Albany

The City in Brief

Founded: 1624 (chartered, 1686)
Head Official: Mayor Gerald D. Jennings (D) (since 1994)
City Population
1980: 101,727
1990: 101,082
2000: 95,658
2003 estimate: 93,919
Percent change, 1990-2000: – 5.3%
U.S. rank in 1980: 164th
U.S. rank in 1990: 192nd (State rank: 6th)
U.S. rank in 2000: 277th (State rank: 21st)
Metropolitan Area Population
1990: 861,623
2000: 875,583
Percent change, 1990-2000: 1.6%
U.S. rank in 1980: 46th
U.S. rank in 1990: 49th
U.S. rank in 2000: 56th
Area: 21.84 square miles (2000)
Elevation: 29 feet above sea level
Average Annual Temperature: 47.5° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 38.6 inches of rain; 64.1 inches of snow
Major Economic Sectors: Government, services, trade, manufacturing
Unemployment Rate: 3.6% (April 2005) Per Capita Income: $18,281 (1999)
2004 ACCRA Average Home Price: Not reported
2004 ACCRA Cost of Living Index: Not reported 2002 FBI Crime Index Total: Not reported
Major Colleges and Universities: State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany; Albany Law School; Albany Medical College; Albany College of Pharmacy
Daily Newspaper: The Times Union

Introduction

Albany is the capital and a major port and trading center for New York State. State government buildings dominate the city’s skyline and governmental activities dominate the economy. One of the oldest cities in the country, Albany displays its Dutch heritage in the architecture of some of its buildings and in the narrow streets that date from colonial times. Today Albany is a thriving cultural center supporting a variety of museums, theaters, and historic buildings. In 2005 Forbes magazine named Albany number 34 among the nation’s ”Best Places for Business.”

Geography and Climate

Albany is located on a steep hill at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers in the east-central region of New York State. At the riverfront, the city is only a few feet above sea level. The terrain rises gradually, reaching a height of 1,800 feet 11 miles to the west and 2,000 feet 12 miles to the east.
Winters in Albany are usually cold and sometimes severe. In the warmer months temperatures rise rapidly during the daytime then fall rapidly after sunset, making the evenings relatively cool. The area enjoys one of the highest percentages of sunshine in the state.
Area: 21.84 square miles (2000)
Elevation: 29 feet above sea level
Average Temperatures: January, 22.2° F; July, 71.1° F; average annual temperature, 47.5° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 38.6 inches of rain; 64.1 inches of snow

History

In 1609, when explorer Henry Hudson reached the end of the river that bears his name, he found a thriving community of Mohican Indians on the site of present-day Albany. In 1624 Dutch settlers established a permanent trading community there to replace one that had burned ten years earlier, and they named it Fort Orange. The British captured the fort in 1664, renaming it Albany in honor of England’s James,Duke of York and Albany. The resident Dutch were permitted to retain their own language and customs. Albany became a fur-trading center and a residence for owners of the ships that carried produce down the Hudson River to the Atlantic and on to the West Indies.
In 1754 Benjamin Franklin presented his Plan of Union, a forerunner of the U.S. Constitution, at Albany, earning the city its nickname of ”Cradle of the Union.” Following the American Revolution, the city served as a supply center for settlers heading west. Albany was declared the capital of New York State in 1797. Banking, iron manufacturing, and lumber trading enriched the city’s economy during the nineteenth century and, with the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 and the creation of the New York Central Railroad in 1853, Albany became an important commercial center as well.
By the early 1900s supplies of iron ore and lumber from the Adirondacks were dwindling, and Albany’s industries declined. At the same time, the state of New York became increasingly important in national politics, with Albany nurturing such prominent figures as Theodore and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Thomas E. Dewey, and Nelson A. Rockefeller. By the 1980s government had become the city’s chief activity.
Albany, despite its reliance on government as its primary economic sector, was affected by the economic downturn of the late 1980s and early 1990s that resulted from a decline in the high technology sector. Gradually resurfacing through increased efforts at economic development and downtown restoration and beautification, the city recovered by the turn of the century. Republican George E. Pataki was first elected governor of New York in 1995 and was reelected to a third term in November 2002. Pataki, referred to as a catalyst for increasing New York’s presence in the high technology industry, committed state funds totaling more than a billion dollars for research centers in support of this industry. Albany became the site for one of just six of these centers throughout the state, and the resulting Albany NanoTech, a university-based research facility that opened in 2003, promptly drew such high technology leaders as chip equipment manufacturer International Sematech. The first of many such partnerships, including those with Tokyo Electron Ltd. and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), the Sematech deal was such a boon for the region that Governor Pataki stated that it ” . . . could be the most important thing to happen to the upstate economy since the Erie Canal.”
Historical Information: New York State Museum, Cultural Education Center, Room 3023, Albany, NY 12230; telephone (518)474-5877

Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents
1990: 861,623
2000: 875,583
Percent change, 1990-2000: 1.6%
U.S. rank in 1980: 46th
U.S. rank in 1990: 49th
U.S. rank in 2000: 56th
City Residents
1980: 101,727
1990: 101,082
2000: 95,658
2003 estimate: 93,919
Percent change, 1990-2000: – 5.3%
U.S. rank in 1980: 164th
U.S. rank in 1990: 192nd (State rank: 6th)
U.S. rank in 2000: 277th (State rank: 21st)
Density: 4,474.6 people per square mile (2000)
Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)
White: 60,383
Black or African American: 26,915
American Indian and Alaska Native: 301
Asian: 3,116
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 34
Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 5,349
Other: 2,060
Percent of residents born in state: 74.8%
Age characteristics (2000)
Population under 5 years old: 5,384
Population 5 to 9 years old: 5,584
Population 10 to 14 years old: 5,142
Population 15 to 19 years old: 8,772
Population 20 to 24 years old: 12,678
Population 25 to 34 years old: 15,166
Population 35 to 44 years old: 12,805
Population 45 to 54 years old: 10,768
Population 55 to 59 years old: 3,664
Population 60 to 64 years old: 2,914
Population 65 to 74 years old: 5,674
Population 75 to 84 years old: 4,781
Population 85 years and older: 2,326
Median age: 31.4 years
Births (2002, Albany County)
Total number: 3,226
Deaths (2002, Albany County)
Total number: 2,817 (of which, 34 were infants under the age of 1 year)
Money income (1999)
Per capita income: $18,281
Median household income: $30,041
Total households: 40,772
Number of households with income of. . .
less than $10,000: 7,009
$10,000 to $14,999: 3,712
$15,000 to $24,999: 6,513
$25,000 to $34,999: 5,707
$35,000 to $49,999: 6,064
$50,000 to $74,999: 6,005
$75,000 to $99,999: 2,977
$100,000 to $149,999: 1,874
$150,000 to $199,999: 573
$200,000 or more: 338
Percent of families below poverty level: 16.0% (54.9% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)
2002 FBI Crime Index Total: Not reported

Municipal Government

Albany is governed by a mayor and a sixteen-member council elected for four-year terms. The city is divided into 15 wards, with each ward represented on the council by an alderman. Albany is the focal point of Albany County, whose board of supervisors is elected by the wards and towns they represent.
Head Official: Mayor Gerald D. Jennings (D) (since 1994; current term expires 2006)
Total Number of City Employees: 1,493 (2003)
City Information: City of Albany, Office of the Mayor, City Hall, Albany, NY 12207; telephone (518)434-5100; fax (518)434-5013

Economy

Major Industries and Commercial Activity

State and local governments employ nearly a quarter of the Albany area workforce, a phenomenon that has brought long-term stability to the economy. A network of service industries, especially restaurants and food stores, law firms, and related businesses, has grown up in Albany to serve the needs of government. Area colleges and universities and an extensive healthcare network also play a dominant role in the city’s economy. The presence of scientific research facilities has stimulated the growth of the high technology industries that are replacing traditional manufacturing industries.
Technology has, in fact, been targeted as a prime growth industry for Albany. The Austin (TX) American-Statesman declared in 2003 that the city is ” . . . laying plans to storm past Austin as a high-tech hot spot.” Albany NanoTech, a university-based research facility for nanotechnology that opened in 2003, received a large portion of the $1.4 billion that the state committed toward the establishment of research centers throughout New York. In a deal that was named one of the top economic development projects of 2002 by Site Selection magazine, Albany successfully attracted a new branch research center of Austin-based International Sematech. Later, Tokyo Electron Ltd., one of the world’s leading makers of computer chip manufacturing equipment, decided to send researchers to Albany instead of its North American headquarters in Austin, Texas. New York City-based International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) followed suit, moving researchers to Albany.
Albany is home to a number of manufacturers, producing such items as felt products, sporting goods, and beer, but major manufacturing is represented by national companies with divisions located throughout Albany County, including General Electric Company’s plastics operation in Selkirk and its silicon plant in Waterford. The sectors of finance, insurance, and real estate enjoy a strong presence in Albany, which is one of the nation’s largest banking cities. As the focal point of a six-county greater metropolitan area that encompasses prime East Coast recreational areas, Albany is also affected economically by the tourists who flock to the region each year.
Items and goods produced: machine tools, paper products, felt, athletic equipment, aspirin, brake linings, cement, steel products, electrical equipment, dental products, chemicals

Incentive Programs—New and Existing Businesses

Local programs—The City of Albany’s Department of Economic Development and Industrial Development Agency help coordinate incentive packages. Some of these incentives are low interest rate loans, property tax abatements, job training assistance, and tax credits. The Albany County Partnership, a venture between the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Albany County Department of Economic Development, Conservation, and Planning, offers finance programs, loan funds, and assistance funds to qualified businesses seeking to expand, relocate, or retain operations in the region.
State programs—The Empire State Development Corporation, the state agency responsible for promoting economic development in New York State, has programs available to assist businesses that are expanding and creating jobs. Its programs range from direct financing through the Job Development Authority to low-interest subsidies and loan guarantees. Depending on the financing source, funds can be used for building construction, equipment acquisition, building purchases, and working capital. New York state’s progressive tax structure combines tax credits, deductions, exemptions, and write-offs to help reduce the tax burden on businesses. State financial incentives available include those offered through the Regional Development Corporation, New York Job Development Authority, Urban Development Corporation, and locations in Economic Development Zones. As the state capital, Albany offers accessibility to information and assistance from legislators and agencies eager to assist companies locating in New York state.
Job training programs—Through the On-The-Job Training program and the Capital Region Re Employment Center, the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce offers incentives to employers of qualified individuals, including reimbursement for up to 50 percent of a trainee’s salary for an approved training period. In addition, prescreening of candidates can be handled by center staff so that a business is presented with only qualified applicants.

Development Projects

Between 1995 and 2005, more than $2 billion was realized in economic development projects in Albany. During 2004 alone, 30 companies committed to investing $49 million and creating 320 new jobs in the city’s Empire Zone. The state government also fueled local development, particularly with Albany NanoTech, a university-based research facility for nanotechnology that opened in 2003 and has since attracted such corporate partners as International Sematech, Tokyo Electron Ltd., and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM). Other recently completed projects include the newly constructed Hudson River Way, featuring a pedestrian bridge linking downtown with the new Corning Park. The Palace Theatre received $5.5 million in renovations and improvements by 2004.
One of the largest projects underway is construction of the Albany Convention Center/Hotel complex. This $185 million project, comprised of a 300,000-square-foot convention center attached to a 400-room hotel, is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2006; it is expected to generate $3.2 billion in the local economy and create 1,740 jobs. In December 2004 an advisory committee tapped three existing library facilities, including the main library, be renovated; four new library branches be constructed in local neighborhoods; and a wireless, mobile library branch—a “Cybermobile”—be implemented.
Economic Development Information: City of Albany Department of Economic Development, City Hall, 4th Fl., Albany, NY 12207; telephone (518)434-5192

Commercial Shipping

Albany was named one of the nation’s ”100 Best Metro Areas for Logistics” by Expansion Management magazine in September 2004. Inland 124 miles from New York City, the Port of Albany’s 32-foot channel on the Hudson River admits international oceangoing vessels and serves as an important stop on the barge canal system of the state, ultimately connecting the city with the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. CIBRO Petroleum maintains a specialized installation, and the port has facilities for molasses storage and a grain elevator. The port is served by three railroads and more than 100 motor freight carriers. The cargo terminal of Albany International Airport serves FedEx, UPS, and DHL carriers. Albany is within overnight trucking distance of 35 of the country’s 100 largest retail markets. The city is also the site of Foreign Trade Zone #121, an area where foreign goods bound for international destinations can be temporarily stored without incurring an import duty. The area’s global presence is also facilitated by the Capital Region World Trade Center, located in nearby Schenectady, New York.

Labor Force and Employment Outlook

Albany’s workforce is highly educated—the public school system is strong, the state university well-regarded. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 17.2 percent of all residents have obtained a bachelor’s degree, and 15.4 percent have achieved a graduate or professional degree. In recent years, the city has rapidly worked to redefine itself as a hub for research and high technology, further fueling the educational profile of its citizens.
The following is a summary of data regarding the Albany metropolitan area labor force, 2004 annual averages.
Size of nonagricultural labor force: 444,100
Number of workers employed in . . .
construction and mining: 17,900
manufacturing: 22,700
trade, transportation and utilities: 79,200
information: 10,900
financial activities: 26,100
professional and business services: 50,600
educational and health services: 78,200
leisure and hospitality: 31,600
other services: 18,400
government: 108,200
Average hourly earnings of production workers in manufacturing: $17.29 (2004; statewide figure)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (April 2005)
Largest employers (2003, Albany County)                                                        Number of employees
State of New York                                                                                                              30,762
General Electric Co.                                                                                                             9,000
United States Government                                                                                                  8,092
Albany Medical Center                                                                                                         5,269
St. Peter’s Health Care Service                                                                                            3,388
Northeast Health                                                                                                                 3,059
Verizon Communications Inc.                                                                                              3,000
County of Albany                                                                                                                 2,995
Stewart’s Ice Cream Co.                                                                                                       2,840
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory Inc.                                                                                   2,650
Cost of Living
Because a large portion of property in Albany is tax-exempt, the tax burden on individuals can be onerous. While property taxes have been lowered in recent years, school taxes tend to rise each year. The cost of housing is competitive with other metropolitan areas in the Northeast and is substantially below major areas such as Boston and New York.
The following is a summary of data regarding several key cost of living factors for the Albany area.
2004 ACCRA Average Home Price: Not reported
2004 ACCRA Cost of Living Index: Not reported
State income tax rate: 4%-7.7%
State sales tax rate: 4%
Local income tax rate: None
Local sales tax rate: 4%
Property tax rate: $22.01 per $1,000 of assessed valuation times the tax rate (2004)
Economic Information: Albany-Colonie Region Chamber of Commerce, 107 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210; telephone (518)431-1400; fax (518)434-1339

Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

The administration of policy for the Albany public schools is vested in an elected Board of Education, which is independent of city government and appoints officers and employees of the school district. The seven, non-paid board members each serve a four-year term.
The district’s newest school, a third middle school, opened in September 2005. Earlier that year, the 99-year-old School #16 shut its operations down with plans to reopen as an elementary facility in 2007.
The following is a summary of data regarding the Albany public schools as of the 2004-2005 school year.
Total enrollment: 9,101
Number of facilities elementary schools: 12
middle schools: 3
senior high schools: 3
other: 1 adult learning center
Student/teacher ratio: 12.5:1
Teacher salaries average: $55,161
Funding per pupil: $12,690
Public Schools Information: Albany City School District, Academy Park, Albany, NY 12207; telephone (518)462-7100

Colleges and Universities

Albany is home to seven colleges and universities. The State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, one of four university centers of the SUNY system, is the largest college in the region, enrolling 11,500 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students pursuing degrees ranging from bachelor’s to doctorate. Advanced study is also available at Albany Medical College, Albany Law School, and Albany College of Pharmacy. The College of St. Rose offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in liberal arts, business, education, science, and fine arts. The Junior College of Albany and Maria College both offer two-year associates degrees in a variety of disciplines.
A number of colleges and universities are located in the region outside of Albany. Schenectady is home to Union College, which offers degrees in law and pharmacy; this college houses the Dudley Observatory and is also the birthplace of the Phi Beta Kappa society. Two institutes of higher learning are located in Troy: Hudson Valley Community College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which specializes in engineering, architecture, and technology, and supports a high-technology business center. Sienna College, a Catholic and Franciscan college, is an undergraduate, liberal arts institution located in Loudonville.

Libraries and Research Centers

Founded in 1833, the Albany Public Library and its four branches hold more than 300,000 volumes, with special city and county history and oral history collections, along with a reading machine for the visually impaired. Recommendations were made in December 2004 for the construction of four new branches, renovation of three others, and the launch of cybermobile services. Thirteen New York state departments maintain libraries in Albany, as do area colleges, universities, and health centers. Of cultural and educational interest is the New York State Library, founded in 1818 and holding more than 20 million volumes; special collections focus on Dutch Colonial and Shaker history as well as the political and social history of the state. The New York State Archives contain records dating back 350 years.
Albany has dozens of research facilities. One of the newest and grandest is Albany NanoTech, a research facility for nanotechnology that has partnerships with such industry heavy-hitters as International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), International Sematech, Tokyo Electron Ltd., Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Motorola Inc., and Lockheed Martin Federal Systems. The nationally renowned Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy conducts extensive research in the fields of engineering and technology and maintains a technology park. Scientists at General Electric Research and Development in Niskayuna developed high field magnetic resonance imaging, a noninvasive diagnostic test. General Electric Company, Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute, which specializes in drug research, and other private companies in the area also conduct ongoing research. The three research universities and Albany Medical College conduct research in such areas as cancer, blood diseases, and pediatric medicine. The State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany has research institutes in law, government, management, economics, education, media, and technology.
Public Library Information: Albany Public Library, 161 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210; telephone (518)449-3300; fax (518)427-4321

Health Care

Albany’s health care needs are served by two medical centers and 12 hospitals. The largest facility, the 651-bed Albany Medical Center, specializes in open-heart and coronary bypass surgery as well as vascular microsurgeries; it maintains trauma and burn units in addition to a children’s hospital, and is affiliated with Albany Medical College. Capital District Psychiatric Center is one of the area’s facilities that serve special needs. Other local hospitals include Children’s Hospital, Memorial Hospital, St. Peter’s Hospital, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The presence of research centers in the region has made Albany a leader in the development of advanced diagnostic tools such as high field magnetic resonance imaging.
Health Care Information: Albany County Department of Health, 175 Green St., Albany, NY 12202; telephone (518)447-4580

Recreation

Sightseeing

Walking tours of renovated downtown historic sites are a popular way to see Albany. The Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center provides information about these and other programs; it also houses a hands-on exhibit detailing the city’s past and present. Among the interesting sights in downtown Albany is the New York State Capitol, completed in 1898 under the supervision of five architects over a thirty-year period. Its combination of classic architectural styles contrasts with the modern complex of buildings that comprises the Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza, encompassing cultural and recreational features as well as the state’s tallest tower outside of New York City. The Empire State Plaza contains several memorials, including the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial, NYS Fallen Firefighters Memorial, NYS Vietnam Memorial, NYS Women Veterans Memorial, State of New York Police Officers Memorial, and World War II Memorial. Albany’s other memorials located outside of the Empire State Plaza are the Henry Johnson Memorial, Moses Smiting the Rock/King Memorial Fountain, Soldiers & Sailors Monument, and Spanish-American War Monument.
Visitors can experience Albany’s history by touring eighteenth-century mansions, including the Schuyler Mansion, where Betsy Schuyler married Alexander Hamilton in 1780, and Historic Cherry Hill, built in 1787 for the Van Rensselaer family and occupied until 1963 by their descendants. Several other mansions, historic churches, and government buildings are also open to the public. The Ten Broeck Mansion now contains the Albany County Historic Association. As the seat of the state’s government, Albany is also home to the New York State Court of Appeals and the New York State Education Building. Another interesting sight is the USS Slater, a destroyer escort built in 1943; the Slater is one of only three remaining Destroyer Escort ships built during World War II.

Arts and Culture

As part of its effort to revitalize the downtown area, Albany has designated the area around the Palace Performing Arts Center as the ”Theatre Arts District.” The Palace, located in the heart of downtown, hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including Broadway shows and classical and rock concerts. It is one of two homes of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, which also performs at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. This music hall, located in Troy, was built in 1875 and is one of the nation’s only three continuously operating nineteenth century concert halls. ”The Egg” (named for its unique architectural shape) is located in the Empire State Plaza and houses two theaters: the Swyer Theatre seats 450 for chamber music concerts, cabaret, and lectures, and the Hart Theatre can accommodate up to 982 people interested in music theater and concerts. The Capital Repertory Theatre, a 250-seat facility, presents new and classic plays throughout the year. Other Albany performing groups include the Albany Ensemble and eba Dance Theater.
Albany and its environs are home to many historical, art, and specialized museums. The newly renovated and expanded Albany Institute of History and Art, founded in 1791, features an extensive permanent collection covering four centuries of regional history, art, and culture, and changing exhibits portraying life in the upper Hudson Valley through paintings, furniture, silver, and other artifacts. The New York State Museum presents multimedia exhibits dealing with everyday life through the ages in New York City, the Adirondacks, and the Upstate region, as well as the nation’s first permanent exhibition of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. The Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center brings the past to the present with a museum gallery showcasing Albany’s history, along with explorations of space at the Henry Hudson Planetarium.
Other notable museums in the city include the University Art Museum, which displays contemporary art dealing with diverse and challenging issues, and the Albany Center Galleries. The Plaza Art Collection, housed at the Empire State Plaza, is the world’s largest collection of modern art in any single public site that is not a museum.

Festivals and Holidays

Albany’s best-known celebration is the colorful Tulip Festival, held in May to commemorate the city’s Dutch heritage; festivities include reenactments of the Old World tradition of scrubbing the streets, a flower show, a children’s fair, and the crowning of the Tulip Queen. Also in May is the Annual Albany History Fair. June brings the Lobster Festival and the Father’s Day Pops Concert. Fireworks light the sky at the Independence Day Celebration at the Empire State Plaza, which is also the setting for the Blues Fest, a weekend of blues performances held later in July. The Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival takes place in September at the Riverfront Amphitheater, while Larkfest—one of upstate New York’s largest street festivals—extends along Lark Street with more than 100 vendors of arts, crafts, and cuisine. Harvest Fest is a November celebration of the state’s food and wine bounty. More than 10,000 lights are set ablaze on State and Pearl streets in the Symphony of Lights, which runs from mid-November to early January. The Christmas season is further celebrated with the Capital Holiday Lights in the Park, a drive-through light display, and the Annual Holiday House Tour, featuring historic homes decorated for the holidays. The new year is ushered in by First Night Albany, a family celebration throughout downtown featuring music, art, and fireworks.

Abstract art displays can be viewed at Empire State Plaza.
Albany hosts a number of parades throughout the year, including those that commemorate St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. The Columbus Day Parade is followed by an Italian Festival, one of the city’s many ethnic festivals. Others include May’s annual Grecian Festival, July’s annual Celtic Heritage Festival, and the African American Arts & Cultural Festival and LatinFest, both held in August.

Sports for the Spectator

The Albany Conquest play football at the Pepsi Arena from November through March. The Arena also hosts the Albany River Rats, a member of the American Hockey League and an affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. The Pepsi Arena is the home of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League Championship and a frequent host of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament. The Albany Pa-troons play home games in the Continental Basketball Association at the Washington Avenue Armory. Fans of the New York Giants can witness practices and pre-season games at their football training camp, held during the summer at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany. Three area speedways present auto races from spring to fall, and the horses run at Saratoga Raceway from February through November. Saratoga Race Track is the scene of thoroughbred horse races during August.

Sports for the Participant

Surrounded by more than 25,000 acres of state forests and many lakes, the Albany area offers recreational opportunities for all seasons. The Hudson River is now clean enough for recreational use and is connected to the city of Albany by the Hudson River Way, a pedestrian bridge that was completed in 2002. In recent years, the Erie Canal has been experiencing a renaissance of recreational use by boaters; guided tours of the canal are conducted out of Fultonville, about 35 miles west of Albany. Summer activities include golf, tennis, sailing, boating, hunting, fishing, and swimming. The area is a short distance from some of the Northeast’s most popular ski centers and is within 35 minutes of Adirondack Park, at six million acres the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River and home of the Lake Placid Olympic facilities. State and private operators maintain campgrounds in the park, and other campgrounds are located at historic sites throughout the area and on islands in Lake George. One of the region’s most popular recreational attractions is the Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway (35 miles), which travels along those rivers and connects the areas of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy.
Albany provides several outlets for the competitor, whether serious or recreational. Freihofer’s Run for Women is a women-only 5K race held in June. The Pine brush Triathlon invites participants age 10 and up to compete in a swimming, biking, and running event in July. First Night Albany, held on New Year’s Eve, features both the 5K ”Last Run” and the children’s ”Jingle Jog.”

Shopping and Dining

Cross gates Mall in nearby Guilderland, is the Capital Region’s premiere family shopping and entertainment complex with more than 250 shops, including Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, and Filene’s. There are also 30 cinemas, 22 eateries, and eight restaurants. Colonie Center Mall in downtown Albany boasts more than 120 stores, including Macy’s, Sears, Boscov’s and Christmas Tree Shops. It is just five minutes away from major hotels along Wolf Road. Adjacent to historic downtown, Lark Street is known as ”Albany’s Greenwich Village,” with its unique boutiques and specialty shops.
Albany’s restaurant selections span the globe. Visitors can sample the spices of Indonesia, the delicacies of France, the surprises of the Orient, the aromas of Italy, or the charm of the southwest. They can dine by candlelight, al fresco at an outdoor cafe, by a crackling fireplace, aboard a river cruise, or in an old-world setting.
Visitor Information: Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 25 Quackenbush Square, Albany, NY 12207; telephone (518)434-1217; toll-free (800)258-3582; fax (518)434-0887

Convention Facilities

Albany is a popular site for conventions, as it combines urban attractions with proximity to recreational opportunities and scenic splendor. The 17,500-seat Pepsi Arena offers more than 55,000 square feet of exhibit space. A covered walkway connects the Pepsi Arena to the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, which houses 80,000 square feet of exhibit space, six meeting rooms, and a 982-seat theater. Construction began in the fall of 2004 on a new convention center and hotel complex. The Albany Convention Center will have 85,000 square feet of exhibition space and the attached hotel will house 400 rooms. At a cost of $185 million, the complex is scheduled for completion in late 2006.
Convention Information: Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 25 Quackenbush Square, Albany, NY 12207; telephone (518)434-1217; toll-free (800)258-3582; fax (518)434-0887

Transportation

Approaching the City

Albany was one of the first cities in the nation to have its own airport. In 1928 Charles Lindbergh landed his craft at Albany International Airport in Colonie, located about seven miles west of downtown Albany. This airport accommodated more than 1.4 million enplanements in 2003.
A modern superhighway network that grew up along the shores of Albany’s waterways connects the city with New York City to the south via the New York State Thruway (Interstates 90 and 87), and to the Adirondack region and Lake Champlain via the Adirondack Northway (Interstate 87). Interstate 787, the Riverfront Arterial, assists intercity travel and access to New England through connections with Interstate 90 east and U.S. Route 7. Other major highways include U.S. Routes 5, 7A, 9, 9R, and a host of county highways.
Amtrak provides intercity rail passenger service to the Northeast, Midwest, and Canadian cities. The station is located in Rensselaer, about ten minutes from downtown Albany. An increasing number of motor coaches carry tourists to the region from New England and Canada.

Traveling in the City

Two downtown bus terminals operated by Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) handle passenger service in the city and its environs. In addition, CDTA trolleys run a continuous loop through the downtown area, the Theatre Arts District, the waterfront, and Lark Street during the summer.

Communications

Newspapers and Magazines

Albany readers are served by The Times Union, which is published every morning. Albany’s Business Review is a weekly business publication serving the Capital Region of New York. Several special interest newspapers and magazines are also published in the city, including The Evangelist and Metroland. Locally published periodicals cover such topics as library science, law, business, employment, film literature, the food industry, organizational management, criminal justice, institutional research, dentistry, and pharmacy.

Television and Radio

Five television stations, including four network affiliates and one independent, broadcast from Albany area. The Albany area is served by more than 40 AM and FM radio stations—7 of which originate within the city—that feature a wide range of programming, including broadcasts from several area colleges.
Media Information: Times Union, Box 15000, News Plaza, Albany, NY 12211; telephone (518)454-5694

Albany Online

Albany City School District. Available www.albanyschools.org
Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce. Available www.ac-chamber.org
Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Available www.albany.org
Albany County Department of Economic Development. Available www.albanycounty.com
Albany County Department of Health. Available www .albanycounty.com/departments/health
Capital District Regional Planning Commission. Available www.cdrpc.org
City of Albany home page. Available www.albanyny.org
The Times Union. Available www.timesunion.com