Albany is located on the Eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, across from the Golden Gate Bridge. The city lies in the northwestern corner of Alameda County, bordered by the cities of El Cerrito and Richmond on the north and the city of Berkeley on the east and south sides. The terrain is mostly flat, except for Albany Hill, which rises to 338 feet above sea level. The Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge is just a few miles south of Albany, off Interstate 80, which runs along the western edge of the city. AC Transit bus lines and a BART station in neighboring El Cerrito provide easy accessible transportation service to San Francisco, Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland and beyond.

With a population of over 16,000, Albany today combines a small-town ambience with its central location in a major metropolitan area. Albany prides itself on being a safe, community-oriented city, with strong services and programs for youth, families and the elderly. It is a city made up primarily of single-family homes and small businesses, its small town character exemplified by its “Main Street,” Solano Avenue. Albany’s public schools have an outstanding reputation with student test scores at the elementary, middle and high school levels among the highest in the state.

Official city website: albanyca.org

Albany Library, 510.526.3720, aclibrary.org/branches/alb Bright Star Montessori School (Private School), Grades: PK – 5, Albany, 510.558.2080 720 Jackson Street Landmark Theaters Albany Twin, Albany, 510.464.5980 landmarktheatres.com/Market/SanFranciscoEastBay/AlbanyTwin.htm

Golden Gate Fields, Albany, 510.559.7300, goldengatefields.com Thoroughbred racing field. Oaks Theater, 1875 Solano Ave. 526-1836 Solano Avenue Association, 510.527-5358, solanoavenueassn.org