Albany, N. Y., the capital of the state and the county-seat of Albany co., 145 mi. n. of New York and 297 mi. e. of Buffalo, is on the west bank of the Hudson River and on the New York Central, the Boston & Maine, the Delaware & Hudson, the Boston & Albany, the West Shore and other railroads. It is also connected by electric lines with Troy, Schenectady, Amsterdam and several other places. The city has a river frontage of about four miles and an extent of five miles to the west over a narrow alluvial plain along the river, where the principal business streets are located. There are about 148 miles of streets, of which 85 miles are paved. The city has eleven public parks, covering an area of 470 acres. Washington Park, the largest, has two excellent bronze states, "Robert Burns" by Calverley, and "Moses at the Rock of Horeb" by Rhind. Rural Cemetery, Saint Agnes and Beth Emeth cemeteries are located close to the city, the tomb of President Arthur being in the first named. The most prominent structure in the city is the state capitol, which was begun in 1871 and has cost over $24,000,000. It is 390 feet long by 290 feet wide, covering an area of about three acres, and is situated on the hillside 155 feet above the river. The building is constructed of Maine granite and is considered one of the most remarkable structures in the country. On the east, from the slope of the hill, the entrance is reached by a long series of steps, while at the west end of the building there is an interior staircase which alone cost nearly $2,000,000. Facing the capitol on the west are the state hall, built of white marble, and the city hall, a Gothic structure of red sandstone. The city contains over seventy churches, of which Saint Peter's is said to be the finest specimen of the French Gothic style of architecture in the United States. All Saints' Cathedral is noted for its magnificent mosaic work. Other churches worthy of note are the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Beth Emeth Synagogue, the Madison Avenue Reformed and the First Dutch Reformed. The post office, executive mansion, state armory, Masonic Temple, Dudley Observatory, the Bender Laboratory, State Museum of Natural History and Odd Fellows' Hall are important public buildings. The educational institutions include the State Normal College, law, dental and medical departments of Union University, the Dudley Observatory, several academies, including the Albany Academy for Girls, the second oldest institution for the education of girls in the United States, and the Albany Academy, a training school for nurses, a school for librarians and schools for the deaf. The city has a large and well-equipped hospital, two public baths and a penitentiary. The new building, now in course of erection, for the State Education Department and the State Library, which will cost about $5,000,000, will be a magnificent addition to the city. Albany has excellent transportation facilities. Besides the railway connections mentioned above, large steamboats ascend the Hudson from New York and other points, while canals connect the city with Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes. It is an important center of passenger travel, and especially of the extensive freight traffic from the South, East and West. The leading manufactures include shirts, collars and cuffs, stoves, electrical appliances, structural iron, pianos, chemicals, cigars, paper goods, carriages, wagons, flour, boots and shoes and various other articles. Large railroad construction and repair shops, printing establishments, packing houses and breweries are also located here. The city claims to be the second oldest permanent settlement within the limits of the original thirteen states, a trading station having been established on Castle Island in 1614, under the name of Fort Nassau. The first real settlement was made in 1624, and the name was changed to Fort Orange. When New Netherland was transferred to the English in 1664, the present name of Albany was given the settlement, in honor of the Duke of York and Albany. It was chartered as a city in 1686. Albany was made the capital in 1797, and after the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 it grew rapidly until 1860. Since 1900 the city has manifested unwonted activity. Population in 1910, 100,253; in 1980, 101,727; in 1990, 101,082, in 2002, 93,779.