Albany New York: Encyclopedia - Albany New York

Albany, New York

Albany is the capital of the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 95,658. It is the county seat of Albany County.

The City of Albany lies 145 miles (233 km) north of and slightly east of New York City, and slightly to the south of the juncture of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers.

Albany New York - History

Albany was one of the earlier permanent settlements in the thirteen original American colonies and is the second oldest chartered city in the United States. Its colonial history began when Englishman Henry Hudson, exploring for the Dutch East India Company on the Halve Maen (or Half Moon) reached the area in 1609. In 1614, the company constructed Fort Nassau, its first fur trading post near present-day Albany. Commencement of the fur trade provoked hostility from the French colony in Canada and amongst the native tribes, who vied to control the trade. In 1624, Fort Orange was established in the area. Both forts were named in honor of the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau. Nearby areas were incorporated as the village of Beverwyck in 1652.

When the land was taken by the English in 1664, the name was changed to Albany, in honor of the Duke of York and Albany, who later became King James II of England and James VII of Scotland. Duke of Albany was a Scottish title given since 1398, generally to a younger son of the Scottish King. The name is ultimately derived from Alba, the Gaelic name for Scotland.

Albany received a charter as a city in 1686.

In 1754, representatives of seven British North American colonies met in the Albany Congress. Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania presented the Albany Plan of Union, the first formal proposal to unite the colonies. Although it was never adopted by Parliament, it was an important precursor to the U.S. Constitution. Albany native Philip Livingston was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

In 1797, the state capital of New York was moved from Kingston to Albany, about 50 miles north.

The City's location on the Hudson River made it a center of transportation from the outset. In 1807, Robert Fulton initiated a steamboat line from New York City to Albany. On October 26, 1825 the Erie Canal was completed, forming a continuous water route from the Great Lakes to New York City. The Mohawk and Hudson Railroad between Albany and Schenectady, New York opened on September 24, 1831 and subsequently became part of the New York Central Railroad.

Albany New York - Geography

Albany is located at 42°39'35" North, 73°46'53" West (42.659829, -73.781339)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.8 mi² (56.6 km²). 21.4 mi² (55.5 km²) of it is land and 0.5 mi² (1.2 km²) of it is water. The total area is 2.15% water.

Albany New York - Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there are 95,658 people, 40,709 households, and 18,400 families residing in the city. The population density is 4,474.6/mi² (1,727.5/km².) There are 45,288 housing units at an average density of 2,118.4/mi² (817.9/km².) The racial makeup of the city is 63.12% White, 28.14% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 3.26% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 2.98% from two or more races. 5.59% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 40,709 households out of which 22.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.3% are married couples living together, 16.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 54.8% are non-families. 41.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.11 and the average family size is 2.95.

In the city the population is spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 19.3% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $30,041, and the median income for a family is $39,932. Males have a median income of $31,535 versus $27,112 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,281. 21.7% of the population and 16.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 28.8% of those under the age of 18 and 12.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Albany New York - Education

• Colleges and universities in Albany include Albany College of Pharmacy; Albany Law School; Albany Medical College; College of Saint Rose; Excelsior College; Maria College of Albany; Sage College of Albany; and the University at Albany, part of the State University of New York system. Siena College is located two miles north of the downtown area in Loudonville.
• Albany City School District.
• Albany Free School – founded in 1969 by Mary Leue, is the oldest inner-city independent alternative school in the United States.
• Albany Academy for Girls – the oldest independent day school for girls in the United States.
• Albany Academy – alumnus include author Herman Melville and Joseph Henry.
• Doane Stuart School – the area's only co-educational independent school and the only known merger of Catholic and Protestant schools in the United States.
• Christian Brothers Academy – founded in 1859 by the Brothers of Christian Schools.

See also the list of high schools.

Albany New York - Additional facts about Albany

• Gerald (Jerry) D. Jennings is the 74th and current Mayor of Albany. He is currently serving in his fourth term of office, having been first elected in 1993.
• The State Capitol building was constructed between 1867 and 1899 and inspired by the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) in Paris, France. Notable architectural features include its "Million Dollar Staircase".
• In the southern part of Albany's downtown lies the Empire State Plaza, conceived by Governor Nelson Rockefeller and now named in his honor. The Erastus Corning Tower stands 589 feet (180 meters) high, the tallest building in New York State outside New York City. The transmitters for the radio stations WKLI (100.9 FM) and WAJZ (96.3 FM) are based on top of the Corning Tower. Four other smaller towers, the Legislative Office Building, the State Library and Museum, the Justice Building, and the impressive performing arts center known as "The Egg" make up the rest of the Empire State Plaza.
• The original native settlement at Albany/Fort Orange was called Penpotawotnot.
• Several US Navy ships have been named USS Albany.
• William Alexander, a general in the Revolutionary War, died there in 1783.
• Noted industrialist and founder of the New York Central Railroad, Erastus Corning, called Albany home and served as its mayor from 1834 to 1837. His great-grandson, Erastus Corning II, served as mayor of Albany from 1942 until 1983, the longest single mayoral term of any major city in the United States.
• Chester A. Arthur, 21st U.S. president, is buried in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, north of the city.

See also

• Albany International Airport
• Capital District Transportation Authority
• The Pine Bush
• Albany River Rats hockey
• Albany Conquest af2 arena football

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Albany New York", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki