Before Albany was Albany: The debate to name the city

Albany — the small, 118-year-old city by the bay — would appear to have a straightforward name. But the path to naming the city was anything but straightforward.

In fact, Albany was once known by a different official name, as well as another unofficial name and an uncomfortable nickname, all of which culminated in a year-long deliberation on what the city should be called.

The origins of "Ocean View"

Albany's first official name, "Ocean View," was already familiar to East Bay residents when the city incorporated in 1908: From the 1850s to the late 1870s, it had been the name of a nearby bayshore settlement that became a bustling industrial area. By 1878, that Ocean View was part of the city of Berkeley and was thereafter called West Berkeley.

Just north of this area, the pre-Albany district likely identified with (or considered itself an extension of) Berkeley's Ocean View, as the same name was used for its own unincorporated district in the late 1800s and for its first official city name in 1908.

Almost as soon as the city of Ocean View (Albany) incorporated, residents and officials began discussing alternatives. A number of reasons for the rejection of "Ocean View" appeared at this time.

News articles point to a conflict with obtaining a post office (a desire of city founders), stating that the postal service required a city of Ocean View's size to have a one-word name. The postal service was also mistakenly sending mail to another Ocean View south of San Francisco.

An uncomfortable nickname: "O'Shean's View"

But there may have been an additional, unofficial reason for the name change: the (likely derogatory) nickname of "O'Shean’s View." Irish immigrants, many of whom lived along the East Bay shoreline, faced discrimination across the country during the 1800s to early 1900s.

The entry for Albany in the book California Place Names states the city was "in former days jokingly known as 'O'Shean's View'" (likely meant as a gibe at the Irish).

Andy Andersen, an Albany pioneer, recalled the nickname when he was interviewed about the early days of Albany. Whether it had also applied to the earlier Ocean View of western Berkeley is not clear.

Albany was almost called "Cerrito"

As the new city of Ocean View considered alternative names, one in particular stands out: "Cerrito" (Spanish for "little hill"). This was the name of Albany Hill at the time (the nearby city of El Cerrito would not be formed until 1917).

According to city records, "A petition signed by 54 residents of the city of Ocean View was presented to the Board (of Trustees) asking the Board… to change the name of said city from Ocean View to El Cerrito in order to facilitate the work of securing a post office." The board then instructed the city attorney to draw up the necessary papers.

A search of subsequent records did not reveal "El Cerrito" or "Cerrito" (the preferred one-word version) as an officially adopted city name. However, newspapers began regularly referring to Ocean View as "Cerrito" during this time.

City records do not state why this name was not officially chosen. Legal costs associated with changing the city name may have been a factor, as the city struggled with finances shortly after incorporating.

Other names considered: Monte Carlo, Portola, Superior, Regent's Park

One news article appearing at this time mentions that "Cerrito" was dropped from consideration, along with "Monte Carlo" and "Portola," because of the "Spanish origins" of these names.

Some officials reportedly wanted an "English name" (other cities that chose an English name over a Spanish one include Oakland, which was originally known as "Encinal," Spanish for oak grove).

Ocean View also considered other names, including "Superior" and "Regent's Park" (also the name of a royal park and surrounding affluent neighborhood in London, as well as a large housing tract already established in Ocean View).

Ultimately, residents chose "Albany" by a vote of 32 to six taken one year after incorporation. This name honored the city's first mayor, Frank Roberts, a native of Albany, New York.

Today, there are at least 25 other places in the United States named Albany and at least six in other countries.

Karen Sorensen is a local historian who has authored two books and numerous articles on Albany history. As a member of the Albany News Project, she donates history articles to Albany Scanner in support of the publication.

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