<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch. 1297/4:903).</ref>

On March 19, 1768, Albany County was re-partitioned, and Cumberland County restored.<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch. 1559/5:400).</ref>

On March 16, 1770, Albany County was again partitioned. [[Gloucester County, New York|Gloucester County]] was created to include all of [[Orange County, Vermont|Orange]], [[Caledonia County, Vermont|Caledonia]] and [[Essex County, Vermont|Essex]] counties, most of [[Washington County, Vermont|Washington County]], and parts of [[Orleans County, Vermont|Orleans]], [[Lamoille County, Vermont|Lamoille]], [[Addison County, Vermont|Addison]] and [[Chittenden County, Vermont|Chittenden]] counties in present-day Vermont.<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch. 1559/5:401).</ref>

On March 12, 1772, Albany County was partitioned again, this time into the counties of Albany, [[Tryon County, New York|Tryon]] (now [[Montgomery County, New York|Montgomery]]), and [[Charlotte County, Province of New York|Charlotte]] (now [[Washington County, New York|Washington]]). This established a definite area for Albany County of {{convert|5,470|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch. 1534/5:321).</ref>

On March 24, 1772, Albany County was partitioned again, with an additional {{convert|50|sqmi}} handed over to Cumberland County.<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch. 1559/5:402).</ref>

On March 9, 1774, Albany County was partitioned again, this time passing {{convert|1090|sqmi}} to [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster County]].<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch. 1665/5:662).</ref>

On April 1, 1775, Albany was again partitioned, this time giving up {{convert|60|sqmi}} to Charlotte County, who then exchanged this land with a like parcel in Cumberland County.<ref>(N.Y. Col. Laws, ch. 1719/5:779).</ref>

On January 15, 1777, Albany County was again partitioned, this time on account of the independence of [[Vermont]] from New York, reducing Albany County by an additional {{convert|300|sqmi}}.<ref>(Slade, 70–73; Van Zandt, 64; C. Williamson, 82–84, map facing 95, 100–102, 112–113).</ref>

On June 26, 1781, Bennington County, Vermont, attempted to annex a portion of Albany County that today includes portions of [[Washington County, New York|Washington]] and [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer]] counties to form what they called "The West Union".<ref>(Vt. State papers, 13:45–46).</ref> The fledgling United States – under the [[Articles of Confederation]] – arbitrated this annexation, and condemned it, resulting in Vermont ceasing the annexation on 1782-02-23.<ref>(Vt. State papers, vol 3, pt. 2; pp. 67–68).</ref>

On April 4, 1786, [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia County]] was created from {{convert|650|sqmi}} of Albany County land.<ref>(N.Y. Laws 1786, 9th sess., ch. 28/p. 49).</ref>

On March 7, 1788, New York, refusing to recognize the independence of [[Vermont]], and the attendant elimination of Cumberland County, attempted to adjust the line that separated Cumberland from Albany County in present-day Vermont, but to no effect.<ref>(N.Y. Laws 1788, 11th sess., ch. 63/pp. 746–747).</ref>

On February 7, 1791, Albany County was partitioned again, this time to form [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer]] and [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga]] counties. Rensselaer received {{convert|660|sqmi}}, while Saratoga received {{convert|850|sqmi}}. Also the town of [[Cambridge (town), New York|Cambridge]] was transferred to [[Washington County, New York|Washington County]]. A total of {{convert|1680|sqmi}} changed hands.<ref>(N.Y. Laws 1791, 14th sess., ch. 4/p. 201).</ref>

On June 1, 1795, Albany County was once again partitioned, this time losing {{convert|460|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} to [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie County]].<ref>(N.Y. Laws 1795, 18th sess., ch. 42/p. 588).</ref>

On April 5, 1798, another partition took place, with {{convert|90|sqmi}} passing to [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster County]].<ref>(N.Y. Laws 1798,21st sess., ch. 93/p. 273).</ref>

On March 25, 1800, once again Albany County was partitioned, with {{convert|360|sqmi}} being used to create [[Greene County, New York|Greene County]].<ref>(N.Y. Laws 1800, 23rd sess., ch. 59/p. 503).</ref>

On April 3, 1801, all New York counties were redefined, with Albany County gaining {{convert|10|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>(N.Y. Laws 1801,24th sess., ch. 123/p. 290).</ref>

On March 7, 1809, [[Schenectady County, New York|Schenectady County]] was created from {{convert|230|sqmi}} of Albany County land,<ref>(N.Y. Laws 1808, 32nd sess., ch. 65, sec. 1/p. 458).</ref> reducing Albany County to its current size.<ref name="NYATLAS"/>

On March 3, 1888, Albany County ceded [[Peebles Island State Park|Havre Island]] to [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga County]].<ref>(N.Y. Laws 1888, 111th sess., ch. 42/p. 85).</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:ThacherParkPano.jpg|thumb|240px|View of the towns of [[Guilderland, New York|Guilderland]] and [[New Scotland, New York|New Scotland]] and the city of [[Albany, New York|Albany]] from [[Thacher Park]]]]

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|533|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|523|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|10|sqmi}} (2.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_36.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519062322/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_36.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 19, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 3, 2015 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref>

Albany County is in the east central part of New York, extending southward and westward from the point where the [[Mohawk River]] joins the [[Hudson River]]. Its eastern boundary is the Hudson; a portion of its northern boundary is the Mohawk.

The terrain of the county ranges from flat near the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers to high and hilly to the southwest, of the [[Helderberg Escarpment]] and the [[Helderberg Mountains]]. The highest point is one of several summits near Henry Hill at approximately {{convert|2,160|ft|m}} above sea level; The lowest point is {{convert|62|ft|m|0}} above sea level at the Hudson River's southernmost extent in the county.

===Climate===
{{climate chart|[[Albany, New York|Albany]]
|13.3|31.1|2.71
|15.7|34.3|2.27
|25.4|44.5|3.17
|35.9|57.3|3.25
|46.5|69.8|3.67
|55|77.5|3.75
|60|82.2|3.5
|58.3|79.7|3.68
|49.9|71.3|3.31
|38.8|59.7|3.23
|30.8|47.5|3.31
|20.1|36|2.76
|float=right
|clear=both
|units=imperial
|source = ustravelweather.com<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-new-york/albany-weather.asp |title=Monthly Averages for Albany, NY |access-date=September 26, 2008 |year=2008 |publisher=Ustravelweather.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611112348/http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-new-york/albany-weather.asp |archive-date=June 11, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|access-date=September 1, 2008
}}
The Capital District has a [[humid continental]] [[climate]], with cold, snowy winters, and hot, wet summers. Albany receives around {{convert|36.2|in|mm}} of rain per year, with 135 days of at least {{convert|0.01|in|mm}} of [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]]. Snowfall is significant, totaling about {{convert|63|in|mm}} annually,<ref name=climatezone>{{cite web | title = Climate information for Albany, New York | publisher = climate-zone.com | access-date = June 6, 2009 | url = http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/united-states/new-york/albany/| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090511025254/http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/united-states/new-york/albany/| archive-date= May 11, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> but with less accumulation than the [[Lake-effect snow|lake-effect]] areas to the north and west, being far enough from [[Lake Ontario]]. Albany County is however, close enough to the coast to receive heavy snow from [[Nor'easter]]s, and the region gets the bulk of its yearly snowfall from these types of storms. The county also occasionally receives [[Alberta clipper]]s. Winters are often very cold with fluctuating conditions, temperatures often drop to below {{convert|0|°F|°C|abbr=on}} at night. Summers in the Albany can contain stretches of excessive heat and humidity, with temperatures above&nbsp;{{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and dew points near 70. Severe [[thunderstorms]] are common but [[tornadoes]] are rare. Albany receives on average per year 69 sunny days, 111 partly cloudy days, and 185 cloudy days;<ref>{{cite web|title=Cloudiness |url=http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/cldy.html |publisher=University of Utah, Department of Atmospheric Sciences |access-date=June 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326080816/http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/cldy.html |archive-date=March 26, 2009 }}</ref> and an average, over the course of a year, of less than four hours of sunshine per day, with just over an average of 2.5 hours per day over the course of the winter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sunshine Hours Page |access-date=June 6, 2009 |url=http://www.thewellers.com/weller43/sunshine.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515033306/http://www.thewellers.com/weller43/sunshine.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The chance during daylight hours of sunshine is 53%, with the highest percentage of sunny daylight hours being in July with 64%, and the lowest month is November with 37%.<ref name=climatezone/>

===Adjacent counties===
Albany County is bordered by six counties. Listed [[clockwise]], they are:
* [[Schenectady County, New York|Schenectady County]] – northwest
* [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga County]] – north
* [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer County]] – east
* [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia County]] – southeast
* [[Greene County, New York|Greene County]] – south
* [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie County]] – west

==Cityscape==
[[File:AlbanyCountyGovBldg.jpg|thumb|Albany County office building on State Street in Albany]]

===Architecture===
Albany County has myriad different architectural styles spanning centuries of development.<ref>{{cite web | title = Architecture | url= http://www.docstoc.com/docs/4936290/ARCHITECTURE-Architecture-ALBANY-COUNTY-If-architecture-is-your-passion | access-date = August 26, 2009}}</ref> Within the city of Albany alone there is Dutch Colonial (the [[Quackenbush House]]), French Renaissance (the [[New York State Capitol]]), Federal style (the original Albany Academy in Academy Park), Romanesque Revival ([[Albany City Hall]]), Art deco (the Alfred E. Smith Building), and Modern (Empire State Plaza). The cities of Albany, Cohoes, and Watervliet and the village of Green Island are more urban in architecture; while the towns of Colonie, Guilderland, New Scotland, and Bethlehem more suburban and the remaining Hilltowns (Berne, Knox, Westerlo, and Rensselaerville) very rural.

===Parks===
[[File:Robert Burns Statue in Albany, New York.jpg|thumb|A bronze statue of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns sculpted by Charles Calverley in 1888. This structure is located in the Washington Park neighborhood of Albany, New York.]]
Albany County is home to the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center, which opened in July 2001 and is near the shore of Thompson's Lake between the two state parks that are in Albany County- [[Thompson's Lake State Park]] and [[John Boyd Thacher State Park]]. There are also state-owned nature preserves with interactive educational programs such as the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and the [[Albany Pine Bush]]. The cities, towns, and villages of Albany County have many municipal parks, playgrounds, and protected green areas. [[Washington Park (Albany, New York)|Washington Park]] in the city of Albany and The Crossing in the town of Colonie are two of the largest. There are many small hiking and biking trails and longer distance bike-hike trails such the [[Mohawk Hudson Hike/Bike Trail|Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail]] which goes from the city of Albany north to Cohoes and then west along the Mohawk River to Schenectady County.

===Festivals===
One of the largest events in Albany County is the [[Tulip Festival (Albany, New York)|Tulip Fest]] held in the city of Albany every spring at [[Washington Park Historic District (Albany, New York)|Washington Park]]. The tradition stems from when [[List of mayors of Albany, New York|Mayor]] [[Erastus Corning 2nd]] had a city ordinance passed declaring the [[tulip]] as Albany's official flower on July 1, 1948.<ref>{{cite web | title = Albany Tulip Queen | publisher = Albany Tulip Queen.com | access-date = June 7, 2009 | url = http://www.albanytulipqueen.com/| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090519054142/http://www.albanytulipqueen.com/| archive-date= May 19, 2009 | url-status= usurped}}</ref> The [[African-American]] tradition of [[Pinkster]]fest, whose origins are traced back even further to Dutch festivities, was later incorporated into the Tulip Fest. The Albany LatinFest has been held since 1996 and drew 10,000 to Washington Park in 2008.<ref>{{cite web | title = About Albany Latin Fest | url = http://www.albanylatinfest.com/about.html | publisher = Albany Latin Festival | access-date = June 8, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090616140515/http://www.albanylatinfest.com/about.html | archive-date = June 16, 2009 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> PolishFest is a three-day celebration of Polish culture in the Capital District, held in the town of Colonie for the past eight years.<ref>{{cite web | title = PolishFest'09 | url = http://www.polishfest-ny.org/}}</ref>

===Amusement===
[[File:Albany Night 1.JPG|thumb|[[Albany, New York|Albany]], the county's seat and largest city]]

Albany County has two shopping malls classified as [[super-regional mall]]s (malls with over 800,000 sq ft),<ref name="ISCS_definitions-2004">[http://www.icsc.org/srch/lib/USDefinitions.pdf International Council of Shopping Centers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325045320/http://www.icsc.org/srch/lib/USDefinitions.pdf |date=March 25, 2009 }} Shopping Center Definitions for the U.S. Information accurate as of 2004. Retrieved February 20, 2007.</ref> [[Crossgates Mall]] in [[Guilderland, New York|Guilderland]] and [[Colonie Center]] in Colonie with over one million square feet of rentable space in each. Huck Finn's Playland is a children's amusement park open during the summer, which started operations in the Summer of 2015—after purchasing the rides from the former Hoffman's Playland in [[Newtonville, New York|Newtonville]], which was in operation from 1951 to the Fall of 2014. During the winter there are over {{convert|18|mi|km}} of official trails for snowshoeing at the [[Albany Pine Bush]] Preserve, in the city of Albany and towns of Colonie and Guilderland.<ref>{{cite web | title = Enjoy the Albany/Capital District on snowshoes | url = http://www.albany.com/winter/snowshoeing.cfm | publisher = Albany.com | access-date = June 9, 2009}}</ref>

===Museums===
Albany County has many historical sites and museums covering a wide range of topics and time periods. The [[Albany Institute of History and Art]] founded in 1791 is one of the oldest museums in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.albanyinstitute.org/HTML/history.htm |title=The History of the Albany Institute of History from the 1700s to the Present |publisher=Albanyinstitute.org |date=June 1, 1999 |access-date=April 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229200707/http://www.albanyinstitute.org/HTML/history.htm |archive-date=February 29, 2012 }}</ref> and the [[New York State Museum]] is the oldest and largest state museum in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/membership/ |title=Support the New York State Museum |publisher=New York State Museum |access-date=May 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603205328/http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/membership/ |archive-date=June 3, 2009 }}</ref> Many of the museums are historical sites themselves, such as Cherry Hill, the [[Ten Broeck Mansion]], and the [[Schuyler Mansion]] in the city of Albany and the Pruyn House in Colonie. The [[Quackenbush House]] is the second oldest house in the city of Albany and is part of the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, which includes a [[planetarium]]. The Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center in the city of Albany includes hands-on activities to learn about the unique [[Albany Pine Bush|Pine Bush]] Barrens of the city of Albany and towns of Guilderland and Colonie. Covering the history of pharmacy is the Throop Drug Store Museum at the [[Albany College of Pharmacy]]. The USS Slater, DE-766 is a World War II Destroyer Escort, the last floating Destroyer Escort, owned by the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum is moored from Spring to Fall at the foot of Quay Street in the Hudson River. The ship is open for tours each week and contains an excellent and well-maintained collection of World War II US Naval artifacts.

There are several art museums in Albany County; including the [[Albany Center Gallery]], in downtown Albany, which exhibits works by local artists within a {{convert|100|mi|km|adj=on}} radius of that city;<ref>{{cite web | title = About Us | publisher = Albany Center Gallery | access-date = November 25, 2009 | url = http://www.albanycentergallery.org/about/}}</ref> the [[University at Albany, SUNY#University Art Museum at University at Albany|University Art Museum]], at the [[University at Albany, SUNY]]; and the Opalka Gallery, at the [[Sage College of Albany]]. The [[Empire State Plaza]] in Albany has one of the most important state collections of modern art in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web | title = Empire State Plaza Art Collection | publisher = New York State Office of General Services | access-date = July 24, 2012 | url = http://ogs.ny.gov/ESP/CT/Art.asp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120822011847/http://ogs.ny.gov/ESP/CT/Art.asp | archive-date = August 22, 2012 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

===Performing arts===
Albany County itself owns the largest venue for performing arts in the county, the [[Times Union Center]], which was originally built as the Knickerbocker Arena; it opened on January 30, 1990, with a performance by [[Frank Sinatra]].<ref>"Times Union enters a new arena". Carol DeMare. ''[[Times Union (Albany)|Times Union]]''. May 5, 2006</ref> In 1996, [[The Grateful Dead]] released a concert album from their March 1990 performances titled ''[[Dozin' at the Knick]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dead101.com/1045.htm |title=Dozin' at the Knick |publisher=Dead101.com |access-date=April 29, 2012}}</ref>

===Sports===
Many athletes and coaches in major sports have begun their careers in Albany County. [[Phil Jackson]], former [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] head coach of the [[Chicago Bulls]] and [[Los Angeles Lakers]] won his first championship ring as a coach when he guided the [[Albany Patroons]] to the 1984 CBA championship. Three years later, the Patroons completed a 50–6 regular season, including winning all 28 of their home games; at that time, [[Sacramento Kings]] head coach [[George Karl]] was the Patroons' head coach. Future NBA stars [[Mario Elie]] and [[Vincent Askew]] were part of that season's squad. [[Mike Tyson]] received his early training in the Capital District and his first professional fight was in Albany in 1985 and Tyson's first televised fight was in Troy in 1986. He fought professionally four times in Albany and twice each in Troy and Glens Falls between 1985 and 1986.

Since 1988, the [[Siena College]] men's basketball team (the [[Siena Saints men's basketball|Siena Saints]]) have appeared in six [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA Tournaments]] ([[1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|1989]], [[1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|1999]], [[2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2002]], [[2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2008]], [[2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2009]], and [[2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2010]]).

===Religious life===
Albany County was originally settled primarily by Protestants from northern Europe: the Netherlands, British Isles, and Germany. In the 19th century it was a destination for many Catholic immigrants, first from Ireland – fleeing the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Great Famine]], and later from southern Germany, central and southern Europe. Late 19th and early 20th century immigrants included Jews from eastern Europe. In addition to other Jewish congregations, the county has one of the few [[Karaite Jewish]] communities outside Israel.<ref>[http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/213816/the-jews-youve-never-heard-of/ Telushkin, S. (2016). The Jews You've Never Heard Of. ''Tablet''.]</ref> This community is active and has its own synagogue.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.orahsaddiqim.org/ |title=Orah Saddiqim website |access-date=May 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414060746/http://www.orahsaddiqim.org/ |archive-date=April 14, 2009 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The Albany Metro Area has consistently been found to be among the highest ranking [[Postchristianity|postchristian]] cities in the US.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Most Post-Christian Cities in America: 2019 |publisher=The Barna Group |url=https://www.barna.com/research/post-christian-cities-2019/ |access-date=November 18, 2021 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 75980
|1800= 34043
|1810= 34661
|1820= 38116
|1830= 53520
|1840= 68593
|1850= 93279
|1860= 113917
|1870= 133052
|1880= 154890
|1890= 164555
|1900= 165571
|1910= 173666
|1920= 186106
|1930= 211953
|1940= 221315
|1950= 239386
|1960= 272926
|1970= 286742
|1980= 285909
|1990= 292594
|2000= 294565
|2010= 304204
|2020= 314848
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="census.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/albanycountynewyork,US/POP010220#POP010220 |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Albany County, New York; United States |publisher=Census.gov |date= |access-date=July 20, 2022}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 3, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ny190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 3, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 3, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2019<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36001.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629023017/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36001.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref>
}}

As of the 2020 US Census, there were 314,848 people in 126,540 households residing in the county.<ref name="census.gov"/> The population density was {{convert|563|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 134,072 housing units at an average density of {{convert|248|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 78.2% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 12.7% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 4.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.0% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.5% from two or more races. 4.9% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 19.2% were of Irish, 16.0% Italian, 11.0% German, 6.1% English and 5.1% Polish ancestry according to [[Census 2000]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=U.S. Census website |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=April 29, 2012 }}</ref>  90.4% spoke English, 2.7% Spanish and 1.0% Italian as their first language.

There were 124,682 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 22.6% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,935, and the median income for a family was $56,724. Males had a median income of $39,838 versus $30,127 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $23,345. About 7.2% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

=== 2020 Census ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Albany County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Albany County, New York|url= https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Albany%20County,%20New%20York&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|210,895
|67%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|40,667
|13%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|494
|0.16%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|24,363
|7.7%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|166
|0.05%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|16,668
|5.3%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|21,595
|6.85%
|}

==Economy==

===Tech Valley===
{{main|Tech Valley}}
Since the 2000s, the economy of Albany County and the surrounding Capital District has been redirected toward [[high-tech|high technology]]. [[Tech Valley]] is a marketing name for the eastern part of New York State, encompassing Albany County, the Capital District, and the [[Hudson Valley]].<ref name=Chambercoalition>{{cite web|title=About Tech Valley |publisher=Tech Valley Chamber Coalition |access-date=September 27, 2009 |url=http://techvalley.org/Pages/Live/About%20Tech%20Valley.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103032600/http://www.techvalley.org/Pages/Live/About%20Tech%20Valley.html |archive-date=November 3, 2008 }}</ref> Originated in 1998 to promote the greater Albany area as a high-tech competitor to regions such as [[Silicon Valley]] and [[Boston]], it has since grown to represent the counties in the Capital District and extending to [[IBM]]'s [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County]] plants in the south and the [[Canada–United States border|Canada–US border]] to the north. The area's [[entrepreneurial ecosystem|high technology ecosystem]] is supported by technologically focused [[academia|academic institutions]] including [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]] and the [[State University of New York Polytechnic Institute]].<ref name=MadeInAlbany>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Made-in-Albany-IBM-reveals-breakthrough-chip-6376816.php|title=Made in Albany: IBM reveals breakthrough chip made at SUNY Poly|author=Larry Rulison|newspaper=Albany Times-Union|date=July 10, 2015|access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> Tech Valley encompasses 19 counties straddling both sides of the [[Adirondack Northway]] and the [[New York Thruway]],<ref name=Chambercoalition/> and with heavy [[subsidy|state taxpayer subsidy]], has experienced significant growth in the [[computer hardware]] side of the high-technology industry, with great strides in the [[nanotechnology]] sector, [[digital electronics]] design, and water- and electricity-dependent [[integrated circuit|integrated microchip circuit]] manufacturing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/print-edition/2014/06/27/better-than-advertised-hip-plant-beats.html|title=Better than advertised: Chip plant beats expectations|author=Keshia Clukey|newspaper=Albany Business Review|date=June 27, 2014|access-date=July 20, 2015}}</ref>

==Government and politics==
For most of its history, Albany County has predominantly backed Democratic Party presidential candidates. In only three elections since 1924 has a Republican Party candidate carried the county in a presidential election, the most recent being [[Richard Nixon]] in 1972. The Democratic Party dominance has become more pronounced in recent years, with [[George H. W. Bush]] in 1988 the most recent Republican candidate to win even forty percent of the county's vote.

{{PresHead|place=Albany County, New York|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=October 22, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|54,560|92,589|2,528|New York}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|51,081|99,474|3,547|New York}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|47,808|83,071|8,939|New York}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|45,064|87,556|3,147|New York}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|50,586|93,937|2,743|New York}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|54,872|89,323|3,004|New York}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|47,624|85,644|8,765|New York}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|39,785|85,993|15,213|New York}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|49,452|80,641|25,270|New York}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|59,534|86,564|1,363|New York}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|74,542|75,447|603|New York}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|52,354|74,429|17,581|New York}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|69,592|71,616|1,201|New York}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|81,848|67,297|330|New York}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|52,948|80,724|5,679|New York}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|32,224|114,827|101|New York}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|61,600|91,973|119|New York}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|86,202|65,982|0|New York}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|79,871|72,633|266|New York}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|59,965|75,419|5,350|New York}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|60,543|71,128|289|New York}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|58,912|77,052|210|New York}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|52,962|71,631|2,918|New York}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|46,244|73,194|1,321|New York}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|48,762|62,380|2,295|New York}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|48,253|38,671|5,848|New York}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|48,750|28,376|1,863|New York}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|26,628|18,799|485|New York}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|20,418|17,235|5,362|New York}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|24,763|18,732|782|New York}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|24,964|18,768|746|New York}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|23,495|18,752|505|New York}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|22,263|17,818|753|New York}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|18,398|18,994|1,376|New York}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|19,362|21,037|454|New York}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Democratic|17,698|18,343|1,295|New York}}

Albany County was governed by a board of supervisors until 1968.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ricciardi |first=Gary |date=November 5, 1975 |title=Coyne, Stack Victors in Albany County Race |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/58886743/ |work=[[The Record (Troy)|The Times Record]] |location=Troy, NY |page=7 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The board consisted of the [[town supervisor]]s of each town in the county, as well as county supervisors elected from the wards of each city in the county.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Haskins |first1=Henry R. |last2=Powers |first2=Michael J. |date=1875 |title=Journal of the Albany County Board of Supervisors |journal=Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Albany |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112108078798;view=2up;seq=8 |location=Albany, NY |publisher=The Argus Company |pages=3–4 |via=[[HathiTrust]]}}</ref>  In the later years of its existence, the board used a system of [[weighted voting]] to comply with recently enacted federal and state [[proportional representation]] requirements.<ref>{{cite book |last=New York State Assembly |date=1964 |title=Journal of the Assembly of the State of New York |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ks9JAQAAMAAJ&q=%22weighted+voting%22 |volume=1 |location=Albany, NY |publisher=Williams Press |page=1061}}</ref> On January 1, 1976, Albany County government was changed by a new charter establishing a [[county executive]] elected [[at-large]], in addition to the 39-seat county legislature.<ref>{{Cite news | date = November 25, 1973 | title = 3 more counties adopt charters | periodical = [[The New York Times]] | page = 59 }}</ref> In the first election for county executive, [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee James J. Coyne Jr., who was then serving as county clerk, defeated [[Liberal Party of New York|Liberal]] nominee Theresa Cooke, county treasurer and a critic of the county and city Democratic machine run by [[Daniel P. O'Connell]], and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee [[Almerin C. O'Hara]], former state Commissioner of the Office of General Services.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosenfeld |first=Steven P. |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 5, 1975 |title=Dems grab new county exec posts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/syracuse-herald-journal-exec/159684867/ |work=[[Syracuse Herald-Journal]] |location=Syracuse, New York |page=4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Each of the 39 legislators are elected from [[single-member districts]]. As of 2023, the county legislature has 29 [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 10 [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Legislators {{!}} Albany County, NY |url=https://www.albanycounty.com/government/county-legislature/legislator-list |access-date=May 1, 2023 |website=www.albanycounty.com |language=en}}</ref>

The County Executive is Daniel P. McCoy. Other officials elected countywide include District Attorney Lee Kindlon, Clerk Bruce A. Hidley, Comptroller Susan A. Rizzo, and Sheriff Craig D. Apple. All county officials are Democrats. Other elected officials with districts in the county include:{{div col}}
* State Assembly
** [[Christopher Tague]], Republican, 102nd District
** [[John T. McDonald III|John McDonald]], Democratic, 108th District
** [[Gabriella Romero]], Democratic, 109th District
** [[Phillip Steck]], Democratic, 110th District
** [[Angelo Santabarbara]], Democratic, 111th District
* State Senate
** [[Patricia Fahy]], Democratic, 46th District
** [[Jacob Ashby]], Republican, 43rd District
* United States House of Representatives
** [[Paul Tonko]], Democratic, 20th District
{{div col end}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Albany County Legislature
|-<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.albanycounty.com/legislature/legislators.aspx |title=County Legislators |access-date=January 18, 2017 |archive-date=January 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131191314/http://www.albanycounty.com/legislature/legislators.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
! District
! Legislator
! Party
! Residence
|-
| 1
| Carolyn McLaughlin
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Albany, New York|Albany]]
|-
| 2
| Merton Simpson
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 3
|Wanda Willingham, '''Deputy Chair'''
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 4
| Mark Robinson
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 5
| Susan Pedo
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 6
| Samuel I. Fein
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 7
| Beroro T. Efekoro
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 8
| Lynne Lekakis
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 9
| Andrew Joyce
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 10
| Gary Domalewicz
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 11
| Frank Commisso
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 12
| William M. Clay
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 13
| Raymond Joyce
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Albany
|-
| 14
| Alison McLean-Lane
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Loudonville, New York|Loudonville]]
|-
| 15
| Robert Beston
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Watervliet, New York|Watervliet]]
|-
| 16
| Sean E. Ward
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Green Island, New York|Green Island]]
|-
| 17
| Bill Ricard
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Cohoes, New York|Cohoes]]
|-
| 18
| Gilbert Ethier
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Cohoes
|-
| 19
| Todd Drake
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
|[[Latham, New York|Latham]]
|-
| 20
| David Mayo
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Latham
|-
| 21
| Jennifer A. Whalen
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
| Latham
|-
| 22
| Susan Quine-Laurilliard
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Colonie, New York|Colonie]]
|-
| 23
| Paul Burgdorf
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
| Colonie
|-
| 24
| Ellen Rosano
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Loudonville
|-
| 25
| Ryan Conway
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
| Loudonville
|-
| 26
| Patrice Lockart
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
| Colonie
|-
| 27
|Frank Mauriello, '''Minority Leader'''
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
| Colonie
|-
| 28
| Mark Grimm
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
| [[Guilderland, New York|Guilderland]]
|-
| 29
| Dennis Feeney, '''Majority Leader'''
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Guilderland
|-
| 30
| Dustin M. Reidy
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Westmere, New York|Westmere]]
|-
| 31
| Jeff S. Perlee
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
| [[Knox, New York|Knox]]
|-
| 32
| Mickey Cleary
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Guilderland
|-
| 33
| William Reinhardt
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Slingerlands]]
|-
| 34
| Joanne Cunningham, '''Chair'''
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Delmar, New York|Delmar]]
|-
| 35
| Jeffrey D. Kuhn
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Glenmont, New York|Glenmont]]
|-
| 36
| Matthew J. Miller
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| [[Selkirk, New York|Selkirk]]
|-
| 37
| Zachary Collins
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
| [[Coeymans (CDP), New York|Coeymans]]
|-
| 38
| Victoria Plotsky
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic
| Clarksville
|-
| 39
| Christopher H. Smith
| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican
| [[Berne, New York|Berne]]
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Albany County Executives
! Name
! Party
! Term
|-
| James J. Coyne Jr.
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 1, 1976 – December 31, 1991
|-
| [[Michael J. Hoblock Jr.]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| January 1, 1992 – December 31, 1994
|-
| Michael G. Breslin
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 1, 1995 – December 31, 2011
|-
| Daniel P. McCoy
| {{party shading/Democratic}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 1, 2012 – present

|}
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.albanycounty.com/government/county-legislature/legislator-list |title=County Legislators |website=AlbanyCounty.com |access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref>

== Law enforcement ==
The Albany County Sheriff's Office is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States, having been established in the 1660s.<ref>{{cite web|title=County Sheriff, NY|url=https://www.albanycounty.com/government/departments/county-sheriff|access-date=October 24, 2021|website=Albany County}}</ref> Sheriff Craig Apple was first elected in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Craig Apple|url=https://nysheriffs.org/sheriff/craig-apple/|access-date=October 24, 2021|language=en|work=NY Sheriffs Association}}</ref>

The sheriff is also responsible for the county jail, which was built in 1931,<ref>{{cite web|title=Corrections|url=https://www.albanycounty.com/government/county-sheriff/corrections|access-date=October 24, 2021|website=Albany County, NY}}</ref> and renamed from the Albany County Correctional Facility to the Albany County Corrections and Rehabilitative Services Center in 2019.<ref name="WAMC">{{cite web|date=September 9, 2019|title=County Jail Gets New Name, New Direction|url=https://www.wamc.org/capital-region-news/2019-09-09/county-jail-gets-new-name-new-direction|access-date=November 2, 2021|website=WAMC|language=en|author=Dave Lucas}}</ref> This jail has a contract with [[New York City]] to accept prisoners from their facilities. The New York Times has reported that juveniles sent to Albany were beaten and placed in isolation, which is forbidden in New York City.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ransom |first1=Jan |title=Young Inmates Say They Were Shipped Upstate, Held in Isolation and Beaten |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/nyregion/solitary-confinement-lawsuit-young-inmates.html |access-date=December 29, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 29, 2018}}</ref>

The department investigated a criminal complaint against Governor Andrew Cuomo during the [[Andrew Cuomo sexual harassment allegations]], and filed a misdemeanor criminal complaint on its own authority to bring charges.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mistich|first=Dave|date=August 7, 2021|title=The Albany County Sheriff Is Investigating A Criminal Complaint Against Gov. Cuomo|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/08/07/1025772844/the-albany-county-sheriff-is-investigating-a-criminal-complaint-against-gov-cuom|access-date=October 24, 2021}}</ref>

==Education==
===Tertiary===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Albany College of Pharmacy]]
* [[Albany Law School]]
* [[Albany Medical College]]
* [[Bryant & Stratton College]]
* [[Excelsior College]]
* [[The College of Saint Rose]] (closed in 2024)
* [[Sage College of Albany]]
* [[Sage Graduate School]]
* [[Siena College]]
* [[State University of New York at Albany]]
{{div col end}}

===K-12 education===
Public school districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36001_albany/DC20SD_C36001.pdf|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Albany County, NY|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 25, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36001_albany/DC20SD_C36001_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Albany City School District]]
* [[Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District]]
* [[Bethlehem Central School District]]
* [[Cairo-Durham Central School District]]
* [[Cohoes City School District]]
* [[Duanesburg Central School District]]
* [[Green Island Union Free School District]]
* [[Greenville Central School District]]
* [[Guilderland Central School District]]
* [[Menands Union Free School District]]
* [[Middleburgh Central School District]]
* [[Niskayuna Central School District]]
* [[North Colonie Central School District]]
* [[Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District]]
* [[Rotterdam-Mohonasen Central School District]]
* [[Schalmont Central School District]]
* [[Schoharie Central School District]]
* [[South Colonie Central School District]]
* [[Voorheesville Central School District]]
* [[Watervliet City School District]]
{{div col end}}

==Transportation==
Albany County has long been at the forefront of transportation technology from the days of turnpikes and plank roads to the [[Erie Canal]], from the first passenger railroad in the state to the oldest municipal [[airport]] in the United States. Today, [[Interstates]], [[Amtrak]], and the [[Albany International Airport]] continue to make the Albany County a major crossroads of the [[Northeastern United States]].

The [[Capital District Transportation Committee]] (CDTC) is the [[Metropolitan Planning Organization]] (MPO) for the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Every metropolitan area in the United States with a population of over 50,000 must have a MPO in order to get any federal transportation funding. The [[US Department of Transportation]] (USDOT) uses an MPO to make decisions on what projects are most important to a metro area for immediate versus long term funding. The USDOT will not approve federal funds for transportation projects unless they are on an MPO's list.<ref name=CDTC>{{cite web | title = Capital District Transportation Committee | publisher = Capital District Transportation Committee | access-date = April 23, 2009 | url = http://www.cdtcmpo.org/whatcdtc.htm}}</ref>

===Interstate and other major highways===
Albany County is situated at a major crossroads of the [[Northeastern United States]], first formed by the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. Even before the [[Interstate Highway System]] and the [[U.S. Highway]] system, Albany County was the hub of many [[Toll road|turnpikes]] and [[plank road]]s that connected the region, as well as the Erie Canal reaching the Great Lakes.

Today, [[Interstate 87 (New York)|Interstate 87]] and [[Interstate 90]] meet in Albany County. The [[Thomas E. Dewey Thruway|Thomas E. Dewey New York State Thruway]] is a [[toll-road]] that from Exit 24 in the city of Albany is I-87 and travels south to connect the county with [[downstate New York]]. West from Exit 24, the Thruway is I-90 and connects the county with [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]], [[Utica, New York|Utica]], [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], and [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]].

North of Exit 24, I-87 is the [[Adirondack Northway]] and connects the city and county of Albany with their suburbs in [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga County]] and provides long-distance travel to [[Montreal]]. East of Exit 24, I-90 travels along the northern boundary of the city of Albany and exits the county on the [[Patroon Island Bridge]] into [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer County]] to access Albany's eastern suburbs. [[Interstate 787]] connects the Thruway (I-87) to [[Downtown Albany Historic District|Downtown Albany]], [[Menands, New York|Menands]], [[Watervliet, New York|Watervliet]], and [[Cohoes, New York|Cohoes]]. [[U.S. Route 9 in New York|U.S. Route 9]] enters the county on the [[Dunn Memorial Bridge]] and travels through the city of Albany north, connecting it with the suburbs in the [[Colonie, New York|Colonie]] and Saratoga County. [[U.S. Route 20 (New York)|U.S. Route 20]] also enters the county on the Dunn Memorial Bridge and travels west through Albany (city) and the Town of [[Guilderland, New York|Guilderland]]. [[New York State Route 5]] and [[New York State Route 7]] are two important highways that bisect the county and are developed as important shopping strips.

===Mass transit===
Albany County is served by the [[Capital District Transportation Authority]], a five-county bus service that also serves Rensselaer, Schenectady, Montgomery and Saratoga counties. [[Greyhound Lines]], [[Trailways]], and [[Peter Pan Bus Lines]] buses all serve a downtown terminal. [[Chinatown bus lines]] leaves from Central Avenue and provide service to [[Chinatown, Manhattan]].

===Airports===
[[Albany International Airport]] is the only commercial airport in the county. Destinations for flights out of Albany include [[Atlanta]]; [[Las Vegas]]; Chicago; [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]; and [[Orlando, Florida]], among many others.

===Rail===
Since 1968 when [[Union Station (Albany, New York)|Union Station]] in the city of Albany was abandoned for a new station across the Hudson in the city of [[Rensselaer, New York|Rensselaer]], Albany County has been without a train station. Amtrak has several routes serving the [[Albany-Rensselaer (Amtrak station)|Albany-Rensselaer Station]]. The [[Adirondack (Amtrak)|Adirondack]] (north to [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]] and south to the city of New York), [[Empire Service (Amtrak)|Empire Service]] (west to Buffalo and Niagara Falls, south to New York), [[Ethan Allen Express (Amtrak)|Ethan Allen Express]] (northeast to [[Rutland (city), Vermont|Rutland, Vermont]] and south to New York), [[Maple Leaf (Amtrak)|Maple Leaf]] (west to Toronto and south to New York), and the [[Lake Shore Limited]] (at Albany-Rensselaer separate routes from Boston and New York merge to one train west to Chicago, on way east one train splits to two, one east to Boston and another south to New York).

==Communities==
[[File:AlbanyCounty Map 2.svg|thumb|300px|Map of towns, cities and villages within Albany County]]
{{See also|Timeline of town creation in New York's Capital District}}

Albany County is composed of three cities and 10 towns.

===Cities===
* [[Albany, New York|Albany]] (county seat)
* [[Cohoes, New York|Cohoes]]
* [[Watervliet, New York|Watervliet]]

===Towns===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Berne, New York|Berne]]
* [[Bethlehem, New York|Bethlehem]]
* [[Coeymans, New York|Coeymans]]
* [[Colonie, New York|Colonie]]
* [[Green Island, New York|Green Island]]
* [[Guilderland, New York|Guilderland]]
* [[Knox, New York|Knox]]
* [[New Scotland, New York|New Scotland]]
* [[Rensselaerville, New York|Rensselaerville]]
* [[Westerlo, New York|Westerlo]]
{{div col end}}

===Villages===
* [[Altamont, New York|Altamont]]
* [[Colonie (village), New York|Colonie]]
* [[Green Island, New York|Green Island]]
* [[Menands, New York|Menands]]
* [[Ravena, New York|Ravena]]
* [[Voorheesville, New York|Voorheesville]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Latham, New York|Latham]]
* [[Loudonville, New York|Loudonville]]
* [[Preston-Potter Hollow, New York|Preston-Potter Hollow]]
* [[Roessleville, New York|Roessleville]]
* [[Siena College, New York (CDP)|Siena College]]
* [[Westmere, New York|Westmere]]

===Hamlets===
{{Div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Alcove, New York|Alcove]]
* [[Boght Corners, New York|Boght Corners]]
* [[Clarksville, Albany County, New York|Clarksville]]
* [[Coeymans (hamlet), New York|Coeymans]]
* [[Crescent Station, New York|Crescent Station]]
* [[Delmar, New York|Delmar]]
* [[Dunsbach Ferry, New York|Dunsbach Ferry]]
* [[Elsmere, New York|Elsmere]]
* [[Feura Bush, New York|Feura Bush]]
* [[Fort Hunter, Albany County, New York|Fort Hunter]]
* [[Fullers, New York|Fullers]]
* [[Glenmont, New York|Glenmont]]
* [[Guilderland (hamlet), New York|Guilderland]]
* [[Guilderland Center, New York|Guilderland Center]]
* [[Karner, New York|Karner]]
* [[Lisha Kill, New York|Lisha Kill]]
* [[Mannsville, Albany County, New York|Mannsville]]
* [[McKownville, New York|McKownville]]
* [[Medusa, New York|Medusa]]
* [[New Salem, New York|New Salem]]
* [[Newtonville, New York|Newtonville]]
* [[Normansville, New York|Normansville]]
* [[Selkirk, New York|Selkirk]]
* [[Slingerlands, New York|Slingerlands]]
* [[South Bethlehem, New York|South Bethlehem]]
* [[Verdoy, New York|Verdoy]]
* [[Wemple, New York|Wemple]]
* [[West Albany, New York|West Albany]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Hudson Valley|New York (state)}}
* [[Albany Health and Human Services Corporation]]
* [[Albany County Sheriff's Department]]
* [[List of counties in New York]]
* [[List of people associated with Albany County, New York]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Albany County, New York]]

==Notes==
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name="Sullivan-founding"|"On November 1, 1683, when the State of New York was divided into ten counties, Albany was erected as one of them with an exceedingly large territory. From its area has since been taken the counties of Tryon and Charlotte, in 1772; Columbia, in 1786; Rensselaer and Saratoga, in 1791; a part of Schoharie, in 1795; a part of Greene, in 1800; and Schenectady, in 1809."{{r|n="Sullivan1927p462"}}}}
}}

==Sources==
{{reflist|refs=
{{r|n="Sullivan1927p462"|r={{cite Q|Q114149636|mode=cs1|p=461-68|chapter=Chapter VII. Albany County.
  |editor=Sullivan, James
  |editor2=Williams, Melvin E.
  |editor3=Conklin, Edwin P.
  |editor4=Fitzpatrick, Benedict
 }}}}
}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|editor-last=Howell|editor-first=George Rogers|editor2-last=Tenney|editor2-first=Jonathan|title=Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations.|publication-place=New York|publisher=W. W. Munsell & Co.|year=1886|lccn=01014041|oclc=2367801|url={{Google Books|HGkJAQAAIAAJ|plainurl=yes}}}}{{via|GB}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Parker|editor-first=Amasa Junius|title=Landmarks of Albany County, New York|publication-place=Syracuse, N.Y.|publisher=D. Mason|year=1897|lccn=01002599|oclc=4089323|hdl=loc.gdc/scd0001.00140782579|url=http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gdc/scd0001.00140782579}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Pearson|editor1-first=Jonathan|editor2-first=Arnold Johan Ferdinand|editor2-last=Van Laer|title=Early Records of the City and County of Albany, and Colony of Rensselaerswyck (1656–1675)|publication-place=New York|publisher=W. W. Munsell & Co.|year=1869|oclc=59223937|url={{Google books|xZwCAAAAMAAJ|plainurl=yes}}}}{{via|GB}}
* {{cite Q|Q114149636|mode=cs1|p=461-68|chapter=Chapter VII. Albany County.
 |editor=Sullivan, James
 |editor2=Williams, Melvin E.
 |editor3=Conklin, Edwin P.
 |editor4=Fitzpatrick, Benedict
 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Albany County, New York}}
* [http://www.albanycounty.com Albany County official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050909184933/http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/state/his/bk3/ch7.html Summary early history of Albany County, NY]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/albany-towns-ny.htm Early history of Albany County towns]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Albany County, New York
|North     = [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga County]]
|East      = [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer County]]
|Southeast = [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia County]]
|South     = [[Greene County, New York|Greene County]]
|West      = [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie County]]
|Northwest = [[Schenectady County, New York|Schenectady County]]
}}
{{Hudson Valley navigation}}
{{Capital District}}
{{Albany County, New York}}
{{New York}}{{Authority control}}
{{coord|42|36|N|73|58|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-NY|display=title}}

[[Category:Albany County, New York| ]]
[[Category:1683 establishments in the Province of New York]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1683]]