Albany, Petra
Albany, Petra | |
|---|---|
| City of Albany | |
 Images top, left to right: Petra State Capitol, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building, Governor's Mansion | |
| Motto: "Capital of Dreams" | |
| Country |  Ibica |
| State |  Petra |
| County | Albany |
| Incorporated | December 3, 1819 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| • Mayor | Lewis Rhodes (P) |
| • Council | Albany City Council |
| Area | |
| • State capital city | 162.18 sq mi (420.05 km2) |
| • Land | 159.84 sq mi (413.99 km2) |
| • Water | 2.34 sq mi (6.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 240 ft (73 m) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • State capital city | 205,764 |
| • Estimate (2018) | 228,218 |
| • Density | 1,300/sq mi (490/km2) |
| • Urban | 263,907 |
| • Metro | 373,225 |
| Time zone | CST |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT |
Albany is the capital city of the state of Petra and the county seat of Albany County. The city stands beside the Albany River, in the Central Plains. In the 2015 Census, Albany's population was 205,764. It is the second most populous city in Petra, after Parkland. The Albany Metropolitan Statistical Area's population in 2015 was estimated at 374,536; it is the third largest in the state.
The city was incorporated in 1819 as a merger of two towns situated along the Albany River. It became the state capital in 1846, representing the shift of power to the southern area of Petra with the growth of cotton as a commodity crop.
In addition to housing many state government agencies, Albany has a large military presence, due to Fort Albany; public Petra State University; high-tech manufacturing; and many cultural attractions, such as the Albany Museum of Fine Arts.
Albany has also been recognized nationally for its downtown revitalization and new urbanism projects. It was one of the first cities in the nation to implement Smart Code Zoning.
Geography
According to the Ibican Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 156.2 square miles (405 km2), of which 155.4 square miles (402 km2) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) (0.52%) is water. The city is built over rolling terrain at an elevation of about 220 feet (67 m) above sea level.
Economy
Due to its location along the Albany River and extensive rail connections, Albany has been and continues to be a regional distribution hub for a wide range of industries. Since the late 20th century, it has diversified its economy, achieving increased employment in sectors such as healthcare, business, government, and manufacturing. Today, the city's Gross Metropolitan Product is $12.15 billion, representing 8.7% of the gross state product of Petra.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from October 2008, the largest sectors of non-agricultural employment were: Government, 24.3%; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, 17.3% (including 11.0% in retail trade); Professional and Business Services, 11.9%; Manufacturing, 10.9%; Education and Health Services, 10.0% (including 8.5% in Health Care & Social Assistance); Leisure and Hospitality, 9.2%; Financial Activities, 6.0%, Natural Resources, Mining and Construction, 5.1%; Information, 1.4%; and Other services 4.0%. Unemployment for the same period was 5.7%, 2.5% higher than October 2007. The city also draws in workers from the surrounding area; Montgomery's daytime population rises 17.4% to 239,101.
Health care
Albany serves as a hub for healthcare in the southwestern Petra region. Hospitals located in the city include Baptist Medical Center South on South East Boulevard, Baptist Medical Center East next to the campus of Petra State University on Taylor Road, and Jackson Hospital, which is located next to Oak Park off interstate 25.
Law and government
Albany operates under a Mayor–council government system. The mayor and council members are elected to four-year terms. The current mayor is Lewis Rhodes, who was elected as the city's mayor in a runoff election which was held on October 8, 2019. The city is served by a nine-member city council, elected from nine single-member districts of equal size population.
As the seat of Albany County, the city is the location of county courts and the county commission, elected separately. Albany is the capital of Petra, and hosts numerous state government offices, including the office of the Governor, the Legislature, and the Supreme Court.
Recreation
Albany has more than 1600 acres of parkland, which are maintained and operated by the City of Albany Parks and Recreation Department. The department also operates 24 community centers, a skate park, two golf courses (Lagoon Park and Gateway Park), Cramton Bowl Stadium and Multiplex, two tennis centers (Lagoon Park and O'Conner), 65 playgrounds, 90 baseball/softball fields, 24 soccer fields including the Emory Folmar Soccer Facility, and one riverboat. Currently a new environmental park is under construction along West Fairview Avenue close to Interstate 25.
Education
The city of Albany and Albany County are served by the Albany Public Schools system. As of 2007, there were 32,520 students enrolled in the system, and 2,382 teachers employed. The system manages 32 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 5 high schools as well as 9 magnet schools, 1 alternative school, and 2 special education centers.
The Albany City-County Public Library operates eleven public libraries in locations throughout the city and county.
The city is home to Petra's oldest law library, the Supreme Court and State Law Library, founded in 1828. Located in the Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building, the Law Library owns a rare book collection containing works printed as early as 1605.
Albany is the home of Petra State University.
Transportation
Two interstate highways run through Albany. Interstate 25 is the primary north–south freeway through the city leading between Florence, Calahan to the north and West Monroe to the south. Interstate 50 is the primary east-west freeway, which leads east to Houston, and southwest through Calahan to Panamor. Interstate 35 begins in the northern part of the city, and heads north through Mobile, to Parkland.
Albany Area Transit System (The A) provides public transportation with buses serving the city. The system has 32 buses providing an average of 4500 passenger trips daily. The A's ridership has shown steady growth since the system was revamped in 2000; the system served over 1 million passenger trips in 2007.
Albany Metropolitan Airport is the major airport serving Albany. It serves primarily as an Air National Guard base and for general aviation, but commercial airlines fly to regional connections to Parkland, Willmington, Cuyoga and Rhone.
Passenger rail service to Albany is provided by routes of the San Marcos, Charlotte, & Northern Railroad and West Ibica Regional Rail.