Demographics

Albany, founded in 1836, is located on the banks of the Flint River in southwest Georgia. This city is the seat of Dougherty County – ranked 8th in county growth within the state of Georgia, with a population of nearly 96,000 people. About 77,000 people reside within Albany city limits.

Lifestyle

Albany boasts an eclectic mix of southern charm, history, culture and natural attractions. Go hunting for quail on one of Albany's historic, antebellum Plantations one day, then attend a Georgia Wildcats arena football game the next.

Statistics show Albany is an affordable place to live as well. According to the latest cost of living index, Albany holds the title of Georgia's lowest cost of living urban area, with a median home price of $100,000. Families with school-age children will appreciate the fact that all Doughtery County Schools have been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Weather in Albany is typical for a southern city with the average temperatures of 92°/70° in July and 60°/35° in January. Albany receives 53.4 inches of rain and enjoys 110 clear days each year.

Famous people who hail from Albany include:

History

The area that would later become Albany was first inhabited by the Creek Indians who lived and thrived on the river. The Indian name for the Flint River was Thronateeska, meaning “the place where flint is collected.” After the Revolutionary War, the Creeks fell under the protection of the United States which signaled the beginning of the end for the Creek natives.

As the white settlers moved into the area, they too settled on the banks of the Flint River. One Connecticut businessman, named Nelson Tift, founded Albany in 1836. Tift chose the name Albany after Albany, NY, since both areas are situated at the head of a navigable river. The prosperous farming region produced large amounts of cotton, and Albany was in a prime location for transporting the crop via steamboats down the river. By the early 1900's, Albany became a railroad hub, ushering in other forms of commerce. Once known as the “ Pecan Capital of the World,” Albany was home to the Famous Candy Company (later Bobs Candies) which opened there in 1919. The old railroad station, Union Station, now houses Thronateeska Heritage Center which features train exhibits – a nod to the significance the railroad played in Albany's history.

Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping

Albany residents enjoy the benefits of living in a metropolitan area, with plenty of cafés, restaurants, a shopping mall and specialty shops to browse and enjoy. Kids will love a state-of-the-art entertainment facility that features a miniature golf course, laser tag arena, Blaster Boats, go-carts, a Maxflight Simulator, batting cages, a video/game room and kiddie rides.

Museums, The Arts & Culture

Museum aficionados will have plenty to see in Albany. In its permanent collection, The Albany Museum of Art houses 2,400 original African, European, and American works of art with 200 works on display at any given time. The newly restored 1906 Old Mt. Zion Church holds the Albany Civil Rights Movement Museum, detailing the civil rights struggle through oral histories, photographs, documents and artifacts. The Heritage Center Museum is composed of three major parts: The Museum of History, Wetherbee Planetarium, and Science Discovery Center.

Built in 1915, the Albany Municipal Auditorium has been restored to its original splendor and has earned a designation on the National Register of Historic Places. The auditorium hosts performances by the Albany Chorale, the Albany Concert Association and the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and special appearances by the Albany Ballet and Theatre Albany. One of Albany's pre-Civil war landmark buildings, the Theatre Albany is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 300+ seat, main stage, theater offers major plays and productions in-season.

Recreation

The Albany Recreation and Parks Department provides leisure services through the department's 70+ parks and facilities, including public swimming facilities, community centers/gyms, an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, lighted athletic fields, youth sports complexes and public boat landings. A variety of parks, located throughout the city, provide walking and fitness trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, horseshoe courts, scenic lakes, rose gardens, and space for group events.

There is much to do in and around the Flint River – one of only 40 rivers in the United States that flows more than 200 miles without the interruption of a dam. The open-air RiverQuarium tells the story of the Flint River and the blue-hole springs that feed it. The 175,000-gallon, 22-foot deep, freshwater aquarium is home to fish, reptiles and plants found in the river's ecosystem. The River Center also houses a children's museum, natural history museum, botanical garden and science museum.

Enjoy boating, fishing and skiing on Lake Chehaw. Or take the canoe trail that winds it way around this 1,400-acre lake, formed by the Georgia Power Dam.

The Chehaw Wild Animal Park is the largest children's play park in southwest Georgia and one of two AZA accredited zoos in the state. Visitors can see exotic and native animals in their native habitat and a free -ranging Lemur exhibit.

Albany is a growing metropolitan area with an affordable cost of living, access to the waters of Lake Chehaw and the Flint River, museums and the performing arts, and all the history and charm of the South.

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