Information on some McKownville houses and former occupants

McKownville Improvement Association
- McKownville houses and former occupants - source data

There are three main sources for information on the houses and past residents of McKownville:

A. Census enumerations (index files, and notes - see below)
US Federal Census: 1940 (free access); 1930 1920 1910 1900 1880 (for 1930 and older, free with account creation at FamilySearch.org
Most of the 1890 US Federal census population schedules were badly damaged by a fire in 1921
New York Census: 1925 1915 1905 1892 1875 (online free with account creation at FamilySearch.org)

B. City directory listings (index files, and notes - see below)
Albany City Directories; (online through subscription to ancestry.com) up to 1956; and printed books in some Public Libraries)
Guilderland-Colonie City Directories 1957- (printed books in the Guilderland Public Library)

C. Deed indexes, deed documents, and lot maps (index files, and notes - see below)
Deed books and indexes to the deed documents and lot maps can be viewed at the Albany County Clerk's Office
For bound deed books prior to 1960, you have to visit the Albany County Hall of Records

Additional useful information may exist in old newspaper pages:
New York State Historic Newspapers website (includes the Altamont Enterprise - Albany County holdings)

Census information on past residents of McKownville
In the 1940 and 1930 censuses, the area on the north side of Western Avenue was enumerated separately from the south side.
Earlier censuses covered all of McKownville, and beyond, with one enumeration area (the 1925 census has been split here).
Edited index files for these census listings:
as ods (open document spreadsheet format) files; these files contain multiple sheets, one for each of the census image pages.
1940n, 1940s, 1930n, 1930s, 1925n, 1925s 1920, 1915, 1910
The Association has pdf files of these page images which can be viewed by residents on request.

The same census information, but rearranged to be listed by street, or street segment for Western Avenue:
as ods (open document spreadsheet format) files; these files contain multiple sheets, one for each of the streets or segments.
1940n, 1940s, 1930n, 1930s, 1925n, 1925s, 1920, 1915, 1910
or as pdf files with multiple pages, printed from these spreadsheet files:
1940n, 1940s, 1930n, 1930s, 1925n, 1925s, 1920, 1915, 1910

City Directory information on past homeowners/renters
Index file for McKownville street listings for years 1931-1961
north side of Western Avenue, area east of Fuller Rd:
as pdf file (multiple pages, one or more for each street)
as ods file (open document spreadsheet format); this file contains multiple sheets, one for each street)
south side of Western Avenue, area from McKown Rd eastward (preliminary files):
as pdf file (multiple pages, one or more for each street)
as ods file (open document spreadsheet format); this file contains multiple sheets, one for each street)

Deed information on property sales; lot maps
Index file for deeds to properties in McKownville, area north from Western Avenue, east of Fuller Road.
These list deed book and page numbers and names for all owners prior to 1931, or just the first owner for some houses built up to 1937.
as pdf file (multiple pages)
as ods file (open document spreadsheet format); this file contains multiple sheets, one for each street
Lot maps for McKownville, area north from Western Avenue, east of Fuller Road - index list and maps in pdf file
The same kind of old deed and lot map information for the area southward from the south side of Western Avenue has not been researched (you are invited to contribute!)

Other index files derived from the census and city directory information, showing house occupants, and job descriptions, are linked in a separate web page

Examples of the use of these information sources:

for the older history of 1261 Western Avenue, William and Caroline Knowles house from 1895-1926

for the older history of 16 Elmwood Street, built 1914

Census notes
The Federal census of 1940 and previous enumerations are now public documents.
US Federal Census provides a good overview and links to the data for each census.

New York also conducted a census up to 1925.
New York Census provides a good overview and links to the data for each census.

City Directory notes
A city directory for Albany has been published annually (with rare exceptions) since the early 1880's.
From 1931, the Albany city directory contains a listing by street of the owners and/or renters of houses on some streets in McKownville:
a) on side streets west to Elmwood Street (but not including Fuller Road) and along the north side of Western Avenue to Fuller Road;
b) houses and side streets on the south side of Western Avenue to McKown Road (but not including McKown Road and westward).

The Colonie (+Guilderland) city directory starts in 1957 and continues; this includes all the McKownville streets.

Albany city directories prior to 1931 do contain information for some residents of McKownville in the alphabetical by name listing, but the home address is often not specific ("McKownsville", "RD1", "Guilderland beyond city line", etc), or omitted. However, if an individual does appear, his or her occupation is commonly listed.

Deed information, lot maps notes
Deed books and indexes to the deed documents can be viewed at the Albany County Clerk's Office. Documents are online for 1980 and later; older deeds from about 1960-1980 can be seen there in bound books; deeds prior to 1960 can be viewed on microfilm. All indexes to deeds, and to property maps, are available to view in printed bound books at the Albany County Clerk's office.
For bound deed books prior to 1960, you have to visit the Albany County Hall of Records and request to view specific volumes. The Hall of Records has deed indexes on microfilm available to view for years prior to 1980.
In 2019, the Hall of Records had free and convenient parking, and was set up so research by ordinary people was not difficult, and it was usually not crowded.
Access to and working in the County Clerk's office could be less convenient. *Check the websites for current access restrictions before attempting to visit*

The index file linked above for deeds to properties in McKownville, is just for the area north from Western Avenue, east of Fuller Road, and prior to 1931, or first owner for some houses built up to 1937. Some more recent deed data is included where it was required to track back to older sales. Houses built later than 1937 in the area researched are included but without deed information.
This file includes the inferred build date for the houses in this area; this date is based on the integrated deed, city directory, and census information and in many cases is not the same as the date in the town assessor's records.

Lot maps for McKownville, area north from Western Avenue, east of Fuller Road; these were scanned from available sources, not ideal in quality in some cases.

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