Buffalo, New York

Buffalo is a city in the U.S. state of New York. It is in Western New York near Lake Erie and close to the Niagara River. It sits right on the Canada–United States border. Buffalo is the second-most populous city in New York with over 278,000 people.

Long ago, before the 1600s, native groups such as the Neutral, Erie, and Iroquois lived in the area. In 1825, Buffalo grew quickly because it became the end of the Erie Canal. This helped boats carry goods, especially grain. Later, trains and factories brought more changes.

Today, Buffalo is well-known for many things. It has some of the oldest urban parks system in the United States. There are great museums like the Buffalo AKG Art Museum and the Buffalo History Museum. People enjoy fun events all year. Locals love cold winter weather, tasty Buffalo wings, and supporting the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres sports teams. The city has colleges such as the University at Buffalo and Buffalo State University.

History

Main article: History of Buffalo, New York

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Buffalo, New York.

Pre-Columbian era to European exploration

Long ago, people called Paleo-Indians lived in what is now western New York. Later, the Iroquois Confederacy grew, and its tribes spread across the state. In the 1600s, Jesuit missionaries from Europe visited the area.

During the 1600s, French explorers found the area mostly empty, with groups like the Erie people and the Neutral Nation living there. They traded tobacco and hemp with the Iroquois, who traded furs with the French. These groups used paths to travel, which later became modern roads.

In the mid-1600s, the Senecas took over the Erie and Neutral groups. Native Americans didn’t settle permanently along Buffalo Creek until 1780. The Seneca named their town Došowëh, meaning "Between the basswoods," and this name is still used for Buffalo today.

Explorers like Louis Hennepin and Sieur de La Salle visited the area in the late 1600s. In 1679, La Salle’s ship, Le Griffon, was the first to sail above Niagara Falls. A small French settlement existed along Buffalo Creek for a short time in 1758. After wars between France and Britain, the area came under British rule. After the American Revolution, New York began to expand westward.

New York and Massachusetts both wanted the land where Buffalo is now. The rights were sold to Robert Morris in 1791. Despite protests from Seneca leader Red Jacket, Morris made a deal with another leader, Cornplanter, selling the land to the Holland Land Company.

Permanent settlers came to the area after the Revolutionary War. Early landowners included an Iroquois interpreter, and a Dutch trader named Cornelius Winney. By the late 1700s, only a small amount of land remained for the Iroquois.

After another treaty in 1797, Joseph Ellicott mapped out land at the mouth of Buffalo Creek. The village, originally called New Amsterdam, was soon renamed Buffalo.

Erie Canal, grain and commerce

The village was named after Buffalo Creek. A road to Pennsylvania was built in 1802. British forces burned Buffalo and a nearby village in 1813 during the War of 1812, but it was rebuilt quickly by 1815. Buffalo hoped to grow because of the planned Erie Canal, and its harbor was expanded to become the canal’s end. The canal opened in 1825, bringing trade and factories.

Buffalo became a city in 1832. In the 1830s, a businessman named Benjamin Rathbun helped grow the business area. The city grew quickly from 1845 to 1855, and many new residents were from Ireland and Germany.

During the 1840s, people escaping being forced away from their homes traveled north to Buffalo. Buffalo was a stop on the Underground Railroad, where many freely crossed the Niagara River to Canada. Buffalo’s port kept growing, and new ways to move goods were developed. In 1843, a new machine called the grain elevator was invented, making it faster to move grain. Buffalo became a key place for moving goods on the Great Lakes.

Besides grain, Buffalo imported things like meat, whiskey, lumber, and tobacco from the Midwest, and it exported leather, ships, and iron products. New factories appeared in the mid-1800s, especially ones making iron.

By the 1860s, many railroads ended in Buffalo, and the city handled a lot of shipping on Lake Erie. After the Civil War, canals became less important as railroads grew. Workers began forming unions in the late 1800s.

Steel, challenges, and the modern era

At the start of the 1900s, Buffalo was a top place for grain and flour milling, using power from the Niagara River. The city hosted a big fair in 1901 showing new inventions and ideas. During the fair, President William McKinley was killed, and Theodore Roosevelt became president.

In 1904, a big iron and steel company moved to a town near Buffalo, bringing many jobs. But over time, companies were bought by others far away, which hurt the local economy. The Great Depression caused lots of unemployment, and new government programs helped.

During World War II, Buffalo made steel, chemicals, planes, trucks, and ammunition, and its manufacturing grew strong again. By 1950, Buffalo was the 15th-largest city in the United States, with most jobs in factories. The city also had many train stations.

A big shipping route called the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959, which changed Buffalo’s port and canals. Shipbuilding slowed down in the 1960s, and steel mills began to close or cut jobs in the 1970s. Many people lost jobs, and Buffalo, like other places, worked to recover from these changes.

Geography

Buffalo is located on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, across from Fort Erie, Ontario. It is at the start of the Niagara River, which flows over Niagara Falls into Lake Ontario.

The land around Buffalo is part of the Erie/Ontario Lake Plain in the Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands. The city is mostly flat, except for some higher areas in University Heights and Fruit Belt. The Southtowns have more hills, rising up to the Cattaraugus Hills in the Appalachian Upland. Buffalo gets a lot of snow each year, about 95 inches, making it one of the snowiest big cities.

Buffalo has several water channels, such as the Niagara River, Buffalo River, Scajaquada Creek, and the Black Rock Canal. The United States Census Bureau says Buffalo covers 52.5 square miles, with about 40.38 square miles of land and the rest water.

See also: List of tallest buildings in Buffalo, New York and Architecture of Buffalo, New York

Buffalo has many different kinds of buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries. Famous places in downtown Buffalo include Louis Sullivan's Guaranty Building, the Ellicott Square Building, the Art Deco Buffalo City Hall, and the Electric Tower. Other important buildings are the Buffalo Central Terminal and the Richardson Olmsted Complex. The city's architecture shows work by famous designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright.

Main article: List of neighborhoods in Buffalo, New York

Buffalo has many neighborhoods, and their borders have changed over time. The city is divided into five districts with thirty-five neighborhoods. Main Street separates the east and west sides of the city. The west side was built earlier and is usually wealthier than the east side.

Some neighborhoods, like the Elmwood Village, have grown since the 1990s. Areas such as Larkinville and downtown Buffalo have new homes and businesses. The city updated its building rules in 2017 to make streets safer and encourage buildings to be closer together.

Buffalo has a humid continental climate, meaning cold winters and warm summers. The city is known for its heavy winter snow, especially from lake-effect snow by Lake Erie. Even with the snow, it is not always the snowiest city in New York state. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Buffalo was −20 °F (−29 °C), in 1934 and 1961.

Buffalo's summers are usually dry and sunny, with breezes from Lake Erie. The highest temperature ever recorded was 99 °F (37 °C) on August 27, 1948. Rain usually falls at night during summer, and the lake helps keep storms away. August is often a bit rainier than other summer months.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Buffalo, New York

Buffalo has been home to many different groups of people over time. Before 1800, several hundred Seneca, Tuscarora, and other Iroquois tribal peoples lived in the area around Buffalo Creek. After the Revolutionary War, settlers from New England and eastern New York moved in.

In the 1830s to the 1850s, Irish and German immigrants from Europe joined them, settling in certain parts of the city. Later, Polish and Italian families also moved to Buffalo. During the 20th century, many Black Americans from the South came to Buffalo for jobs, especially during the World Wars. In the 1940s and 1950s, many Puerto Rican families also moved to the city.

Buffalo's population grew until 1950, when it had 580,132 people. After that, the city lost many residents as people moved to the suburbs or other places. However, the 2020 census showed a small increase, with 278,349 people living in Buffalo. The city is now considered a majority minority city, meaning that more than half of its residents are from Black or Latino backgrounds.

Buffalo has seen changes in its religious life as well. Christianity, especially Catholicism, has been important, with many churches and followers. There are also Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu communities in the area today.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Buffalo, New York

Buffalo grew because of the Erie Canal. The canal helped move goods like grain from the Midwest to the east. Later, making steel and car parts became important for the city. When these jobs decreased, Buffalo focused more on services like health care, banking, and tourism, especially with nearby Canada. Today, some factories still make metals, chemicals, food, and electronics. New kinds of manufacturing are also growing.

Big employers in Buffalo include hospitals, banks, and schools. The city is home to companies like Rich Products, Delaware North, and Fisher-Price. Even during tough economic times, Buffalo managed better than many other cities. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges.

Culture

Performing arts and music

Buffalo has many theaters, mostly in the downtown Theatre District. Shea's Performing Arts Center is the city's biggest theater. It was built in 1926 and shows Broadway musicals and concerts. Shakespeare in Delaware Park happens outdoors every summer since 1976.

Comedy is popular in Buffalo, and Helium Comedy Club has shows with local and famous comedians.

The Nickel City Opera, also called NC Opera Buffalo, is an opera company that began in 2004. It worked with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and put on many shows.

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra started in 1935 and plays at Kleinhans Music Hall, which is known for its great sound. The orchestra almost stopped in the late 1990s but got help and continued. Under JoAnn Falletta, it got many Grammy Award nominations and won one in 2009.

KeyBank Center brings in music acts from around the country all year. Sahlen Field hosts the WYRK Taste of Country music festival every summer. Canalside has outdoor concerts in the summer. The Colored Musicians Club keeps jazz history alive.

Rick James, a famous musician, was born and raised in Buffalo. He became popular with songs in R&B, disco, and funk in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Other famous groups from Buffalo include the jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra, jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., and the alternative rock group Goo Goo Dolls.

Underground hip-hop artists in Buffalo work with Griselda Records, including Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher.

Cuisine

Buffalo's food comes from many cultures. In 2015, National Geographic named Buffalo third on its list of the world's top ten food cities. Buffalo wings, chicken wings seasoned and fried, were first made at Anchor Bar in 1964. Duff's Famous Wings is another famous place for wings, but Buffalo wings are served in many bars and restaurants. They are usually eaten with blue cheese dressing and celery. In 2003, Anchor Bar won a James Beard Foundation Award.

Buffalo has many pizzerias, more than most cities. Craft breweries opened in the 1990s, and bars close at 4 am. Other popular foods include beef on weck, butter lambs, kielbasa, pierogi, sponge candy, chicken finger subs, and fish fry, especially during Lent. With new people moving to Buffalo, there are many ethnic restaurants, including some in food trucks.

Museums and tourism

Buffalo was named the seventh-best city to visit in the United States in 2021 by Travel + Leisure. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum has modern and contemporary art with over 8,000 pieces. The Burchfield Penney Art Center has paintings by Charles E. Burchfield. The Buffalo History Museum shows the city's past, and the Buffalo Museum of Science is on the East Side.

Canalside, Buffalo's historic area by the water, gets over 1.5 million visitors each year. It has the Explore & More Children's Museum, a naval and military park, LECOM Harborcenter, shops, and restaurants. Other places to visit include the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, Michigan Street Baptist Church, Buffalo RiverWorks, Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum, and the Nash House Museum.

The National Buffalo Wing Festival happens every Labor Day at Sahlen Field. The Taste of Buffalo food festival happens in July and draws many people each year. Other events include the Allentown Art Festival, Dyngus Day, the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts, Juneteenth, the World's Largest Disco, and the Friendship Festival.

Main article: List of festivals in Buffalo, New York

Sports

Main article: Sports in Buffalo

Buffalo has three big professional sports teams. They are the Buffalo Sabres who play in the National Hockey League, the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League, and the Buffalo Bandits in the National Lacrosse League.

The Bills started in 1960 and play at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. They are the only NFL team in New York State.

The Sabres began in 1970 and share KeyBank Center with the Bandits. The Bandits have won seven championships. All three teams are owned by Pegula Sports and Entertainment.

Parks and recreation

Main article: Parks and recreation in Buffalo, New York

Buffalo has many beautiful parks and green spaces. A designer named Frederick Law Olmsted helped plan the city's parks a long time ago. His plans created parks, paths, and trails that people still enjoy today. The largest park is Delaware Park. It has a zoo, a lake, a golf course, and many places to play.

The city looks after more than 180 parks, pools, and places for fun activities. One special spot is the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park, which has pretty cherry blossoms. There is also Tifft Nature Preserve, where you can hike, watch birds, and fish. Buffalo's parks are very popular, and many people live close enough to visit them easily.

Buffalo’s waterfront has been made into a fun place for everyone. In the summer, you can rent paddle boats, and in the winter, you can go ice skating. The city also has trails so you can explore different parts of the area, making it a great spot for outdoor fun.

Government

Main article: Politics and government of Buffalo, New York

See also: List of mayors of Buffalo, New York; Buffalo Police Department; and Buffalo Fire Department

Buffalo has a strong mayor–council government. The mayor is the city's main leader. Since January 1, 2026, Sean Ryan has been the mayor.

The Buffalo Common Council has nine members. They make laws, collect taxes, and approve the mayor’s decisions and the city’s budget. The city is also the seat of Erie County and part of the Eighth Judicial District, where smaller legal cases are handled.

Media

Main article: Media in Buffalo, New York

Buffalo has a big newspaper called The Buffalo News. It started in 1880. There are also other newspapers like the Buffalo Criterion and The Spectrum from the local universities.

The city has many radio stations and television stations, including WGRZ 2 (NBC), WIVB-TV 4 (CBS), and WKBW-TV 7 (ABC). Buffalo also has a public television station, WNED-TV 17 (PBS).

Many movies have been filmed in Buffalo, such as Hide in Plain Sight (1980), Tuck Everlasting (1981), and Bruce Almighty (2003).

Education

Main articles: List of colleges and universities in Buffalo, New York and Buffalo Public Schools

Buffalo has many schools for children and students of all ages.

Primary and secondary education

The Buffalo Public Schools help many students learn from primary to high school. There are about sixty public schools with teachers to guide them. Some well-known schools include the City Honors School, which is highly rated, and there are also private schools such as Bishop Timon – St. Jude High School and Canisius High School.

Colleges and universities

Buffalo is also home to large colleges and universities. The University at Buffalo is the biggest public university in the area, with many students and different schools to study in. Other colleges include Buffalo State College and private schools like Canisius University.

Libraries

Buffalo’s main library, the Central Library, has been around since 1835 and holds many books and special items. It also has spaces for people to read and learn, with smaller libraries in different parts of the city.

Infrastructure

Healthcare

Buffalo has nine hospitals, including Oishei Children's Hospital and Buffalo General Medical Center, run by Kaleida Health. Other hospitals are Mercy Hospital, Sisters of Charity Hospital, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the county-run Erie County Medical Center. The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus has important research centers and a specialized institute for stroke recovery.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Buffalo, New York

Buffalo’s streets were laid out in 1804 and named after Dutch landowners and Native American tribes. The city is a key port near Canada, connected by the Peace Bridge. Major highways like I-190 and NY 5 help cars move around. Public transportation is managed by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, which runs buses, a light-rail line, and the airport. The airport has daily flights and has won awards for customer service. Buffalo also has train stations for travel to other cities.

Utilities

Buffalo’s water comes from a treatment station that opened in 1915. Electricity and gas are provided by companies like National Grid and National Fuel Gas. The city’s Department of Public Works clears snow, cleans streets, and picks up trash. During snowy weather, snowplows clear roads, and special measures are taken to prevent ice jams near Niagara Falls using a large steel barrier called a boom.

Notable residents

Further information: List of people from Buffalo, New York

Buffalo, New York, has been home to many famous people over time. Some of these people have done important work in areas like entertainment and sports. The city is still a place where interesting and influential people live and grow.

Sister cities

Buffalo has eighteen sister cities around the world. These cities work together to share ideas and help each other. Some of these sister cities are Aboadze in Ghana, Bursa in Turkey, Dortmund in Germany, Kanazawa in Japan, Lille in France, and Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom.