Community Profile

Albany is located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, with the Willamette River bordering the community. Albany offers direct travel to all areas of the state with I-5 dissecting the city and the east/west State Highways 20 and 34 an integral part of the traffic pattern. The City of Portland, the Cascade Mountains, and the Pacific Ocean are all within an hour and a half driving time, putting Albany in an excellent position for economic and recreational opportunities.

A community profile infographic tool to exploring key data about Albany.

Major Employers

I-5 Freeway: The primary north-south route runs through Albany, Tangent, and Millersburg. US Highway 20 and Highway 34: Both east-west routes connect the Willamette Valley to the Pacific Ocean and Central Oregon

Rail freight service going east is operated by Burlington Northern, southerly service is Union Pacific, west and north are operated by The Willamette and Pacific Railroad. Amtrak and the Talgo trains between Vancouver BC and Los Angeles provide passenger service.

Albany Municipal Airport accommodates general aviation and corporate aircraft. The Eugene Airport is 40 minutes south and the Portland International Airport is 1.5 hours north.

The Albany Transit System and the Linn-Benton Loop offers busing services in the Albany area. 24-hour taxi services are available and Dial-a-ride is provided for seniors and the disabled.

Albany’s year-round climate can be considered temperate. Winter months are generally mild, with an average rainfall of 42 inches. Average temperature during winter months is 58 degrees while summer months are mild with an average temperature of 78 degrees. Humidity is generally low with most rainfall occurring from November through May.

Albany’s population within its city limits is over 56,000 (2021) and growing.  Linn County’s population is 129,839 (2021).  North Albany is within Benton County, with the population of Benton County 96,017 (2021).

Albany contains 16 square miles with an urban growth boundary of 21.2 square miles. Linn County covers an area of 2,297 square miles.

The elevation for Albany is 210 feet. Some residential areas have an elevation ranging up to 800 feet.

The City of Albany gets its water from the South Santiam River a few miles upstream of Lebanon. The water is diverted from the river into an I8-mile man-made canal through Lebanon and across farmland to Albany. It enters Albany east of I-5 and south of Grand Prairie Road. It continues west. Crossing Waverly Drive, Geary Street. Hill Street and Queen Avenue and parallels Vine Street to the Water Treatment Plant at Third Avenue and Vine Street. The Treatment Plant has been in continuous use since it was built in 1912.

The Canal was dug by hand in the 1870s as a transportation route to move goods from the eastern part of the valley to the “Port of Albany” on the Willamette River. Barge traffic stopped when users found the current was too swift for travel upstream.

Two and three bedroom homes in the Albany area are usually available for rent or purchase. The bulk of rental housing, depending on size, location and quality will range from $1200-1800 per month.

Mid-valley construction of single and multiple-unit dwellings has kept pace with the recent growth in population. The cost of a typical new 1200 square feet three-bedroom home begins at $320,000.

The Albany area is known as the “grass seed capital of the world” because Linn County is the leading producer in the U.S. of ryegrass grass seed. Field burning, once a common practice is now done on less than 20% of the area’s seed fields, and export of the straw for animal feed has become an important industry.

Other important crops include peppermint, meadow foam, vegetables, small fruits, and farm forestry products. Dairies are the major livestock enterprise.

The State collects net income taxes on corporations and personal income; local government is funded by property taxes. Oregon is one of four states without a sales tax.

The City Council Members, City Mayor and City Manager oversee eight departments. There is no general business licenses/fee.

The county seat is held in Albany. The Home Rule Charter has three commissioners overseeing general operations and six other elected officers. Linn County Court House – 300 4th Avenue, (541) 967-3825.

The State Capitol is located in Salem, 20 minutes north of Albany. The Legislature meets annually, short sessions in even years, long sessions in odd years.  There is no Unitary Tax of Worldwide Holding, State or Local Sales Tax, Inventory Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, Business Tax or Occupational Tax. Taxes levied includes Personal and Corporate Income Tax, Employment Tax, Workers Compensation, which has a lower rate structure. Oregon also has low Motor Vehicle fees. Capitol – Gov. Office, Capitol Bldg., Salem OR 97310; (503) 378-4423.