Albany County, New York
Genealogy, History & Facts

County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links

Albany County, New York Facts

When was Albany County, NY Created?
Albany County was created on November 1, 1683 as one of 12 original counties created in the New York colony.

What is the County Seat of Albany County, NY?
The County Seat is located in Albany and in addition the county government website is www.albanycounty.com

What counties are adjacent to Albany County, NY?
Bordering Counties are Schenectady County, Saratoga County, Rensselaer County, Columbia County, Greene County, Schoharie County.

Albany County, NY Vital Records

Where can find Albany County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Albany County vital records can be found at the New York Department of Health which has copies of birth records after 1881 and death records after 1880, copies of marriage since 1881 and a Divorce records since 1847 . There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in New York for current fees and application process.

You can search online for Albany County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for New York Birth and Death Certificate, Marriage and Divorce Certificate Application to mail.

• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• Social Security Death Index
• USGenweb Archives New York Marriage Project
• New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962
• New York, County Marriages, 1908-1935
• New York Marriages, 1686-1980
• New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952

Albany County, NY Census Records

What Albany County, NY census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Albany County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.

Albany Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Albany Co. Industry and Agriculture is available for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Albany Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be obtained for 1890.

There are New York State censuses from 1880, 1892, 1905, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, 1925. You can get free downloadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also New York Census Records Research Guide

• Search The U.S. Federal Census Collection
• U.S. Census Mortality Schedules, New York, 1850-1880
• Albany, New York State Census, 1915
• New York: State Census of Albany County Towns in 1790
• Albany County, NY Census Records Links
• Albany County, NY Census QuickFacts

Albany County, NY Courthouse and Government Records

Albany County Courthouse

What genealogical records can I find in the Albany County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Albany County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in New York courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless New York residents. The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Albany County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also New York Courthouse Records Research Guide.

• Albany County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
  • Address: 16 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207
• Albany County Clerk
  • Phone: (518) 487-5100
  • Land Records: 1656
  • Court Records:1656
• Albany County Surrogate Court Clerk
  • Phone: (518) 285-8585
  • Probate Records:1787
• Albany County Historian
  • Address: Albany County Office Bldg. Room 820 112 State St. Albany, NY  12207
  • Phone: (518) 447-7057
• New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999
• Proceedings of the Legislature of the state of New York
• Minutes of the Court of Rensselaerswyck, 1648-1652
• New York Wills, 1626-1836
• BLM Land Records

Albany County, NY Societies and Family History Resources

What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Albany County, NY?
A list of Albany County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide New York Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.

• Albany County Hall of Records (albanycounty.com)
• New York State Archives and Records Administration, 11th Floor, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230; (518) 474-8955
• New York State Library, Cultural Education Center, 7th Floor, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230
• The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 122 East 58th Street, New York, New York 10022-1939
• New York State Historical Association, West Lake Road, P.O. Box 800, Cooperstown, New York, 13326-0800

Where can I connect with other Albany County, NY Researchers through message boards and forums?

https://www.archives.gov/research/census
• New York Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
• New York State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
• Albany County, New York Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com)
• Albany County, New York Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)

What other genealogical resources are available in Albany County, NY?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Albany County. Most of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is simply a listing that has been compiled or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another.

Albany Co. NY Books, Newspapers & Publications

• New York Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
• New York historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
• Historical Newspapers from New York (1719 – 1992) (genealogybank.com)
• Albany authors : a list of books  (search.ancestry.com)
• Albany County, New York Books (amazon.com)
• Search New York Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)

Albany Co. NY Cemeteries & Church Records

• New York Cemetery Research Guide
• Albany Co., New York Graves (findagrave.com)
• Albany County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
• Albany Co., New York Cemeteries (Internment.net)
• Albany Co., New York Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
• New York Church & Bible Research Guide
• Albany, New York Church Records, 1683-1700  (search.ancestry.com)
• Members of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in the city of Albany, 1836  (search.ancestry.com)
• Fourth Presbyterian Church  (search.ancestry.com)
• A collection of historical records of the State Street Presbyterian Church of Albany, New York  (search.ancestry.com)
• New York, Family Bible Records, 1581-1917  (search.ancestry.com)
• Albany County, New York Church Books (amazon.com)

Albany Co. NY Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

• Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
• New York Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
• Rensselaerswyck, New York Settlers, 1630-58  (search.ancestry.com)
• The Berne Historical Project (bernehistory.org)
• Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)

Albany Co. NY General and History Websites

• See Also State History for New York
• Albany County, New York Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
• Early Albany County, NYHistory (hopefarm.com)
• Collections on the history of Albany : from its discovery to the present time, with notices of its public institutions, and bio  (search.ancestry.com)
• The heroes of Albany : a memorial of the patriot-martyrs of the city and county of Albany who sacrificed their lives during the Albany regiments  (search.ancestry.com)
• The history of the city of Albany, New York : from the discovery of the great river in 1524, by Verrazzano, to the present time  (search.ancestry.com)
• History of the Albany Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1852-1927  (search.ancestry.com)
• Correspondence of Jeremias van Rensselaer, 1651-1674  (search.ancestry.com)
• Albany County, New York Wiki (familysearch.org)
• Albany Co. NY Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
• Family History Library (familysearch.org)
• Albany County, New York (linkpendium.com)
• Cyndi’s List – United States – New York – Counties – Albany (cyndislist.com)
• Albany County New York (genealogytrails.com)
• Albany Co. NYGenweb (rootsweb.ancestry.com)
• Albany County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
• Albany Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)

Albany Co. NY Immigration & Naturalization

• See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for New York
• New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924  (familysearch.org)
• Early New York Naturalizations  (search.ancestry.com)

Albany Co. NY Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

• See Also Map of New York Links and Information
• 1895 Albany County Map (livgenmi.com)

Albany Co. NY Military Records

• New York Military Records Research Guide
• Albany’s part in the World War  (search.ancestry.com)
• New York, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865  (familysearch.org)
• New York Civil War Records (1861-65)  (search.ancestry.com)
• New York Military Records (Fold3.com) provides easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents of the New York both women and men who served. Perfect for Albany County genealogists, researchers, historians and more.

Albany Co. NY Schools & Directories

• Troy, New York City Directory, 1890  (search.ancestry.com)
• Albany, New York Directories, 1889-91  (search.ancestry.com)
• Union College masters and undergraduate theses relating to the Capital district of New York State, and to the state government  (search.ancestry.com)