Albany Has Been Shackelford County's Seat Since 1875

Shackelford County was organized in 1874, carved out of Jack County. Residents named it for Dr. Jack Shackelford, a physician who led volunteers during the Texas Revolution. Fort Griffin served briefly as the temporary county seat. Albany was selected as the permanent county seat on November 8, 1874. The town was named by William Cruger after his hometown of Albany, Georgia.

Albany's 1884 limestone courthouse still stands and still functions as a working county courthouse. It was recorded as a Texas Historical Landmark in 1962. The Texas Central Railroad completed its line into Albany in 1882, which turned the town into a shipping point for cattle. The county's old jail, completed in 1878, is now the Old Jail Art Center, a museum known regionally for its fine art collection.