SperlingViews - Albany, Georgia

OMG I live here and you are spot on. Albany is like quick sand you get here and can not get out. The cost of living and housing is great. The local Goverments are terrible. The jobs are none, we have major companies here but unless your one of the chosen you can not get a good paying job. Its just horrible here. The racial divide is so rampid here it isnt even funny. I am a White woman, transplanted from the great white north. I have never seen people that absolutly hate each other like they do here. I worked on the Marine Corp. Logistics base and omg. it was torture. God forbid you spoke to some one like you cared. This place is the worst. Agoney GA. If your thinking of moving here RUN Run fast before its too late. [read more...]

I lived in Albany and went to school at Darton, and then GSW. I moved down from eugene oregon, one of the most liberal diverse sities in america. This is the thing. Northerners who move down to Albany - get ready for some culture shock. This is the deep south and you are not ready for it. Albany actually two cities - white and black. These two communities hate one another. Anyone who says otherwise is lying to you. On the white side, be ready for the use on the 'n-word' often. The first time someone whipped it out on me was my first night at my boarding house. Like a good liberal I gave my speech about respecting others...here's some advice - don't waste your time. I'll go into this later. As a white person, you must learn the southern lingo and manners. If you don't, you will come off as very rude to the Albany white community. This took me a little bit to learn. This is an area where college students say yes sir / yes ma'am to their professors. As a matter of fact, it's just best to say sir/ma'am to everyone. That is not optional. Also never say "You guys" learn to say "y'all" or you might as well wear a big shirt saying "YANKEE" on it. This is just part of the culture. The south and the 'war of northern aggression' is still on people's minds here. Once I learned the proper manners for this area I got along a lot better. But oh my god, the racism! And everyone who has written about how the Blacks completely hate the whites in Albany is spot on. If you want to ignore these people who are trying to warn you, then get ready to kick yourself if you move here. I imagine it's a lot like being in prison. You pick a side, or you get eaten up and spit out. If you are white, the blacks will help you in your choice of sides as they are AMAZINGLY rude to whites. The way whites show there hatred is that they just try to ignore the blacks as best they can (except for the real country boys, they are just like the stereotype of them). So as I said, I came down here and was shocked at the white people's racism, but soon I found out why. Don't think that you are going to apply your "I'm a liberal and I accept everyone" attitude down in Albany, because it will get spit back in your face. If you go to Albany and you are white, prepare to feel lots of hate from many of the black population. That's why there are two cities. They just, after all the years of hatred on both sides, CAN NOT get over it. Other things whites will have to deal with is the petty way the white "society" folks deal with people who are outside the clique. It's like kindergarten. This city is the definition of the big fish, small pond scenario. Except the fish aren't that big, but they sure act like it. I learned a lot in albany that showed me that my liberal professors are just as clueless as everyone else. The two sides will never get along in Albany there is too much unwarranted hate. The white demonstrate their hate behind closed doors, the black demonstrate it right in your face. You can't live there without being part of it - unless you want to be a hermit with no social interaction whatsoever. So, all I've written is true. White yankees, ignore my warnings at your peril. [read more...]

Albany might actually be the "Good Life City", IF you're hoping to find a place where deadbeats leech off taxpayers for generations. And if you love weather that makes you feel like you're walking through rancid soup for 9 months out of every year. And if flat and buggy and overtaxed sound like your idea of a good life. This place has nothing, and I mean NOTHING, to offer. No selling points whatsoever. None. We have been stuck in this pathetic hellhole for nearly five years now and I wish I had never heard of Albany, Georgia. Blacks here are apparently taught from birth to hate and resent whites. Whites here are apparently taught from birth to issue handouts to every black person they see. The schools are abysmal, the cops are incompetent, the roads...well, "meh" is too strong a word. This is a town that thinks a sad little creek counts as a river, and that their pathetic little Riverquarium (where you pay to see animals that live in your own freaking YARD) is worthy of the title "tourist attraction". So WHAT if Paula Deen and Ray Charles came from here--they both had the good sense to get out. If I owned hell and Albany, I'd rent out Albany and live in hell. [read more...]

Although Albany suffers from some of the same employment issues as other states, the cost of living has remained low. It took Albany a year to feel the affects of a rescission, construction has continued in spite of rescission issues. Building in the commercial market has been slower than residential...apartment complexes have been the most popular. Albany is just now feeling the affects of higher gas, increased food prices and cost of durable goods. However, on average, cost have remained controllable. It is expected to recover quicker than surrounding areas when the housing market and employment regain strength.[read more...]

have a ?is albany that bad do any one no north jefferson st in albany ,ga [read more...]

If considering a move here, be prepared to deal with a lot of "preaching."[read more...]

I think some people in Albany might really enjoy it, but from might view, these might be the people who have really thrived in its environment. The reality of Albany to me is that it holds nothing for young people. Albany is really stuck in its ways and is slowly going downhill. It could be a beautiful place but how is anyone supposed to make a living. Albany still has some prejudiced people and its hard for anyone to find good jobs. The city is really all about making money for itself so how are the people and community supposed to thrive. And what about Phoebe Putney. They stifle incoming competition and monopolize the health care field with their overpriced services. When Albany gets a better way of supporting their community then maybe it might be an ideal place to live. MAYBE.[read more...]

Please I need some honest feedback. I live in Louisiana which is pretty much hell since Katrina but enough about Katrina. The Marine Corp Center is there for employment but is Albany really that bad, I can not imagine, I lived in Atlanta for 7 years and the traffic pretty much ran me out, but is Albany really the gloomy and doom. [read more...]

I moved to Albany (from San Diego) for a job and I cry myself to sleep every night. I've been here 6mths and I've found the people to be rude, inconsiderate and blissfully ignorant. The crime rate is horrendous! More crime per capita than New York City. People are not friendly at all, if you're not from here then you don't fit in and you're not made to feel welcome at all. The high school graduation rate is up to 48%~ something the mayor is proud of! YIKES!!!!! If the city was safe, the country side beautiful and there were things to do one could almost tolerate living in this God forsaken place. Some may call it the arm pit of the South but I consider it to be the butt of the South. Due to the violent crime rate people are discouraged from doing things outdoors~ I no longer cycle, kayak, run or hike. There aren't any side walks or bike lanes and it is way too dangerous. I grew up in the South and it was NOTHING like this~ after living in San Diego for 17yrs and moving to Albany I'm ashamed to say I'm a Southerner~ I've turned in my Southern Belle card and say I'm from California now. I'll take the issues in California over the ignorance and mean spirited people in this town any day. I often wonder if I'd be more accepted if I weren't caucasion. In addition to no opportunities to meet people through outdoor activities, there isn't a night life, there aren't any decent restaurants~ can't even find a fresh bagel~ and finding decent produce is out of the question. If you're vegan don't even think about moving here! If you want to shop at PetCo, Macy's or grab a Jamba Juice...forget it. I have to drive two hours to go to PetCo. The inhumane treatment of animals is another story altogether! There is one mall, one wal*mart and one target~ all of which are not safe to visit at night. People say there are great things about Albany...so far the only thing great about it is the road out of here! Yes, I am looking to get out of here as soon as I can![read more...]

what do you want me to say? this is getting annoying[read more...]

Albany Ga. is the worst place I have ever lived. Albany is like a horror story. Crime, gang, drug infested. Law enforcement is practally non existant.City officials are money hungry wolves, with no regard for tax paying law abiding citizens. You have to be a thief or drug dealer to get special attention here. Albany promises better things but never delivers. Years ago it was known as the Good Life City...nowdays it's the Short Life City...Beware[read more...]

Albany is like the black hole of doom. I've tried countless times to move away from this pit of dispair, but had to return for family reasons. It's somewhat of a joke. But it is NOT a joke that Albany has so much potential and so little benefit. I've lived here since 1976 (except during college years) and seen factories close, a tax burden of a civic center that sits empty most of the year, the only tv station for miles around BUT they don't even have news on holidays or weekends (that is just STUPID), a drop out rate of astronomical proportions, teen pregancy almost double that of the state -- I could go on and on. Albany is the biggest small town in the US. Everyone knows each other's business and if you aren't in the "good ol' boy" netweork, you can forget it. It's like a bad high school. Don't even think of moving here. There were 8 murders before April of this year - EIGHT! Crime is horrendous, gang activity is high.... And to top it off, it's too hot to breathe in the summer (which lasts from March to October) I call Albany "God's training ground for hell."[read more...]

Winters are very mild but summers are scorching. Watering of lawns is required during frequent dry spells if you want green grass. Humidity during summer months has you drenched in sweat when outside for just a minute or two. Gnats are the national bird and are a real nuisance for people and terrible for dogs as they flock to their eyes. For a few months each year there are biting flies that irritate the tips of dogs ears.[read more...]

As an employee with a large international company with a facility in Albany my work carried me to nine cities scattered around the U.S. and to one foreign city. My last few working years were spent at the Albany facility and I retired at the fairly young age of 48 after 25 years of work with the company. My family - wife, self, and 3 children ages 20, 17 and 12 - enjoyed Albany better than any other place and after 3 years of retirement here we have not regretted it.[read more...]

The two people who have dissed Albany in the reviews now on this site obviously have an ax to grind. Why the site continues to show these and ignore my previous favorable review I do not know. Withall, Albany is a fine city, a great place to live and/or raise a family, and I feel qualified to judge as I have lived in fourteen other cities and towns scattered all over the U.S. Frankly, I suspect the two malcontented persons come from a competitor town and are simply jealous of the many attractions offered by Albany - features that caused an independant national publication to name Albany as Georgia's most livable metropolitan area. So go figure.[read more...]

Robert.. you have lived in 14 different cities and Albany was the best??? This begs the question.. in what other hellholes have you lived?[read more...]

I do not at all agree with the comments made by "Julie" and "Kendall" on this site. For other opinions click on "More Albany, Ga Sperling Views" which follows Julie's comments and in my opinion give the thoughts of a vast majority of present and past residents of Albany.[read more...]

Over a 30 year career I have lived in 14 cities and towns, large and small, scattered all over the U.S., including Albany, and have visited many more. Albany is not perfect, but it certainly is the best and most pleasant place I've ever lived in. It is big enough to have most of the stores and amenities that larger places have but without the drawbacks of those places, such as frustrating traffic conditions. Even with such negatives as hot, humid summers, the great winter weather, super health facilities and wide, uncluttered boulevards make for a high quality of living. I miss it, and can't wait for retirement time to arrive so that I can locate permanently in Albany and once again enjoy the low-stress, laid back style of living that this community offers.[read more...]

One of the local hospital's-Phoebe is a really greedy hospital in terms of cost. our Health care costs here are 15% higher than the national average. The local hospital strongly regulates the quality of care. The hospital often over bills and is very crooked in it's manipulation of other health facilities from being able to come in and improve, at least lower the existing health care costs.[read more...]

In addition to its many other favorable attributes Albany is ideally located just 2 1/2 hours away from the Florida Gulf Coast beaches and 3 hours from the mountains of north Georgia. And if you want the atmosphere of a big city Atlanta is only 3 hours distant. But if you do go there, after two or three days you'll want to return to the wonderfully laid back life in Albany.[read more...]