Albany, California | |
|---|---|
 View of Albany from Albany Hill | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: Urban Village by the Bay[1] | |
 Location inAlameda County and the state of California | |
  Albany, California Location in California Show map of California Albany, California Albany, California (the United States) Show map of the United States Albany, California Albany, California (North America) Show map of North America | |
| Coordinates:37°53′13″N122°17′52″W / 37.88694°N 122.29778°W /37.88694; -122.29778 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Alameda |
| Incorporated | September 22, 1908[2] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Robin Lopez |
| • State Senate | Jesse Arreguín (D)[3] |
| • State Assembly | Buffy Wicks (D)[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.47 sq mi (14.16 km2) |
| • Land | 1.79 sq mi (4.64 km2) |
| • Water | 3.68 sq mi (9.52 km2) 67.28% |
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 20,271 |
| • Density | 11,324.58/sq mi (4,372.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 94706, 94707, 94710 |
| Area codes | 510, 341 |
| FIPS code | 06-00674 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1657902,2409674 |
| Website | www |
Albany (/ˈɑːlbəni/ ⓘAWL-bə-nee) is a city on the east shore ofSan Francisco Bay in northwesternAlameda County, California, United States. The population was 20,271 at the2020 United States census.[7]
In 1908, a group of local women protested the dumping ofBerkeleygarbage in their community. Armed with twoshotguns and a twenty-two-caliber rifle, they confronted the drivers of the wagons near what is now the corner ofSan Pablo Avenue and Buchanan Street. The women told the drivers of the horse-drawn garbage wagons to go home, which they did quickly and without complaint.[8] Shortly thereafter, the residents of the town voted toincorporate as the City of Ocean View.
In 1909, voters changed the name of the city, primarily to distinguish the city from the adjacent section ofBerkeley which had previously been namedOcean View.[9] On a vote of 38 to 6[9] the city was renamed in honor ofAlbany, New York, the birthplace of the city's first mayor, Frank Roberts.[10]
The Albany Sauna is one of the oldest Finnish-style saunas open to the public in North America. Built in 1934 by Finnish-American Henry Walter Lundgren (a founding member of the Finnish Lodge in West Berkeley), the original furnace and rooms have been maintained.
Albany has a history of real estate discrimination, which made it difficult for non-white buyers to acquire property and build homes in Albany.[11][12][13]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14 km2), of which 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2) (67.28%) is water.
The principal shopping street in Albany isSolano Avenue, which cuts across the city from west to east. Another important street isSan Pablo Avenue, which travels from north to south.
Albany is a small city located on the eastern shore ofSan Francisco Bay, bordering the city ofBerkeley to the south and east, and theContra Costa County cities ofEl Cerrito andRichmond to the north. Albany's northern and southern borders are defined by two creeks,Codornices Creek on the south andCerrito Creek on the north. Cerrito Creek takes its name from "El Cerrito de San Antonio", now known asAlbany Hill. The hill's unusual location near the bay shore makes it a prominent landmark in the East Bay. The rest of the city is relatively flat by Bay Area standards, except for a small area near the base of theBerkeley Hills.
Albany's waterfront has undergone significant man-made changes; the most prominent landform is now theAlbany Bulb, a former garbage landfill jutting out into San Francisco Bay. The bulb was the site of a small art colony and shanty town until it was cleared to turn the area into part of the newEastshore State Park.[14][15][16]
University Village, a housing unit of theUniversity of California Berkeley, is located in Albany.[17]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 808 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,462 | 204.7% | |
| 1930 | 8,569 | 248.1% | |
| 1940 | 11,493 | 34.1% | |
| 1950 | 17,590 | 53.0% | |
| 1960 | 14,804 | −15.8% | |
| 1970 | 15,561 | 5.1% | |
| 1980 | 15,130 | −2.8% | |
| 1990 | 16,327 | 7.9% | |
| 2000 | 16,444 | 0.7% | |
| 2010 | 18,539 | 12.7% | |
| 2020 | 20,271 | 9.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 20,325 | [18] | 0.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[19] | |||
The2020 United States census reported that Albany had a population of 20,271. The population density was 11,324.6 inhabitants per square mile (4,372.5/km2). The racial makeup of Albany was 46.6%White, 3.5%African American, 0.4%Native American, 30.5%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 5.6% fromother races, and 13.3% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.1% of the population.[20]
The Census reported that 93.1% of the population lived in households, 6.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.0% were institutionalized.[20]
There were 7,493 households, out of which 38.4% included children under the age of 18, 52.4% were married-couple households, 6.7% werecohabiting couple households, 26.7% had a female householder with no partner present, and 14.2% had a male householder with no partner present. 22.9% of households were one person, and 11.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52.[20] There were 5,126families (68.4% of all households).[21]
The age distribution was 21.6% under the age of 18, 11.7% aged 18 to 24, 28.6% aged 25 to 44, 23.0% aged 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males.[20]
There were 7,907 housing units at an average density of 4,417.3 units per square mile (1,705.5 units/km2), of which 7,493 (94.8%) were occupied. Of these, 48.9% were owner-occupied, and 51.1% were occupied by renters.[20]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 26.1% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 62.5% spoke only English at home, 7.9% spokeSpanish, 7.9% spoke otherIndo-European languages, 21.3% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.4% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 97.4% were high school graduates and 76.4% had a bachelor's degree.[22]
The median household income was $135,927, and theper capita income was $72,518. About 6.1% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line.[23]
Through the early 1940's Albany "remained closed to African Americans."[24] The Black population of Albany in 1940 was 3 persons.[25] Between 1950 and 1960, the Black population of Albany fell 95% from 1778 to 75.[26]
Albany is served byAC Transit,BART (North Berkeley,El Cerrito Plaza), and bus shuttles operated byLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.[27]Interstate 80 runs along the bay shoreline, with access to local Albany via Buchanan street.San Pablo Avenue, managed byCaltrans, is the primary arterial roadway running from north to south through Albany, parallel to theSan Francisco Bay. Other notable roadways in Albany includeSolano Avenue, the city's primary commercial street, and Marin Avenue, both of which run from east to west. West of San Pablo Avenue, Marin Avenue continues on to Interstate 80 as Buchanan street.
TheOhlone Greenway, a mixed use pedestrian and cycling facility, runs north and south through Albany from El Cerrito Plaza towardsNorth Berkeley BART station. Many streets in Albany have been treated with fixtures that support the safety and comfort of pedestrians and cyclists, such asCurb extensions,Pedestrian islands,Raised crosswalks, andBicycle boulevards with traffic diversion features. A local nonprofit,Albany Strollers & Rollers has donated a number of bicycle parking racks around Albany, and frequently advises the city on itsactive transportation plan.[28] As of April 2025, the city is in the process of updating its active transportation plan, which was last updated in 2019.[29]
The major retail and business areas in Albany areSolano Avenue, which is a pedestrian-oriented street lined with mainly small shops, restaurants, and services; San Pablo Avenue, which is more automobile-oriented; and an area near the Eastshore Freeway.
In 2006 voters approved of measure D which allows one medical cannabis dispensary in the town in addition to measure C to build a new emergency operations center with "sustainable features", an addition to the civic center of Albany.[30]
Albany is the site ofGolden Gate Fields, which was the only horse racing track in the Bay Area until it closed in June 2024.[31]
Real estate prices have been rising steeply in recent years. The median price of a single family home and condo in Census 2000, June 2007, November 2009, July 2011, August 2013 and August 2014 were $334,800, $687,500, $610,000, $590,000, $625,750 and $820,050 respectively.[32]
According to theCalifornia Secretary of State, as of February 10, 2019, Albany has 11,344 registered voters. Of those, 7,489 (66%) are registeredDemocrats, 512 (4.5%) are registeredRepublicans, and 2,917 (25.7%) havedeclined to state a political party.[33]
In 1966, Albany was home to aJohn Birch Society bookstore known as the American Opinion Library.[34] On July 30, 1968, the John Birch society Truth About Civil Turmoil committee hosted an event at the Albany Veterans Memorial Building which included a speech by a formerklansman, Delmar Dennis.[35][36]
On March 26, 2024, the Albany City Council passed a resolution supporting an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.[37]
On December 9, 2024, the city of Albany appointed their first ever Latino Mayor, Robin Lopez, who also happens to be a Doctoral Candidate at UC Berkeley in Environmental Science.[38][39][40] The city of Albany conducts what is known as a rotating mayorship of elected council members. Previously, Robin Lopez served as the Vice Mayor of Albany, under past Mayor John Miki. Robin Lopez and John Miki campaigned together in 2022, when both were elected to city council.[41] In that same year, a vacant council seat was filled by Jennifer Hansen-Romero.[42]
According to Albany's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[43] the top employers in the city were:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany Unified School District | 383 |
| 2 | Target | 358 |
| 3 | Agricultural Research Service | 266 |
| 4 | Golden Gate Fields (Closed) | 199 |
| 5 | City of Albany | 84 |
| 6 | St. Mary's College High School | 70 |
| 7 | AlbanySubaru | 56 |
| 8 | Safeway | 45 |
| 9 | California Orientation Center for the Blind | 45 |
| 10 | Albany Bowl (Closed) | 43 |
Public schools in Albany are operated by theAlbany Unified School District, aspecial-purpose district whose borders match the city's. The school district operates three elementary schools (Marin Elementary School, Ocean View Elementary School and Cornell Elementary School), onemiddle school (Albany Middle School), one traditional high school (Albany High School), and onecontinuation high school (MacGregor High School), in addition to the Albany Children's Center.Albany High School is known as one of the best public schools of theSan Francisco Bay Area for its academic excellence. The high school had a graduation rate of 92.1%, according to the 2009–10 School Accountability Report Card for the prior academic year.[44]
There are two private high schools in Albany:Tilden Preparatory School (formerly School for Independent Learners) on Solano Avenue andSt. Mary's College High School, whose campus straddles the border with Berkeley, CA.
TheUniversity of California, Berkeley owns a large student housing complex in Albany,University Village, which is primarily used for family housing.
The Solano Avenue Stroll, an annual street festival held onSolano Avenue in Albany and Berkeley, attracts more than 250,000 visitors on the second Sunday of September. The event was started in 1975 byThe Iris store owner and Solano Avenue Association founder Ira Klein as a "thank you party" from Solano Avenue business owners to customers.[45]The Library of Congress designated the Solano Stroll as a "National Local Legacy" in 2001.[45]
Albany has both the locale and the title for one of the best-known poems inlanguage poetry, by former long-time Albany resident, poetRon Silliman.
Albany is home toGolden Gate Fields, the only commercial racetrack in the Bay Area, as well as theEastshore State Park which skirts the San Francisco Bay, and theAlbany Bulb.
Albany has a school music program. High school music groups, both instrumental and choral, have performed at theCMEA, Reno Jazz, and other festivals. The Albany High School Jazz Band was also accepted at theEssentially Ellington festival at theLincoln Center in 2010. Albany was one of 15 schools accepted into the festival.
Albany Strollers & Rollers is a volunteer group dedicated to service and advocacy for bicycling and walking.[46]
Friends of Five Creeks is an all-volunteer group working hands-on for clean water and healthy watersheds.
The Albany Community Center was designed by architectRobert Marquis and opened in 1994.[47] It houses the Albany Public Library on one side and the Community Center on the other, and is host to many different community events and cultural activities.
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