Overview
Overview
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 and has a total area of 533 square miles of which 523 square miles is land and 10 square miles is water. Albany County is composed of 19 municipalities.
Albany was named after the Duke of York's Scottish title, "Duke of Albany" in 1664 when the English took control of the area. Prior to being named Albany, the settlement was called Beverwyck ("beaver district") after the animal created a lucrative fur trade for the Dutch. Albany, however, remained Dutch in language and customs until the American Revolution.
Key Aspects
Key Aspects
Main Industries: Over the past four centuries, Albany has grown from a small Dutch settlement into New York State's Capital City in the heart of burgeoning Tech Valley. Albany County is home to more than 300,000 residents that represent a variety of career sectors including government, education, healthcare, technology, arts, finance, law, and so much more.
Education: Albany houses and educates well over 100,000 college and university students on a dozen campuses across the Capital Region. There are 12 colleges and universities in Albany County including the State University of New York at Albany.
Land: Albany County is home to the the two state parks Thompson's Lake State Park and John Boyd Thacher State Park. There are also state-owned nature preserves such as the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and the Albany Pine Bush. There are many small hiking and biking trails and longer distance bike-hike trails such the 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.
Albany has a rich history dating back more than 400 years with many historic homes including Schuyler Mansion, Historic Cherry Hill, Ten Broeck Mansion, Knickerbocker Mansion, Pruyn House, Crailo State Historic Site
Elected Officials
Elected Officials
Albany County Executive: Daniel P. McCoy
Chair of the Legislature: Joanne Cunningham