Albany is a city located in southwest Georgia. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area and the county seat of Dougherty County. The racial makeup of the city was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.

The area where Albany is located was formerly inhabited by the Creek Indians. They called it Thronateeska after the flint found near the river. The Creeks used this stone to make arrowheads and other tools. Connecticut businessman Nelson Tift settled along the Flint River in October, 1836 and named the new town after Albany, New York because they both sit at the navigable head of a river. The city was laid out by Alexander Shotwell in 1836. The city was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly of Georgia on December 27, 1838.