The City of Albany was incorporated in 1890, but not without a
struggle. The first petition to incorporate, signed by 33 male residents
of the proposed area of incorporation, was presented to the Stearns county Board
of Commissioners on November 30, 1888. The County Board issued a notice
calling for an election on the issue at the District 59 schoolhouse the
following January. The Great Northern and Soo Line Railroads once bounded the
city, but have since been removed and the right of way now is utilized for
pedestrian (hiking/biking) travel. One of the lines running from Avon
through Albany to Sauk Centre is now a paved bike, hike, and snowmobile trail
called The Lake WobegonŽ Trail.
The water plant was installed in 1902 and electricity in 1909. Beautiful
Pine and Pelican Lakes are about 1 1/2 and 4 miles northeast of Albany.
People wonder why commercial development on Railroad Avenue (Mainstreet) was
almost confined to one side of the street, as you can see in these photos. That was no accident. The
railroad designed it that way, the objective always being to receive revenue
from people who used the rails. The land within the 300 foot railroad
right of way was not for sale, only for lease. Businesses allowed to
lease the land from the railroad were those who shipped by rail - livestock,
grain, general merchandise, farm implements, automobiles, and so on.
Retail merchants and service business hesitated to build on the railroad right
of way with only a 30 day lease, so they built on the north side of Mainstreet.
The City celebrated it's 100th year centennial in 1990! For more Albany
History, contact the Albany Historical Society at 845-4257.
Railroad Ave.
looking East - 1953
Railroad Ave.
looking West - 1957
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