History

Early Settlers: Albany's heritage is intertwined with its location along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, its temperate climate and its unique natural features. This environment supported the City's first known residents, a tribe of Native Americans known as the Costanoans (coast dwellers) or Ohlone, who lived at the base of Albany Hill along Cerrito Creek. Shell fragments and grinding rocks found at Creekside Park serve as a reminder of these people who lived in the Albany area until the early 19th Century, when the Spanish land barons arrived in California.
In 1820, the King of Spain granted a large portion of the East Bay to Don Luis Maria Peralta, who then divided the land among his three sons. Jose Domingo received the northern portion, which included the area of Berkeley and Albany, and used the land for cattle farming.

Gold and Dynamite: The discovery of gold and the entry of California into the United States brought many settlers to the west, ultimately ending the land grant economy. The Peralta land was divided into small parcels and sold as farms or homesteads.

Gold mining created a demand for dynamite, and Albany became home to a number of powder plants at Fleming Point, which is the present site of Golden Gate Fields. This industry died out in 1905 after a series of explosions and fires. In 1906, the great San Francisco earthquake and fire occurred, which resulted in a large migration of families from San Francisco to the East Bay. This significantly impacted development in Albany and other nearby jurisdictions.

Incorporation. In 1908, area residents protested the dumping of Berkeley garbage in their community by incorporating and became the City of Ocean View. In 1909, voters changed the name of the city, primarily to distinguish the City from many other communities in the area with the name of Ocean View. On a vote of 38 - 6, Albany was chosen as the new name, in honor of the birthplace of the City's first mayor, Mayor Frank Roberts.

In 1927, Albany voters adopted the City's first Charter, giving the City full control over its own affairs as long as there was no conflict with State or Federal laws.

During World War II, the Federal Government built a housing project called Codornices Village on land leased from the University of California, to accommodate the thousands of workers at the Richmond shipyards. Adjacent was the Veterans Village that provided temporary military housing for the US Navy training base in the same area. After the war, both "villages" operated as a Federal Housing Project until 1956, when the 420 units reverted to University ownership and came to be known as "Albany Village," serving as family student housing. In 1962, 500 more apartments were building for students. Renovation of all 350 units commenced in 1999 and was completed in 2000.

Step 2 of the renovation of University Village began in September, 2004, with the demolition of the existing 412 units of 1960s housing. These will be replaced with up to 558 one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Anticipated completion of the project is in 2008.