Albany County is located in the state of New York and is the fifth most populous county in the state. It is part of the Capital District and covers an area of 726 square miles. The population of Albany County was 304,204 in 2019.
The county seat is Albany, which is also the state capital. Other major cities and towns include Cohoes, Colonie, Bethlehem, Guilderland, Green Island, Watervliet and Rensselaer. The county has a rich history dating back to 1609 when Henry Hudson first explored upriver from Manhattan Island. In 1664 it became part of New Netherland and then in 1686 it was established as Albany County by English governor Thomas Dongan.
Albany County is home to several cultural attractions such as the Albany Institute of History & Art, Ten Broeck Mansion Museum and Historic Cherry Hill. There are also many parks and recreational areas including Washington Park, Thacher Park and Five Rivers Environmental Education Center.
The economy of Albany County is largely based on government services such as healthcare, education and administration. There are also a number of large employers including IBM Corporation, General Electric Company, State University of New York at Albany (SUNY), University at Albany (UAlbany) and Stuyvesant Plaza Shopping Center which provide thousands of jobs for residents in the area. Other businesses such as banking & finance firms have also established themselves in recent years due to its proximity to New York City and other major metropolitan areas like Boston MA or Philadelphia PA.
The county has an extensive transportation network with Amtrak providing inter-city rail service along with several bus lines running throughout the area operated by CDTA (Capital District Transportation Authority). Additionally there are two airports located within the county; one being Albany International Airport which serves over 6 million passengers annually while the other being Schenectady County Airport which provides general aviation services for private aircrafts/jets/helicopters etc…
Albany County offers a variety of educational opportunities with numerous primary/secondary schools operated by various districts across the area along with several higher education institutions such as SUNY at Albany & UAlbany both offering world-class undergraduate & graduate level programs respectively for students looking to pursue their studies further after high school graduation or transfer from another college/university system elsewhere into this region’s quality educational system here locally within ALBANY COUNTY NY!
Overall, ALBANY COUNTY NY has so much to offer whether you’re looking for work opportunities or just want to enjoy some recreational activities while exploring its rich history & culture; this place surely won’t leave you disappointed.
History of Albany County, New York
Albany County, New York is a county located in the state’s Capital Region. It is bordered by Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Greene Counties. The county is named for the Duke of Albany, who was a Scottish title held by James Stuart, the son of King Charles II of England.
The first settlers to Albany County were Dutch colonists who arrived in 1630. The area was part of the New Netherland colony and became known as Rensselaerswyck after its owner Kiliaen Van Rensselaer. The area was then taken over by the English in 1664 and renamed Albany County in 1683.
During colonial times, Albany County was an important trading center for fur traders, merchants, and shipbuilders. In 1754, Albany became the state capital of New York and has remained so ever since. This led to a period of growth for the city and county as government offices were established there along with banks, law firms, insurance companies and other businesses that supported them.
In 1777 during the Revolutionary War, General Philip Schuyler made his headquarters at Fort Ticonderoga within what is now northern Albany County. Later that year British troops under General John Burgoyne passed through on their way south to Saratoga where they were defeated at what would become known as “The Battle of Saratoga” which turned the tide of the war in favor of American forces.
Following independence from Britain in 1783 settlers began to arrive from all over Europe looking for work and opportunity which caused rapid population growth within Albany County during this period as well as construction on many public buildings such as churches and county courthouses which still remain today.
During the 19th century, transportation networks including canals such as Erie Canal opened up trade routes between western New York State with eastern cities like Boston making Albany an important port city once again while at same time new technologies like telegraphs provided faster communication between cities allowing businesses located in Albany to reach customers further away than ever before leading to more economic development within the county.
In 1847, railroad lines began running through Albany connecting it with cities like Buffalo making it easier than ever before for people to travel around upstate New York leading to even more population growth within the county while at same time new industries such as brewing began popping up providing jobs for many immigrants who had arrived looking for work earlier in century.
Today, Albany County remains an important economic hub within Capital Region with its numerous colleges providing education opportunities while its diverse population continues contributing to its vibrant culture making it a great place live work or just visit.