Albany - Albany (English spelling)

A city in the eastern part of New York State, United States, and the state capital. Population 95,658 (2000). Located on the west bank of the Hudson River, it is an important shipping and transit port. Large ships can sail from the mouth of the Hudson to here. It flourished as an agricultural and tourist resort center, and is also home to many manufacturing plants, including breweries and machinery manufacturers, as well as clothing, paper products, chemicals, and food manufacturers. It is the second oldest settlement among the 13 independent states, and began when the Dutch established a fur trading post there in the early 17th century, and it occupied an important position as a fur trading site for a long time. It was a strategic location at the crossroads of east-west and north-south traffic, and its commercial development was remarkable, especially in the 1820s when the Erie Canal was opened, and its population rapidly increased. Furthermore, the development of the railroad in the 1830s promoted industrial development. During the French and Indian War in the mid-18th century, it was the base of the British army throughout the entire war. In 1754, the Albany Convention, a colonial conference aimed at joint defense against France, was held here. During the War of Independence, it became a fierce battlefield, with the most famous attack by the British army in 1777. In 1797, it became the state capital, replacing New York City.

It is an educational and cultural center, home to several universities such as the University of Albany, known for its unique architecture, the Albany College of Pharmacy, and the College of Saint Rose, as well as many cultural facilities such as the State Museum and State Library. Many buildings, such as the State Capitol, State Office Building, and State Education Hall, retain vestiges of the Dutch colonial era, and there are also well-maintained parks, green spaces, and squares, making it a city with a relaxed atmosphere.

[Kazuyo Sakuno]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

アメリカ合衆国、ニューヨーク州東部の都市で、同州の州都。人口9万5658（2000）。ハドソン川西岸に位置する良港を有し、重要な積出し・中継港。ハドソン河口からここまで大型船が航行できる。農業地帯、観光保養地域の中心地として栄え、また醸造、機械工業のほか、衣料、紙製品、化学薬品、食品などの製造工場が多く点在する。独立13州のうち2番目に古い定住地で、17世紀初頭、オランダ人が毛皮交易所を設けたことに始まり、長い間毛皮取引地として重要な地位を占めた。東西と南北の交通の十字路に位置した要衝であったが、とくにエリー運河の開通した1820年代の商業発展は目覚ましく、人口も急増した。さらに1830年代の鉄道の発達は工業発展を促した。18世紀中葉のフレンチ・アンド・インディアン戦争では、終始イギリス軍の本拠地となった。1754年には、対仏共同防衛を目的とした植民地会議である「オルバニー会議」が開かれた。独立戦争時は激戦地となり、とくに1777年のイギリス軍の攻撃が有名。1797年ニューヨーク市にかわって州都となった。

　教育・文化の中心地であり、ユニークな建築で知られる州立大学オルバニー校をはじめ、オルバニー薬科大学、セント・ローズ大学などいくつかの大学が集まり、州立博物館、州立図書館など、文化施設が多い。州議事堂、州庁舎、州教育会館など、オランダ植民地時代の名残(なごり)をとどめる建築物が多く、手入れの行き届いた公園や緑地、広場も残され、落ち着いた雰囲気の都市である。

［作野和世］

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