Albany

Formed November 1, 1683 (1^st county)

Albany County (314,838), Albany (99,233)

The masonry Classical Revival courthouse was constructed in 1914.  The structure is located on Eagle Street between Elk and Columbus streets.  United States Highway 20 is five blocks southwest of the courthouse.  Hoppin and Koen are the architects.  A Judicial Center and a Family Courthouse, both built in 2005, augment.  Albany County was formed on November 1, 1683 as an original county with Albany as the only county seat.  The county and county seat are named for the Duke of York and Albany.  He is also the source for the County of New York.  There were 1832, 1872, and 1883 courthouses used earlier. 

Albany County government consists of a sheriff and 39 Legislators.  One County Court Judge, Four Family Court Judges, and Two Surrogate Court Judges serve Albany County.  The county is in eastern New York.  The Hudson River forms its eastern border.  New York City, New York is south and Buffalo, New York is west of the county.  The county center is 11 miles Southwest of Albany nearer Clarksville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Saratoga, Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene, Schoharie, and Schenectady counties.  The New York state capitol is located in this county.  The county is shaped like a Native American arrowhead.  The City of Albany is located on the northeast border of the county.  Albany is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 31.5% of the county population. 

The area of the county is 533 square miles.  It is 42 out of 62 in the state.  It ranks 14 out of 62 in population in the state.  It has a density of 590.7 persons per square mile making it 13 out of 62 in the state.  Albany County has 47.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 87 crosses the county north to south from Saratoga County to Greene County.  Interstate Highway 90 enters from the east, Rensselaer County, and exits to the west, Schenectady County.  United States Highway 9 comes from Saratoga County, north, and goes to Rensselaer County, east.  United States Highway 9 West originates and parallels Interstate Highway 87 into Greene County.  United States Highway 20 parallels Interstate Highway 90 from Rensselaer to Schenectady counties.  Chester A. Arthur, the 21^st President, is buried in this county.  This county is in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area.