Albany is a city of 72,000 people (2019) in Dougherty County in Georgia's Plantation Midlands region. It is part of the Black Belt, the extensive area in the Deep South of cotton plantations. During 1961–1962, African Americans in Albany played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, founding the Albany Movement, a desegregation and voters' rights coalition formed in 1961. Ray Charles, the singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer, was born here, and is remembered in a park with a statue.
Understand
Health care, education and the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany are the largest employers. Manufacturing, transportation, and retail trade are also important foundations of Albany's economy, and the city acts as a hub for commerce in southwest Georgia.
The intersection of Lonesome and Hardup was ranked as the fourth wackiest street intersection name, according to a 2006 poll by the Car Connection website.
Get in
By car
U.S. Route 19 and U.S. Route 82 provide thoroughfares through the city. The two join together north of the city for a short freeway known as the Liberty Expressway. Other major highways that run through the city include Georgia State Route 91, Georgia State Route 133, Georgia State Route 234, and Georgia State Route 520.
Albany is located on Georgia State Route 300 (Georgia-Florida Parkway), which provides easy access to Cordele, and Interstate 75 to the northeast and south to Camilla, and Thomasville. The Liberty Expressway spans 10 miles (16 km) serves as a bypass on Albany's north and east sides.
By plane
Southwest Georgia Regional Airport (IATA: ABY) is a non-hub commercial service airport with service from Atlanta by Endeavor Air, a regional carrier for Delta.
By bus
There is a Greyhound bus station in downtown Albany, with connections to interstate service.
Get around
Albany Transit System (ATS) provides fixed-route and para-transit services in Albany and Dougherty County, including service to the airport. All buses are wheelchair accessible and are equipped with bicycle racks. The main transfer station is in downtown Albany, at the corner of Oglethorpe and Jackson.
See
- Ray Charles Plaza. This downtown park memorializes Albany's most famous musician with a revolving, illuminated, bronze, statue of Ray Charles that also plays his music.
- Albany Civil Rights Institute, 326 Whitney Ave, +1 229-432-1698. Tu–Sa 10AM–4PM. 2015-08-23
- Albany Museum of Art, 311 Meadowlark Drive, +1 229-439-8400, info@albanymuseum.com. Tu–Sa 10AM-5PM. Free 2015-08-23
- Radium Springs Gardens, 2501 Radium Springs Road, +1 229-317-4760. Tu–Sa 9AM–5PM, Su 1–5PM. Free 2015-08-23
- Flint RiverQuarium, 117 Pine Avenue, +1 229-639-2650. Tu–Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. 2015-08-23
- Chehaw Park, 105 Chehaw Park Road, +1 229-430-5275. Park: daily 8AM- 7PM; zoo: daily 9:30AM-5PM. 2015-08-23
- Thronateeska Heritage Center, 100 West Roosevelt Avenue, +1 229-432-6955. Th–Sa 10AM-4PM. 2015-08-23
Do
- Riverfront Trail is a 3.1-mile (5-km) paved trail along the Flint River that connects Riverfront Park in downtown Albany to the Cox Landing Boat Ramp in northeast Albany, near Chehaw Park. The Oxford Environmental Park Nature Trail is an offshoot of the trail, which provides information about the ecological features of the area.
Buy
- Albany Mall. Belk, JCPenney, Dillard's, Old Navy, and Books-A-Million. 2020-10-27
Eat
- BJ's II, 2004 E Oglethorpe Blvd, 31.571459°, -84.100436°, +1 229 435-9532. 10AM-9PM.
Drink
Sleep
- Hilton Garden Inn Albany/Hotel, 101 S Front Street (next to the James H. Gray Sr. Civic Center in downtown Albany), +1 229 888-1590. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Has 122 deluxe guestrooms and 13,000 square feet of diverse meeting and banquet space.
- Red Roof Inn & Suites, 1400 Dawson Rd, +1 229-888-3939. A Red Roof that even has a free breakfast. $59
- Park Inn by Radisson Albany, GA, 2729 Pointe N Blvd, +1 229-446-2001. Outdoor pool. $67