Albany, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Albany, Louisiana
Town
Hungarian Settlement School in Albany
Location of Albany in Livingston Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	Livingston
Incorporated	October 7, 1953
Area
• Total	1.34 sq mi (3.47 km2)
• Land	1.34 sq mi (3.47 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	39 ft (12 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,235
• Density	921.64/sq mi (355.88/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	70711
Area code(s)	225
GNIS feature ID	2407407
FIPS code	22-00835

Albany is a small town located in eastern Livingston Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. It is part of the larger Baton Rouge area. In 2020, about 1,235 people lived there.

A local leader, Sherman Q. Mack, who is a lawyer and a State Representative for District 95, lives in Albany.

What's in a Name? The Story of Albany

People think the name "Albany" might come from the Choctaw word abani. This word means "to cook over a fire" in the Choctaw language.

However, many older residents shared a different story. They said the town was named after the nearby Natalbany River. When the Illinois Central Railroad built a train line through the area, they wanted to call the community Natalbany. But the railroad and post office said no. There was already another town with that name.

The Hungarian Settlement: A Unique History

Albany is home to a special place called the Historic Hungarian Settlement. Between 1896 and 1920, many Hungarian immigrants came to live here. They named their new community Árpádhon.

The name Árpádhon comes from Árpád, a famous Hungarian leader, and -hon, which means "home." By 1900, only eleven Hungarian families lived there. But by 1908, about forty families had started new farms. By 1920, around two hundred families lived on farms in the area.

Árpádhon became the largest rural Hungarian settlement in the United States. About 350 Hungarian families made their home there. In the 1930s, many of these families became successful strawberry farmers.

Where is Albany? Geography Facts

Albany is located where two main roads meet: U.S. Route 190 and Louisiana Highway 43. The major highway I-12 also passes just south of the town.

The Little Natalbany River flows along the east side of Albany. It then joins the larger Natalbany River a couple of miles to the southeast. The town covers an area of about 1.34 square miles (3.47 square kilometers), and all of it is land.

How Many People Live Here? Population Changes

In 2000, there were 865 people living in Albany. This included 371 households and 234 families. By 2010, the population grew to 1,088 people. In 2020, the number of residents increased to 1,235.

Cool Places to Visit: Cultural and Historic Sites

Albany has some interesting places that show its history and culture:

• The Hungarian Settlement School: This old school is in Albany. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Today, it is home to the Hungarian Settlement Museum. The museum officially opened in 2017.
• St. Margaret Catholic Church: In 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Juhasz gave 20 acres of land for a church. That same year, the Archbishop of New Orleans approved the name St. Margaret Catholic Church.
• Albany Plantation: This large property, covering 34 acres, celebrates the French Cajun culture of Louisiana.

Learning in Albany: Local Schools

Students in Albany attend schools that are part of the Livingston Parish Public Schools system. The schools serving the town include:

• Albany Lower Elementary School
• Albany Upper Elementary School
• Albany Middle School
• Albany High School

See also

In Spanish: Albany (Luisiana) para niños