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Albany replaces New York City as the capital of New York

Albany ( AWL-bə-nee) is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York. It is also the county seat of, and the most populous city in, Albany County.

Albany ( AWL-bə-nee) is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York. It is also the county seat of, and the most populous city in, Albany County. Albany is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, approximately ten miles (16 km) south of its confluence with the Mohawk River. Its population was 99,224 at the time of the 2020 census and was estimated at 101,317 in 2024.

The oldest city in New York, the City of Albany is the economic and cultural core of New York State's Capital District. The Capital District is a metropolitan area including the nearby cities and suburbs of Colonie, Troy, Schenectady, and Saratoga Springs.

Historical Significance

Albany ( AWL-bə-nee) is the capital city of the U.

Events Before

  1. Napoléon Bonaparte is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the French Army in Italy

    The Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars (1792–1801) were a series of conflicts fought principally in Northern Italy between the French Revolutionary Army and a Coalition of Austria,…

  2. Napoléon Bonaparte (26) marries his first wife Joséphine de Beauharnais (32), changing her name from Rose

    Napoléon Bonaparte (26) marries his first wife Joséphine de Beauharnais (32), changing her name from Rose

  3. English country doctor Edward Jenner administers his revolutionary cowpox-based vaccine for smallpox in Berkeley, Glouce

    English country doctor Edward Jenner administers his revolutionary cowpox-based vaccine for smallpox in Berkeley, Gloucestershire

  4. Armand-Gaston Camus becomes chairman of the Council of 500

    Armand-Gaston Camus becomes chairman of the Council of 500

  5. The capital of Upper Canada is moved from Newark to York

    York was a town and the second capital of the colony of Upper Canada. It is the predecessor to the old city of Toronto (1834–1998).

Events After

  1. Russia appoints first Jewish censor to censor Hebrew books

    Russia appoints first Jewish censor to censor Hebrew books

  2. US Sedition Act prohibits "any false, scandalous, and malicious writing" about the government

    US Sedition Act prohibits "any false, scandalous, and malicious writing" about the government

  3. 11th Amendment ratified, judicial powers construed

    11th Amendment ratified, judicial powers construed

  4. Coup d'état in Batavian Republic

    The Batavian Republic (Dutch: Bataafse Republiek; French: République Batave) was the successor state to the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.

  5. Rep Matthew Lyon (Vt) spits in face of Rep Roger Griswold (Ct) in US House of Representatives, after an argument

    Rep Matthew Lyon (Vt) spits in face of Rep Roger Griswold (Ct) in US House of Representatives, after an argument

More from the 1790s

Russia appoints first Jewish censor to censor Hebrew books

Russia appoints first Jewish censor to censor Hebrew books

First US President George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address

The 1790 State of the Union Address was the inaugural State of the Union address, delivered by President George Washington to the United States Congress on January 8, 1790, at the Senate Chamber of…

French King Louis XVI sentenced to death by the National Convention during the French Revolution

Louis XVI was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution.

Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine in Paris, following his conviction for high treason by the newly formed Na

Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine in Paris, following his conviction for high treason by the newly formed National Convention during the French Revolution

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 1, 1797?
Albany ( AWL-bə-nee) is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York. It is also the county seat of, and the most populous city in, Albany County.
Why is Albany replaces New York City as the capital of New York significant?
Albany ( AWL-bə-nee) is the capital city of the U.

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January 1 in HistoryYear 1797