Population
The County has a population of 294,565 as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce in the 2000 Census.
Of that total, 94,301 live in the City of Albany, which is the County seat and New York State capital.
The following table presents population trends of the County, the Albany Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (the "SMSA" consists of the five counties of Albany, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady), the State and the United States since 1960.
| Albany County Population | Albany SMSA Population | New York State Population | United States Population | |
| 1960 | 272,900 | 714,743 | 16,782,300 | 179,323,000 |
| 1970 | 286,700 | 777,743 | 18,241,400 | 203,235,000 |
| 1980 | 285,909 | 795,019 | 17,558,072 | 226,504,825 |
| 1990 | 292,793 | 861,623 | 17,990,778 | 248,709,873 |
| 2000 | 294,565 | 875,583 | 18,976,457 | 281,421,906 |
Data for 1960 through 2000 are compiled by the U.S. Department of Commerce as of April 1 of each year based on the census for that year.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
The information presented in this "About Us" section is a brief description of the County, its economy, governmental organization, indebtedness and financial practices.
Certain information may require economic analysis in order to assess the importance of the facts and figures presented.
