Albany is located in Carroll County in the Eastern region of New Hampshire. First chartered in 1776 by Governor Benning Wentworth, the town was originally known as Burton, after General Jonathan Burton. In 1833, the town was incorporated and renamed Albany, in honor of the newly chartered New York Central Railroad which ran from New York City to Albany, New York.
Albany spans an area of 75.2 square miles, of which, just .6 square miles is water. The town includes two mountains, Mount Chocorua and Mount Paugus, and parts of several rivers, including the Swift River, the Chocorua River and the Saco River. Eight-five percent of Albany is considered part of the White Mountain National Forest, a federally managed forest that reaches from New Hampshire to Maine. The Forest includes numerous campgrounds, more than 1,000 miles of hiking trails, various ski areas and other recreational activities.
As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Albany has a population of just 735 people. On average, there are just under 10 people per square mile of land. Demographically, Albany is comprised of 98 percent Caucasian residents. There are more males than females in the town by a small margin; according to the last census, when 489 residents were female and 507 were male. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen, who is elected annually. Currently, the Board includes residents Jack Rose, Sara Young-Knox and Joe Ferris. Albany does not have its own police department fire department or emergency medical service.
Though the town is small, it does have a recreational department, which hosts various sports leagues throughout the year, including softball, track & field, golf and more. For public school, children in Albany attend the Conway School District and Kennett High School.