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Buffalo, New York

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Buffalo, New York
Flag of Buffalo, New York
Flag
Official seal of Buffalo, New York
Seal
Nickname(s): 
City of Good Neighbors, Queen City, City of Light, Nickel City
Location of Buffalo in New York State
Location of Buffalo in New York State
CountyErie County
Government
 • MayorByron Brown
Population
 (2005)[1]
 • City279,745
 • Metro
1,254,066
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
WebsiteBuffalo, NY
Aerial view of the harbor at Buffalo, New York. View is to the north

Buffalo (IPA: [ˈbʌ.fɵ.loʷ]) is an American city in western New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 292,648.[1] It is the state's second-largest city, after New York City, and is the county seat of Erie County.Template:GR It is also the economic and cultural center of the Buffalo-Niagara Region, a diverse metropolitan area with a population of 1.2 million people.[2] The Buffalo area is adjacent to the Golden Horseshoe, an urban region in southern Ontario.

Buffalo lies at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the southern head of the Niagara River, which connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

History

Main article: History of Buffalo, New York

The City of Buffalo received its name from the creek that flows through it, and likely dates from the mid 18th century, when the area was first settled by Europeans. The area was originally settled by an Iroquois tribe, the Ongiara. The then-village was designed in 1804 with a radial street and grid system, centered on where the McKinley Monument now stands. Buffalo is one of only three major US cities with such a street layout.[citation needed]

In the War of 1812, on December 30, 1813, the village, which was considered a military resort, was burned by the British. In 1825, the town became the western end of the Erie Canal and had a population of around 2,400. It was incorporated as a city in 1832.

Buffalo was a terminus of the Underground Railroad and helped many fugitives cross the Niagara River to Fort Erie, Ontario and freedom.

At the start of the 20th century, immigrants from Europe came in to work in the local mills which used hydroelectric power generated from the river. The city got the nickname City of Light at this time due to the widespread electric lighting used.

The link to Fort Erie, known as the Peace Bridge, was opened in 1927.

The city's economy declined in the later half of the 20th century, due to the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1957, cutting the city off from the normal trade routes. The city, which boasted over half a million people at its peak in the 1950s, has seen its population decline by almost 50%, as industries shut down and people left the Rust Belt for the employment opportunities of the South and West. However, the suburbs adjacent to Buffalo have grown from 300,000 in the 1950s to over 600,000 in 2007.

The end of 2006 saw an upturn in the city's prospects. Economic development in the city was marked at $3.5 billion in 2006 compared to a $50 million average for the previous ten years.[citation needed] New proposals and renovations were numerous, especially in the downtown area. Buffalo ranked 83rd on the Forbes best cities for jobs list, an increase from the previous year, and beating out cities like New York City, Cleveland, and Detroit. Buffalo is also scheduled to get a new tallest building; the Buffalo City Tower will be 600 ft. in 2010.

Geography

Position within Erie County.

Buffalo is located on the eastern end of Lake Erie, opposite Fort Erie, Ontario in Canada, and at the beginning of the Niagara River, which flows northward over Niagara Falls and into Lake Ontario. It is located at 42°54'17" North, 78°50'58" West (42.904657, -78.849405).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 136.0 km² (52.5 mi²). 105.2 km² (40.6 mi²) of it is land and 30.8 km² (11.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 22.66% water.

Climate

Buffalo has a reputation for snowy winters. The region experiences a fairly humid, continental-type climate, but with a definite maritime flavor due to strong modification from the Great Lakes. The transitional seasons are very brief in Buffalo and Western New York.

File:BuffaloAvgTemps.png

Winters in Western New York are generally cold and snowy, but are changeable and include frequent thaws and rain as well. Snow covers the ground more often than not from late December into early March, but periods of bare ground are not uncommon. Over half of the annual snowfall comes from the lake effect process and is very localized. Lake effect snow occurs when cold air crosses the relatively warm lake waters and becomes saturated, creating clouds and precipitation downwind. Due to the prevailing winds, areas south of Buffalo receive much more lake effect snow than locations to the north. The lake snow machine starts as early as mid-October, peaks in December, then virtually shuts down after Lake Erie freezes in mid to late January. The most well-known snow storm in Buffalo's history, the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977, resulted from a combination of lake effect snow and high winds. Snow does not typically impair the city's operation, but can cause significant damage as with Lake Storm "Aphid".

Template:Wikinewspar3 Buffalo has the sunniest and driest summers of any major city in the Northeast, but still has enough rain to keep vegetation green and lush.[3] Summers are marked by plentiful sunshine and moderate humidity and temperature. Obscured by the attention given to winter snowstorms is the fact that Buffalo benefits from other lake effects, such as free, natural air conditioning from Lake Erie. As a result, summers are often filled with gentle southwest breezes off the lake that temper the warmest days. Rainfall is moderate but typically occurs at night. The stabilizing effect of Lake Erie continues to inhibit thunderstorms and enhance sunshine in the immediate Buffalo area through most of July. August usually has more showers and is humid as the warmer lake loses its temperature-stabilizing influence.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18308,668—
184018,213110.1%
185042,261132.0%
186081,12992.0%
1870117,71445.1%
1880155,13431.8%
1890255,66464.8%
1900352,38737.8%
1910423,71520.2%
1920506,77519.6%
1930573,07613.1%
1940575,9010.5%
1950580,1320.7%
1960532,759−8.2%
1970462,768−13.1%
1980357,870−22.7%
1990328,123−8.3%
2000292,648−10.8%
2005 (est.)279,745
Historical Population Figures[4]

City proper

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, the city had a total population of 292,648 (2006 estimate: 276,059).

At that time of the 2000 census there were 292,648 people, 122,720 households, and 67,005 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,782.4/km² (7,205.8/mi²). There are 145,574 housing units at an average density of 1,384.1/km² (3,584.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 54.43% White, 37.23% African American, 0.77% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.68% from other races, and 2.45% from two or more races. 7.54% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 122,720 households out of which 28.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.6% are married couples living together, 22.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% are non-families. 37.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 3.07.

In the city the population included 26.3% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $24,536, and the median income for a family is $30,614. Males have a median income of $30,938 versus $23,982 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,991. 26.6% of the population and 23.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 38.4% of those under the age of 18 and 14.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Buffalo has very sizable populations of Italian, Polish, Irish, German and African descent. Major ethnic neighborhoods still exist but they changed significantly in the second half of the twentieth century. Traditionally, Polish-Americans were the predominant occupants of the East Side, while Italian-Americans composed a close-knit neighborhood in the west side. The East Side is now a predominantly African American neighborhood, while the West Side has become a melting pot of many ethnicities, with Afro-Latino culture being the strongest influence. Throughout the history of Buffalo, the neighborhoods collectively called the First Ward, as well as much of South Buffalo, have been comprised almost entirely of people of Irish descent.

Metropolitan area

As of 2006, Erie and Niagara Counties had a combined estimated population of 1,154,378.[5] The racial makeup of the area is 82.2% White, 13% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 3.3% Hispanic, and 1.4% of all other races. In the metropolitan area, 39.68% of people are under the age of 18 or over the age of 64, and the median age is 38. Of the total population, 82.88% have a high school diploma and 23.2% have obtained a Bachelor's degree. The median income for a household is $38,400 and the per capita income for the area is just over $20,000. Approximately 12% of the population is below the poverty line.

Education

Public

Like the rest of New York, Buffalo is subject to the state’s benchmark evaluation system. The Buffalo Public Schools curriculum is aligned to state standards set by the Education Department. At the high school level, students are required to pass Regents Examinations for each course upon its completion.

Currently, there are 78 public schools in the city including a growing number of charter schools. As of 2006, the total enrollment was 41,089 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.5 to 1. The dropout rate is just 5.3%, and 83% of students who graduate go on to college. More than 27% of teachers have a Master's degree or higher and the median amount of experience in the field is 15 years. When considering the entire metropolitan area, there are a total of 292 schools educating 172,854 students.[5]

Buffalo is noted [citation needed] for its model magnet school system attracting students with special interests, which include science, bilingual studies, and Native American studies. Specialized facilities include the Buffalo Elementary School of Technology; the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Multicultural Institute; the International School; the Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet School; Build Academy; Leonardo da Vinci High School; the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing ArtsBAVPA; the Riverside Institute of Technology; Lafayette High School/Buffalo Academy of Finance; Hutchinson Central Technical High School; and the Emerson School of Hospitality. The City Honors School was recently ranked #4 in the nation by Newsweek magazine. Buffalo is currently in the process of a $1 billion city school rebuilding plan.

Private

The city itself is home to 47 private schools while the metropolitan region has 150 such institutions. Most private schools have a Roman Catholic affiliation; however, there are schools affiliated with other religions, such as Islam and Judaism, and many nonsectarian options.

Adult and technical

Complementing its standard function, the Buffalo Public Schools Adult and Continuing Education Division provides education and services to adults throughout the community.[6] In addition, the Career and Technical Education department offers more than 20 academic programs, and is attended by about 6,000 students each year.[7]

Higher education

Buffalo is home to two State University of New York (SUNY) institutions. Buffalo State College, a comprehensive college, and the University at Buffalo, the flagship university center of SUNY, each are the largest institution of its type in the system. Combined, they account for roughly 40,000 students in the area.

Other academic institutions in Buffalo or its suburbs include: Bryant & Stratton College, Canisius College, D'Youville College, Daemen College, Empire State College, Erie Community College, Hilbert College, Houghton College, Medaille College, Trocaire College, Villa Maria College, Niagara University and St Bonaventure.

Buffalo, New York from I-190 North entering downtown.

Economy

Buffalo and the surrounding area was long involved in railroad commerce, steel, and automobile production. This includes the Pierce-Arrow Corporation. While major steel production no longer exists, several smaller steel mills remain in operation. In addition, Ford maintains operation of its Buffalo Stamping Plant south of the city, and Chevrolet has two plants, a production plant in Tonawanda near the city line, and a tool and die plant in the city. The windshield wiper was invented in Buffalo, and the Trico company still operates some facilities there. For many years, Buffalo was the nation's second largest rail center, with Chicago being the first.

In the 21st century, Buffalo has increasingly become a center for bioinformatics and human genome research, including work by researchers at the University at Buffalo and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. This consortium is known as the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. It also includes: Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center, Buffalo Medical Group Foundation, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Kaleida Health, Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired and Upstate New York Transplant Services.

Buffalo is the headquarters of M&T Bank, a large commercial bank with assets of $57B as of 2006. HSBC Bank USA also has major operations in Buffalo (explaining why the sports arena, which hosts the Buffalo Sabres NHL franchise, is named HSBC Arena). Other banks, such as Bank of America and KeyBank, have corporate operations in Buffalo, and Citigroup has recently announced it will soon follow in Amherst, New York, Buffalo's largest suburb. Geico also has a regional office in the inner-ring suburb of Amherst.

Another successful industry in Buffalo is debt collection. There are 6 major firms located in Buffalo and the surrounding area.

New Era Cap Company, the largest sports-licensed headwear company in the United States, is based in Buffalo. They opened new headquarters in 2007 in the former Federal Reserve Building in downtown Buffalo. Buffalo is also the home to the American headquarters of InBev, the world's largest producer of beer.

Labatt moved its US headquarters to Buffalo in May 2007.

See also: List of foreign consulates in Buffalo

Government and Politics

See also: Politics and Government of Buffalo, New York

Government

At the municipal level, the City of Buffalo has a council made up of the mayor and nine councilmen. Buffalo also serves as the seat of Erie County with 27 county representatives.

At the state level, there are three state assemblymen and two state senators in the Buffalo area. At the federal level, Buffalo is represented by three members of the House of Representatives.

Politics

See also: List of mayors of Buffalo, New York

The Democratic Party has dominated Buffalo politics for the last half-century, though its longest serving mayor of the past half-century, James Griffin, switched political affiliations several times and most frequently attained electoral victory from socially conservative platforms. In 2005, Kevin Helfer, the city's first major conservative mayoral candidate in over 40 years, defeated Byron Brown by a 2-1 margin in the Conservative Party primary. Despite this, voters ultimately chose Brown, making him the city's first African-American mayor. Union support bolstered Brown's campaign, ultimately providing a substantial fundraising and volunteer effort. However, Tom Reynolds, formerly the fourth highest ranking Republican in Congress, has a constituency consisting mainly of Erie County.

Cityscape

File:BuffaloMap.png
Neighborhoods of Buffalo, New York

Neighborhoods

Buffalo consists of 32 different neighborhoods: Allentown, Bailey-Lovejoy, Black Rock, Central Park, Cold Springs, Delaware District, Downtown, East Side, Elmwood Village, Fillmore-Leroy, First Ward, Fruit Belt, Hamlin Park, Hospital Hill, Humboldt Park, Kaisertown, Kensington, Kensington Heights, Lower West Side, Masten Park, North Buffalo, North Park, Parkside, Polonia, Riverside, Schiller Park, South Buffalo, University District, University Heights, Vernon Triangle, Upper West Side, and Willert Park.

Parks

See also: Buffalo, New York parks system
Olmsted Park System, 1914

One of Buffalo's many monikers is the City of Trees, which describes the abundance of green in the city. In fact, Buffalo has more than 20 parks with multiple ones being accessible from any part of the city.

The Olmsted Park and Parkway System is the hallmark of Buffalo’s many green spaces. Three-fourths of city park land is part of the system, which comprises 6 major parks, 8 connecting parkways, 9 circles and 7 smaller spaces. Begun in 1868 by Frederick Law Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux, the system was integrated into the city and marks the first attempt in America to layout a coordinated system of public parks and parkways. The Olmsted designed portions of the Buffalo park system are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are maintained by the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

Waterfront

Situated at the confluence of Lake Erie and the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers, Buffalo is a waterfront city. The city’s rise to economic power came through its waterways in the form of transshipment, manufacturing, and an endless source of energy. Buffalo’s waterfront is still a hub of commerce, trade, and industry that is essential to its economic prosperity.

Recently, the waterfront is undergoing rapid transformation from its manufacturing nature of the past, and into a focal point for social and recreational activity.

Standard of Living

In July 2005, Reader's Digest ranked Buffalo as the third cleanest large city in the nation.[8]

According to a 2005 article by Mortgage Banking Magazine, the Buffalo Niagara metropolitan area is the most affordable housing market in the nation. "The quarterly NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) noted that nearly 90% of the new and existing homes sold in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro area during the second quarter were affordable to families making the area's median income of $57,000. The area median price of homes was $75,000."[9]

In terms of crime, Amherst, Buffalo's largest suburb, has been the safest city in the U.S. five times since 1997 according to FBI statistics.[10]

Culture

Nicknames

By no means has City of Light been Buffalo's only nickname. The most common of its monikers -- The Queen City -- first appeared in print in the 1840s, referring to the city being the second largest city in New York State behind New York City. The The Queen City has also been used used to describe Buffalo as the second largest American city on the Great Lakes after Chicago. Buffalo has also been called The Nickel City due to the appearance of a bison on the back of Indian Head nickel in the early part of the 20th century. The City of Good Neighbors refers to the helpful, friendly spirit of its inhabitants.

Diversity

Buffalo was first settled by New Englanders and a small but influential number of African Americans. The first wave of European immigrants was a large influx of Germans. The city was further populated by Irish immigrants escaping famine, and infused by Polish, Italian and Sicilian, Jewish, and more recently Afro-Latino populations, all of which have made it a melting pot of ethnic cultures. The newest immigrants are from Somalia, Asia, and the Arab world.

The old First Ward in South Buffalo retains a strong Irish identity, and Kaisertown reflects a German heritage. The city's East Side was once home of Buffalo's Polonia centered around the Broadway Market, a microcosm of Polish traditions and food delicacies. The East Side is now home to African Americans who came north during the Great Migration. The Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo, NY is an important component for Black-Americans of summertime events in the Buffalo-Niagara region.[11]

The West Side is home to the city's Hispanic community, predominantly of Puerto Rican descent. The West Side was once home to Buffalo's "Little Italy," but in the 1980s much of Buffalo's Italian American heritage shifted to North Buffalo. There is also a small Italian-American enclave in the East Side neighborhood of Lovejoy. The Sicilian custom of preparing St. Joseph's Day (March 19) tables, at which various meatless Lenten courses are laid out for the poor, continues in many Buffalo households as well as in some churches and restaurants.

Buffalo is also home to a sizable Jewish community. German Jewish immigrants originally settled on Buffalo's West Side in the mid-1800s. Less well-off Russian and Polish Jews immigrating to the Niagara Frontier in the early 1900s initially settled on the lower East Side, near William Street and Jefferson Avenue. The community migrated to the Masten Park neighborhood on the East Side, and then to North Buffalo between the 1940s and the 1960s. Although many still live in the city, particularly in North Buffalo and the Delaware District on the city's West Side, the majority of Buffalo's approximately 26,000 Jews[citation needed] now live in the northeastern suburbs of Amherst and Williamsville. Buffalo's Jewish Community centers are located in the Delaware District and Amherst.

Distancing itself from its industrial past, Buffalo is redefining itself as a cultural, banking, educational, and medical center and the city was named by Reader's Digest as the third cleanest city (environmentally) in the United States in 2005.[8] In 2001 USA Today named Buffalo the winner of its "City with a Heart" contest,[12] proclaiming it the nation's "friendliest city." Also, in 1996 and 2002, Buffalo won the All-America City Award.[13]

Dialect

Many white people in the area speak a form of Inland Northern American English. This dialect is most easily recognizable by hearing the "a" sound in "bad". This sound can become a diphthong, making it sound like the last diphthong in the word "idea". So "half" sounds more like "hee-uhf" in this dialect. It is the same dialect spoken in Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Rochester, New York and many other cities in the Great Lakes region.

Food

The Buffalo area's cuisine reflects Italian, Jewish, German, Polish, Greek and American influences. Beef on Weck, Wardynski's kielbasa, Sahlen's hot dogs, sponge candy, pierogi, and haddock fish fries are among the local favorites, as is a loganberry-flavored beverage that remains relatively obscure outside of Western New York and Southern Ontario. Teressa Bellissimo, the chef/owner of the city's Anchor Bar, first prepared the now-widespread Buffalo Chicken Wings here on October 3, 1964. Local or regional chains with a significant presence in the Buffalo area include Ted's Hot Dogs, Anderson's Frozen Custard, Duff's Wings, John & Mary's, Jim's SteakOut, Just Pizza, SPoT Coffee, Tim Horton's, and Mighty Taco. Buffalo's pizza is also of unique design; perhaps because Buffalo is geographically located halfway between New York City and Chicago, Illinois, the pizza made here is likewise about halfway between thin-crust New York-style pizza and deep-dish Chicago-style pizza. The city is also home to the Pearl Street Brewery and Flying Bison Brewing Company, who continue Buffalo's brewing traditions. Labatt USA, the US operation for Labatt Beer, a Toronto-based brewer, is also headquartered in Buffalo. Twice a summer thousands of Western New Yorkers descend into the city for two food festivals, the Taste of Buffalo and the National Buffalo Wing Festival.[14]

Buffalo also has several specialty import/grocery stores in old ethnic neighborhoods, and is home to an eclectic collection of cafes and restaurants that serve adventurous, cosmopolitan fare. Locally-owned restaurants offer soul food, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, Italian, Greek, Arab, Indian, Caribbean, and French.

Several well-known food companies are based in Buffalo. Non-dairy whipped topping, later imitated by Cool Whip, was invented in Buffalo in 1945 by Robert E. Rich, Sr. His company, Rich Products, is one of the city's largest private employers. General Mills was organized in Buffalo, and Gold Medal brand flour, Wheaties, Cheerios and other General Mills brand cereals are manufactured here. One of the country's largest cheese manufacturers, Sorrento, has been here since 1947. Archer Daniels Midland also operates its largest flour mill in the city.

Buffalo is also home to one of the largest privately held food companies in the world, Delaware North Companies, which operates concessions in sports arenas, stadiums, resorts, and many state & federal parks.

Art

Buffalo is home to over 50 private and public art galleries, most notably the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, home to a world-class collection of modern art. The local art scene is also enhanced by the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, CEPA, and many small galleries and studios.[15][16] AmericanStyle ranked Buffalo fourth in its list of America's top art destinations.[17]

Two street festivals - the Allentown Art Festival and the Elmwood Festival of the Arts - bring thousands of people to the city to browse and purchase original crafts. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, which performs at Kleinhans Music Hall, is one of the city's most prominent performing arts institutions. Shea's Performing Arts Center, long known as Shea's Buffalo, is an old-style large theatre that continues to show productions and concerts. :See Also: City of Buffalo Public Art Collection

Architecture

Many architectural treasures exist in Buffalo, including:

The country's largest intact parks system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, including Delaware Park. Buffalo was the first city for which Olmsted designed (in 1869) an interconnected park and parkway system rather than stand-alone parks.

The Guaranty Building, by Louis Sullivan, was one of the first steel-supported, curtain-walled buildings in the world, and its thirteen stories made it, at the time it was built, the tallest building in Buffalo and one of the world's first true skyscrapers.[18]

The Hotel Buffalo was the first hotel in the world to feature a private bath in each room.

The H.H. Richardson Complex, originally the State Asylum for the Insane, is Richardsonian Romanesque in style and was the largest commission designed by prominent architect Henry Hobson Richardson. The grounds of this hospital were also designed by Olmsted. Though currently in a state of disrepair, New York State has allocated funds to restore this treasure.

Darwin D. Martin House, Buffalo, New York

The creme-de-la-creme of Buffalo architecture, however, are several buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright, including the Darwin Martin House, George Barton House, William Heath House, The Graycliff Estate, as well as the now demolished Larkin Administration Building.[19][20] Currently under construction is the never built boathouse designed by Wright, on Buffalo's Black Rock Canal. Buffalo has more Frank Lloyd Wright buildings than any other city except Chicago.

Other notable buildings:

Nightlife

Last call is at 4 a.m. in Buffalo, rather than 2 a.m. as in most other areas of the U.S. This is often attributed to the historically high density of industrial facilities and the demand of second and third shift patrons. It is also because New York law allows bars to be open until 4 a.m. (However, local municipalities can override it to an earlier time.) This law was actually designed to accommodate the thriving late nightlife of New York City, but the state's "Second City" has adopted it as well.

Several distinct and thriving nightlife districts have grown around clusters of bars and nightclubs in the city. The most visible nightlife district is West Chippewa Street, located between Main Street and South Elmwood Avenue. The area is home to high-energy dance clubs, crowded bars, trendy coffeehouses, and restaurants. Allentown, where bars are as numerous but the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed, is a 20-minute walk north to Allen Street. Allen Street near Main Street houses several gay bars, while Allen near Elmwood has many bars that feature live music. Continuing up Elmwood Avenue from Allentown is the Elmwood Strip, which runs several miles to Buffalo State College. This strip has numerous small boutiques and restaurants, with few large corporate establishments. Crowds on this strip include everyone from college students to families to the elderly.

Other points of interest

Transportation

Airport

Buffalo is served by the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, located in Cheektowaga. The airport, recently re-constructed, serves over 5 million passengers a year and is still growing. Buffalo Niagara International Airport ranks among the five cheapest airports from which to fly in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The average round trip flight cost $295.58.[22] As of 2006, plans are in the works by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer to make the under-used Niagara Falls International Airport into an international cargo hub for New York and Toronto, as well as Canada as a whole.[23]

Public Transit

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) operates not only Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport, but also public transit throughout the Buffalo area. The NFTA runs a number of buses throughout the city and suburbs, as well as a 6-mile (9 km) Metro Rail light rail rapid transit system in the city.

The Metro Rail operates above ground in the section closest to downtown, the Main Street pedestrian mall referred to as Buffalo Place, then descends under Main Street as it heads toward University at Buffalo's south campus.

Intercity rail

Two train stations, Buffalo-Depew and Buffalo-Exchange Street serve the city and are operated by Amtrak. VIA Rail also serves these stations for travel into Canada.

Freight service for Buffalo is served by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern (NS), as well as Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) railroads from across the Border. The area has 4 large rail yards: Frontier (CSX), Bison (NS), SK (NS / CP) and Buffalo Creek (NS / CSX). A large amount of hazardous cargo also crosses through the Buffalo area, such as liquid propane and anhydrous ammonia.

Waterways

Buffalo/The Tonawandas is the western terminus of the historic Erie Canal, which ends in the Black Rock Channel, entering Lake Erie. Once a major route for passengers and cargo, the Canal is now used primarily for pleasure craft and some light local freight.

The city has an extensive breakwall system protecting its inner and outer harbors, which are maintained at commercial navigation depths for Great Lakes freighters.

Highways

Four Interstate highways run through the Buffalo-Niagara Metropolitan Area: Interstate 90, Interstate 190, Interstate 290, and Interstate 990. I-90 runs from Seattle to Boston and connects Buffalo's southern suburbs with the city and the eastern and northern suburbs. I-190 runs from I-90 through downtown and up to Niagara Falls and onto the Canadian border at two spots. I-290 makes a 10 mile connection between I-190 and I-90, serving the area's northern suburbs. I-990 starts at I-290 and runs over 6 miles up to the Millersport Highway, just south of Lockport. I-990 was intended to run to Lockport but was never completed.

The Buffalo Area is also connected to the Golden Horseshoe part of Southern Ontario. Buffalo is as little as an hour away from Toronto, Ontario. Buffalo connects to the QEW via the Peace Bridge on I-190. Niagara Falls, NY connects to Ontario Highway 420 via the Rainbow Bridge (city traffic) and the Ontario Highway 405 (I-190) connects to Lewiston, New York via the Queensten-Lewiston Bridge.

U.S. Route 219 and New York State Route 400 are major expressways that run south of the city to the edge of the metropolitan area in [[Springville, New York|Springville and East Aurora, respectively.

Federal Offices

US Army Corps of Engineers

The offices of the Buffalo District, US Army Corps of Engineers are located adjacent to the Black Rock Lock in the Black Rock channel of the Erie Canal. In addition to maintaining and operating the lock, the District is responsible for planning, design, construction and maintenace of water resources projects in an area extending from Toledo, Ohio to Massena, New York. These include the flood-control dam at Mount Morris, New York, oversight of the lower Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario), review and permitting of wetlands construction, and remedial action for hazardous waste sites.

Sports teams

Current teams

Dunn Tire Park, home to the Buffalo Bisons.
Sport League Club Founded Venue
Baseball IL Buffalo Bisons 1887 Dunn Tire Park
Basketball ABA Buffalo Silverbacks 2005 Buffalo State College
Football NFL Buffalo Bills 1960 Ralph Wilson Stadium
Hockey NHL Buffalo Sabres 1970 HSBC Arena
Lacrosse NLL Buffalo Bandits 1992 HSBC Arena
Soccer NPSL Queen City FC 2007 All-High Stadium

Former teams

Media

Television

See also: Category:Television stations in Buffalo

Newspapers

See also: Category:Newspapers published in New York

Radio

See also: Category:Radio stations in Buffalo, New York

Film industry

Though Buffalo is not a major center of film production, the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission exists to promote and assist with filmmaking in the area. In addition, the non-profit Buffalo International Film Festival helps to highlight the work of Buffalonians associated with the film industry. Squeaky Wheel, a non-profit media arts center, provides access for local media artists to video and film equipment, as well as screenings of independent and avant-garde films.

Films set in the Buffalo area

There have also been a number films that were set or filmed in the Buffalo area.

Sister cities

Buffalo has several sister cities as designated by Sister Cities International (SCI):[24]

See Also: Sister Cities of Buffalo

Honorary Consulates in Buffalo

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Metropolitan & Central City Population: 2000-2005. Demographia.com, accessed September 3, 2006.
  2. ^ "Census 2000 Supplementary Survey Profile for Buffalo - Niagara Falls, NY MSA".
  3. ^ Buffalo's Climate. National Weather Service. Accessed July 5, 2006.
  4. ^ Gibson, Campbell (June 1998). "Population Of The 100 Largest Cities And Other Urban Places In The United States: 1790 To 1990". Population Division, U.S. Bureau of the Census. Retrieved 2006-05-02.
  5. ^ a b "SUNY Buffalo Regional Knowledge Network".
  6. ^ "Buffalo Public Schools Adult and Continuing Education Division".
  7. ^ "Career and Technical Education department".
  8. ^ a b Derek Burnett, America's Top Five Cleanest Cities. Reader's Digest. Accessed Jan. 4, 2007.
  9. ^ Buffalo most affordable metro area, L.A. least affordable. All Business. Accessed July 5, 2006.
  10. ^ Amherst, New York Retains Title as America's Safest City. City of Amherst. Accessed July 5, 2006.
  11. ^ Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo, NY, accessed 7 July 2007
  12. ^ Grossman, Cathy Lynn (2001-02-12). "Lots and lots of heart in Buffalo" (HTML). USA Today. Retrieved 2007-03-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ "All-America City: Past Winners" (HTML). National Civic League. Retrieved 2007-03-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ Taste of Buffalo, accessed 7 July 2007
  15. ^ Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, accessed 7 July 2007
  16. ^ CEPA Gallery, access 7 July 2007
  17. ^ The 2004 Top 25 Arts Destinations. AmericanStyle. Accessed July 31, 2006.
  18. ^ Louis Sullivan - Guaranty / Prudential Building, accessed 7 July 2007
  19. ^ William Heath House, accessed 7 July 2007
  20. ^ The Graycliff Estate, accessed 7 July 2007
  21. ^ Temple Beth Zion, accessed 7 July 2007
  22. ^ Sharon Linstedt (2007-04-24). "Area flies high on low fares". www.buffalonews.com/103/story/63037.html. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Bill Michelmore (2006-06-26). "Niagara airport pushed as trade hub; Schumer joins effort to bring global cargo". Buffalo News. p. B1. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ New York State Sister Cities. Sister Cities, Inc.
  25. ^ The Buffalo News: Sister city in Ukraine boosts business ties

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Buffalo, New York (category)
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Buffalo (city)".

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

North: Kenmore, Tonawanda Northeast: Amherst
West: Fort Erie, Niagara River Buffalo East: Sloan, Cheektowaga
South: Lackawanna Southeast: West Seneca
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