Albany, Georgia
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Albany is a city located in Dougherty County, Georgia, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 76,939. The city is the county seat of Dougherty CountyTemplate:GR.
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Geography
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Location of Albany, Georgia
Albany is located at 31°34'56" North, 84°9'56" West (31.582273, -84.165557)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Albany has a total area of 144.7 km² (55.9 mi²). 143.8 km² (55.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.59% water. Albany lies in a belt of rich farmland in the East Gulf coastal plain.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 76,939 people, 28,620 households, and 18,889 families residing in the city. The population density is 535.0/km² (1,385.5/mi²). There are 32,062 housing units at an average density of 222.9/km² (577.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 33.21% White, 64.80% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 28,620 households out of which 32.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% are married couples living together, 25.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% are non-families. 28.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.54 and the average family size is 3.14.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 79.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,639, and the median income for a family is $33,843. Males have a median income of $30,204 versus $22,268 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,485. 27.1% of the population and 21.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 37.7% of those under the age of 18 and 18.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
Albany was formerly inhabited by the Creek Indians. During the early 1800s, Albany was a prosperous farming region which produced large amounts of cotton. Today, the city is one of the largest cities in southern Georgia.
Economy
Although Albany has expanded considerably in the past few decades, it is still able to retain the population and environment of a Southern town. today, almost none of the population is employed in agriculture. Manufacturing, transportation, and retail trasde are now the foundation of Albany's economy.
Notable people
Pianist and soul singer Ray Charles was born in Albany on September 23, 1930.
Deion Branch was also born July 18, 1979 in the city. He is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the New England Patriots. He was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, 2005.
Albany in The Souls of Black Folk
In W.E.B. Du Bois' The Souls of Black Folk, Albany was featured in several chapters as a typical African American rural town in the South. In the book, Du Bois discussed the culture, agribusiness, and economy of the region. Du Bois described Albany as a small town where local sharecroppers lived. Much of the soil had been depleted of nutrients because of intense cotton cultivation. Once a bustling community full of cotton gins and toiling slaves, the place had declined steadily in the late 1800s as the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation drastically altered the demographics and economy of Albany. Du Bois wrote that Dougherty County had many decaying one-room slave cabins and unfenced land. Despite the problems, local folklore, customs, and the culture made Albany a unique town in the South.