Albany County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of New York; its northern border is formed by the Mohawk River, at its confluence with the Hudson River, which is on the east. As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204. The county seat is Albany, the state capital. As originally established by the English government in the colonial era, Albany County had an indefinite amount of land, but has only as of March 3, 1888. The county is named for the Duke of York and of Albany, who became James II of England (James VII of Scotland).