Albany, GA

Albany, pronounced "All-ben-ny" or "Al-bain-ny", is the county seat of Dougherty County and obtained its charter December 27, 1838.

The Creek Indians first inhabited the Albany area and referred to their home along the Flint River as "Thronateeska" meaning "the place where the flint is picked up" -- hence the name "Flint River." The city was founded by Nelson Tift in 1836 and was established as a place for trade along the Flint River. However, steamboat navigation proved to be irregular and Albany became a rail center by the turn of the nineteenth century.

Albany is also known as the Quail Hunting Capital of the World due to the abundance of bobwhite quails during quail season (October to March).

Radium Springs, located in Albany, is the state's largest natural springs. These springs have a flow of crystal clear water with a year round temperature of 68 degrees.

Rhythm and blues musician, Ray Charles, was born and raised in Albany until the age of six. Charles' rendition of "Georgia on My Mind" is the state song. Other notable Albany natives include naturalist Jim Fowler and former major league baseball player Ray Knight. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) great, Nancy Lopez, also makes her home in Albany.

Albany also offers a variety of special events including River Days at Chehaw, held the first weekend in April each year. The emphasis of this event is on the importance of preserving the environment and our natural resources. The Chehaw National Indian Festival is held annually on the third weekend in May at Chehaw Park and provides visitors the opportunity to see traditional Native American arts, crafts, dance and song performances.

Albany has several sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among them are St. Teresa's Catholic Church built in 1859 (the oldest Catholic Church in continuous use in Georgia) and Heritage Plaza, a collection of historic buildings and educational facilities.

Other attractions in Albany include: the Albany Museum of Art, the Albany Civil Rights Movement Memorial, Chehaw Wild Animal Park, Radium Springs and Tift Park. The city is also home to the Albany Warriors, a minor league football team.

Albany is the home to several state operated institutions, including Albany State University, Albany Technical Institute, and Darton College.

Population (year 2000): 76,939. Estimated population in July 2005: 75,394 (-2.0% change)
Males: 35,425 (46.0%), Females: 41,514 (54.0%)

Dougherty County

Zip codes: 31701, 31705, 31707.

Median resident age: 31.1 years
Median household income: $28,639 (year 2000)
Median house value: $71,300 (year 2000)

Races in Albany:

Ancestries: United States (7.3%), English (4.6%), Irish (3.6%), German (3.2%), Subsaharan African (1.7%), Scotch-Irish (1.3%).

Elevation: 208 feet

Land area: 55.5 square miles

For population 25 years and over in Albany

• High school or higher: 72.5%
• Bachelor's degree or higher: 18.2%
• Graduate or professional degree: 6.4%
• Unemployed: 11.6%
• Mean travel time to work: 17.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Albany city

• Never married: 35.6%
• Now married: 40.6%
• Separated: 3.8%
• Widowed: 8.7%
• Divorced: 11.3%

1.5% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -1,369 (-1.7%).

Demographic - Economy - Finance