Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1891 on, and the census since 1860.
Albany dates its founding to 1837 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1860.
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Albany’s history is told.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Albany. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Albany.
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
In the archiveFirst Trust and Savings Bank, Albany, Ill (NBY 428969)From Wikipedia’s history of Albany.
Albany was laid out in 1837, and named after Albany, New York, the native home of a large share of the first settlers. A post office called Albany has been in operation since 1838.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Passages that mention Albany, cut from the printed page as they were published.
An act for the better watching and guarding of the city of Albany. Forasmuch as divers officers, both civil and military, inhabiting in the city of Albany, the frontier of this colony, claim a privilege to be exempted and free from watching, some upon pretence of law, arid others by cus¬ tom, and it being now a time of danger, be it enacted, that all the civil officers, and all -those that for¬ merly have had military commissions and are not now in
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Page 118, preceding "Societies" the following should be inserted : The village of Albany was incorporated on the 25th day of January, 1869, under the General Incorporation Act of 1845, and the amendments thereto. The vote at the election held to decide upon the question of incorporation, stood, sixty-two for, and twenty against. The following were elected the first Trustees : D. S. Efner, Aaron Winans,' Randolph C. Niblack, W. D. Haslet, and Dr. H. M. Booth. The Board held its first meeting on the 15th of February, 1869, and organized by electing D. S. Efner, President, and E. H. Nevitt, Clerk.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Also “ an act to prevent the running away of negro slaves out of the city and county of Albany to the French in Canada.” “ Whereas the city and county of Albany on the frontiers of this province towards the French of Canada, and that it is of great concerns to this colony, during this time of war with the French, that no intelli¬ gence be carried from the said city and county to the French at Canada; and whereas the justices of the peace
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The Precinct of Albany then comprised the present townships of Albany Garden Plain and Newton. The elections were always held at the village of Albany, and were considered the most exciting days of the year. It will be seen
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
One decade in the archive so far: the 1950s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
2019Shops and restaurants in downtown Rock Island, Illino…
2019Very high water from the nearby Mississippi River alo…
2019Very high water from the nearby Mississippi River alo…
2019The old C.F. Lusk and Sons Dry Goods store
2019Water is high in a channel of the Mississippi River
2019Water is high in a channel of the Mississippi River
2019Water is high in a channel of the Mississippi River
2019Water is high in a channel of the Mississippi River
2019Water is high in a channel of the Mississippi River
2019The public library and adjacent buildings in the smal…
2018Grain Terminal
2018Albany, Illinois from the Mississippi River
2007Albany Township Whiteside
2006ILMap-doton-AlbanyNo then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.
Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Albany’s page.
Retake this view · +15Between 450 and 1,014 people in every census since 1860.
17 censuses, 1860–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Albany’s Wikipedia page.
Albany’s post office has been open since 1838.
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
In 1837, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Albany’s post office opened in 1838, and the census of 1860 counted 628 people here.
What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (5), the Library of Congress (10), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
