Albany County is located in eastern New York. It is the home to Albany, the capital of New York state. Albany County has a total area of approximately 533 square miles of which 98% is land and 2% water. As of the census of 2000, there were 294,565 people, 120,512 households, and 70,981 families residing in the Albany County, making it the ninth most populous county in New York. The Hudson River passes through the eastern portion of Albany county and the Mohawk River makes up part of the northern border of the the county.