City of Albemarle

City of Albemarle Drinking Water Report Info

HISTORY: The City of Albemarle serves as Stanly County's county seat and was incorporated in 1857. It was named after George Monck, the Duke of Albemarle, one of eight Lords Proprietors granted the Carolina region by King Charles II in 1663. The city's initial growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries was driven by large textile facilities, which remained central to the local economy until the 1980s-90s when diversification began. Currently, Albemarle spans 15 square miles with approximately 16,197 residents.

GOVERNANCE: Albemarle operates under a Mayor and seven-member City Council system. Four council members represent specific districts, while three serve at-large. The Mayor serves a two-year term, with Council members serving staggered terms.

ADMINISTRATION: The City Manager, appointed by the Council, oversees all municipal operations across 12 departments: Police, Fire, Public Utilities, Public Works, Public Housing, Engineering, Planning/Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Finance, Human Resources, Information Services, and Administration.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Recreation: The Parks and Recreation Department manages four major parks, a community center, and numerous programs. Facilities include two swimming pools, tennis courts, a soccer complex, gymnasium, baseball fields, playgrounds, and other amenities. The city has begun developing a pathway system to connect all areas.
• Neighborhoods: Albemarle features diverse, well-maintained housing across all price ranges, with several new subdivisions in development.
• Utilities: The city operates an electric distribution system established in 1910 serving over 11,000 customers. The water system includes two water treatment plants with 16.5 MGD combined capacity (50% available for growth) and a wastewater treatment plant operating at 50% of its 16 MGD capacity.
• Landfill: Albemarle maintains a modern Subtitle D lined landfill with 20+ years of capacity, plus recycling programs for tires, appliances, yard waste, and construction materials.
• Public Safety: The 42-member Fire Department operates from three stations with emergency medical response capabilities and modern firefighting technology. The 53-member Police Department is CALEA-accredited (achieved in 1995 when Albemarle was North Carolina's smallest accredited municipality) and employs community policing principles with three satellite offices.
• Downtown Revitalization: As a Main Street community, Albemarle has implemented successful downtown revitalization with numerous historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects.