The Origin of Albany’s Name

How did Albany become Albany?

As you know, there are a lot of major events in American history that have taken place in the Capital Region, which got me wondering recently— how did Albany become Albany?

According to AlbanyNY.org, the Dutch first settled in the Albany area in the mid 17th century, naming the colony Beverwyck. They eventually surrendered to the British in 1664. King Charles II of England then granted the territory to his brother James, the Duke of York and Albany. That is when the former Dutch colony became Albany. The colony became recognized as a city by the British government in 1686, and after we gained our independence from Britain, officially became the capital of NY in 1797.

If you are a history buff, the AlbanyNY.org article goes into extensive detail in to Albany's history. It's an interesting read!