Buffalo, New York
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| Buffalo, New York | |||
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| Nickname: City of Good Neighbors, Queen City, City of Light, Nickel City | |||
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| County | Erie County | ||
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| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Byron Brown | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 52.5 sq mi (136.0 km²) | ||
| - Land | 40.6 sq mi (105.2 km²) | ||
| - Water | 11.9 sq mi (30.8 km²) | ||
| Population (2000)[1] | |||
| - City | 292,648 | ||
| - Density | 7,206.4/sq mi (2,782.4/km²) | ||
| - Metro | 1,254,066 | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC−5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC−4) | ||
| Website: Buffalo, NY | |||
Buffalo 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.GR6 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] Buffalo is also part of the Golden Horseshoe, an international urban region of over 9.7 million people[3].
Buffalo lies at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the southern head of the Niagara River, which connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
[edit] History
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 previously settled by an Iroquois tribe, the Ongiara. The city was designed in 1804 with a radial street and grid system, one of only three in the US. 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, Canada and freedom.
At the start of the 20th century, immigrants from Europe came in to work in the local mills which used local hydro-electric power. 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 1950's, 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. At the same time, the suburbs adjacent to Buffalo have grown from 300,000 in the 1950's to over 600,000 in 2007. Various development efforts at the start of the 21st century aim to reverse that trend.
Distancing itself from its industrial past, Buffalo is redefining itself as a cultural, banking, educational, and medical center. The city was named by Reader's Digest as the third cleanest city (envonmentally) in America in 2005.[4] In 2001 USA Today named Buffalo the winner of its "City with a Heart" contest,[5] proclaiming it the nation's "friendliest city." Also, in 1996 and 2002, Buffalo won the All-America City Award.[6]
[edit] Geography
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).GR1
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.
[edit] 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.
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 Christmas 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 can start 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". Between October 12 and 13 of 2006, a major snow storm blanketed the area with some parts of the city receiving over two feet of snow. At least 350,000 people lost power, in some cases for over a week. At least 3 people were killed in this storm.
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.[7] 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; namely 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.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 8,668 |
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| 1840 | 18,213 | 110.1% | |
| 1850 | 42,261 | 132.0% | |
| 1860 | 81,129 | 92.0% | |
| 1870 | 117,714 | 45.1% | |
| 1880 | 155,134 | 31.8% | |
| 1890 | 255,664 | 64.8% | |
| 1900 | 352,387 | 37.8% | |
| 1910 | 423,715 | 20.2% | |
| 1920 | 506,775 | 19.6% | |
| 1930 | 573,076 | 13.1% | |
| 1940 | 575,901 | 0.5% | |
| 1950 | 580,132 | 0.7% | |
| 1960 | 532,759 | -8.2% | |
| 1970 | 462,768 | -13.1% | |
| 1980 | 357,870 | -22.7% | |
| 1990 | 328,123 | -8.3% | |
| 2000 | 292,648 | -10.8% | |
| Est. 2005 | 279,745 | -4.4% | |
| Historical Population Figures[8] | |||
[edit] City proper
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, the city had a total population of 292,648 (2005 estimate: 279,745).
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; the Irish-Americans in South Buffalo, Polish-Americans traditionally, but to a much lesser extent nowadays, in the East Side where they have been largely replaced by African-Americans, and at one point Italian-Americans in the West Side. Now the West Side has become a melting pot of many ethnicities, with Afro-Latino culture being the strongest influence.
[edit] Metropolitan area
As of 2006, Erie and Niagara Counties had a combined estimated population of 1,154,378.[9] 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.
[edit] Education
[edit] 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.[9]
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 Arts; 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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. In addition, the Career and Technical Education department offers more than 20 academic programs, and is attended by about 6,000 students each year.
[edit] Higher education
More than 20 public and private colleges and universities in Buffalo and its environs offer programs in technical and vocational training, graduate, and professional studies.
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, are each the largest institution of its type in the system. Combined, they account for roughly 40,000 students in the area.
Other academic institutions in the Western New York area area include: Alfred University, Alfred State College, Bryant & Stratton College, Canisius College, D'Youville College, Daemen College, Empire State College, Erie Community College, Genesee Community College, Hilbert College, Houghton College, Jamestown Business College, Jamestown Community College, Medaille College, Niagara County Community College also know as NCCC, Niagara University, Northtown Technical, St. Bonaventure University, SUNY College at Brockport, SUNY Fredonia, The Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE) - University at Buffalo, Trocaire College, UB Continuing Dental Education, Villa Maria College.
[edit] 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. 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 the 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.
[edit] Government and Politics
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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, the fourth highest ranking Republican in Congress has a constituency consisting mainly in Erie Country.
[edit] Cityscape
[edit] 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.
[edit] Parks
- See also: Buffalo, New York parks system
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Standard of Living
In July 2005, Reader's Digest ranked Buffalo as the third cleanest large city in the nation.[4]
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.”[10]
[edit] Culture
[edit] 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. 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.
[edit] 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[1] is an important component for Black-Americans of summertime events in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
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.
[edit] 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, Jim's SteakOut, Tim Hortons, 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 Pearl Street Brewery and Flying Bison Brewing Company, who continue Buffalo's brewing traditions.
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 Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, Italian, Greek, Arab, Indian, Caribbean, French, and soul food.
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.
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.
[edit] 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 countless small galleries and studios. AmericanStyle ranked Buffalo fourth in its list of America's top art destinations.[11]
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
[edit] 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.
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.
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. 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:
- Lafayette High School, a stone, brick and terra-cotta structure in the French Renaissance Revival style by architects August Eisenwein and James A. Johnson, is the oldest public school in Buffalo that remains in its original building, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- St. Adalbert's Basilica, is the first Church to be declared a basilica in the United States, and the oldest one on the east coast. Built by Huber and Company in 1890-1891, it was built by Polish immigrants. The building itself is brick, its dimensions are 240 feet high, 118 feet wide, nave 70 feet high, the two towers are 150 feet high with a dome 40 feet wide and soaring 125 feet above the main nave. At that time it was the largest church in Western New York and cost $63,000 without the furnishings.
- Albright-Knox Art Gallery, a world-renowned repository of art, was designed by Gordon Bunshaft, a native Buffalonian and graduate of the above-noted Lafayette High School.
- Richard Upjohn designed St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral
- Eliel Saarinen and Eero Saarinen designed Kleinhans Music Hall
- Max Abramovitz designed Temple Beth Zion
- Alexander Phimister Proctor designed the Lions for the McKinley Monument
- Grain elevators were invented here in 1842. Buffalo's collection is the largest in the world.
- Buffalo Central Terminal, the massive Art Deco railroad station designed by Alfred T. Fellheimer and Steward Wagner.
[edit] 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 coffehouses, 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.
[edit] Other points of interest
- Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
- Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society
- Buffalo Museum of Science
- Buffalo Zoo - Third oldest zoo in the United States.
- Forest Lawn Cemetery
- Mark Twain Room - Houses original manuscript of Huckleberry Finn
- USS Little Rock (CG-4) in Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
- The Anchor Bar - the birthplace of the Buffalo Wing.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Airport
Buffalo is served by the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, located in Cheektowaga. The airport, recently re-constructed, serves over 2.5 million passengers a year and is still growing. 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.[12]
[edit] 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, then descends under Main Street as it heads toward University at Buffalo's south campus. Buffalo is the smallest city in the United States to have a subway system.
[edit] Rail
Two train stations, Buffalo-Depew and Buffalo-Exchange Street serve the city and operated by Amtrak (also VIA Rail). In terms of freight, Buffalo is served by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern, as well as Canadian National and Canadian Pacific 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 Buffalo, souch as liquid propane and anhydrous ammonia.
[edit] Waterways
Buffalo 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.
[edit] 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.
US 219 and NY 400 are major expressways that run south of the city to the edge of the metropolitan area in Springville and East Aurora, respectively. US 219 is being eyed to become Interstate 67 to Maryland.
[edit] Federal Offices
[edit] 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.
[edit] Sports teams
[edit] Current teams
- The Buffalo Bills, a charter team of the American Football League (1960-1969), now in the National Football League.
- The Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.
- The Buffalo Bisons of the International League, AAA team for the Cleveland Indians.
- The Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League.
- The Buffalo Silverbacks of the American Basketball Association.
- The Queen City FC of the National Premier Soccer League set to begin play at All-High Stadium in 2007.
[edit] Former teams
- The Buffalo Bisons of the National League from 1878-1885.
- The Buffalo Blues of the defunct Federal League of baseball from 1914-1915.
- The Buffalo Bisons of the defunct All-America Football Conference in 1946.
- The Buffalo Bills of the defunct All-America Football Conference from 1947–1949.
- The Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League from 1940–1970.
- The Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball Association from 1970–1978.
- The Buffalo Norsemen of the North American Hockey League from 1975-1976
- The Buffalo Stallions of the defunct Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1984.
- The Buffalo Stampede of the defunct Roller Hockey International from 1994–1995.
- The Buffalo Wings of the defunct Roller Hockey International and Major League Roller Hockey from 1997–1999.
- The Buffalo Blizzard of the defunct National Professional Soccer League from 1992–2001.
- The Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League from 1999–2003.
[edit] Media
[edit] Television
- See also: Category:Television stations in Buffalo
[edit] Radio
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| By Frequency | 88.3 · 88.7 · 89.3 · 89.9 · 90.7 · 91.3 · 91.7 · 92.9 · 93.7 · 94.5 · 96.1 · 96.9 · 97.7 · 98.5 · 99.5 · 101.1 · 101.7 · 102.5 · 103.3 · 103.7 · 104.1 · 104.7 · 105.1 · 105.7 · 106.5 · 107.3 · 107.7 |
| By Callsign | CFBU · CFLZ · CHRE · CHTZ · CIXL · CKEY · W207BB · W284AP · W297AB · WBFO · WBLK · WBNY · WBUF · WCOU · WDCX · WEDG · WFBF · WGCC · WGRF · WHTT · WJYE · WKSE · WLKK · WLOF · WNED · WTSS · WYRK |
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| By Frequency | 550 · 610 · 710 · 770 · 930 · 970 · 1080 · 1120 · 1220 · 1230 · 1270 · 1300 · 1330 · 1340 · 1400 · 1440 · 1520 · |
| By Callsign | CHSC · CJRN · CKTB · WBBF · WBEN · WECK · WGR · WHLD · WJJL · WLVL · WNED · WSPQ · WTOR · WUFO · WWKB · WWWS · WXRL |
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[edit] Film industry
While Buffalo may not be 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.
There have also been a number films that were set or filmed in the Buffalo area.
- Best Friends was filmed in Buffalo in 1982.
- Buffalo '66 was set and filmed in Buffalo.
- Bruce Almighty was set primarily in Buffalo, but was filmed mostly in Chicago.
- Hide in Plain Sight was set and filmed in Buffalo.
- Manna from Heaven was set and filmed in Buffalo.
- The Natural, while not set in Buffalo, was mostly filmed in Buffalo.
- Shadow Creature was filmed in Buffalo.
- The Savages, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, was filmed throughout Buffalo in the spring of 2006. Set to be released at theaters in 2007.
- Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead , A low budget Troma film shot in Buffalo at an old McDonalds location on Bailey Ave.
- The Buddy Holly Story depicts the name "The Crickets" being bestowed upon Buddy's group by Buffalo disk jockey 'Madman' Mancuso, who (after having locked himself in the studio while he plays "That'll Be the Day" over and over), tracks down Buddy for a phone interview. Upon learning from Buddy that one of the songs the as-yet-unnamed group had recorded in Buddy's garage "has a cricket on it," the DJ anoints them "Buddy Holly and the Crickets."
- Stiletto Dance starring Eric Roberts as a Buffalo cop trying to foil a Russian mafia-nuclear weapon deal was set and filmed in Buffalo in 2001.
- Planes, Trains & Automobiles starring Steve Martin and John Candy. The "Automobile" scenes were filmed along U.S. Route 219, south of Buffalo.
- Canadian Bacon although largely set in nearby Niagara Falls, had significant scenes in Buffalo.
[edit] Sister cities
Buffalo has ten sister cities as designated by Sister Cities International(SCI):[13]
Cape Coast, Ghana
Dortmund, Germany
Drohobych, Ukraine
Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
Kiryat Gat, Israel
Lille, France
Rzeszow, Poland
Siena, Italy
Tver, Russia- Torremaggiore, Italy
- Lille, France
See Also: Buffalo Sister Cities - City of Buffalo
[edit] Honorary Consulates in Buffalo
- Austria
- Canada - (Consulate General)
- Czech Republic
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
[edit] Trivia
- Reader's Digest in 2005 named Buffalo among the cleanest of American cities.
- USA Today in 2001 deemed Buffalo its "City with a Heart."
- In 2002, The city of Buffalo received the All-America City Award.
- In October 2006, Buffalo was featured in a CBS national 48 Hours story covering the murder of Elli Perkins.
[edit] See also
- Famous people from Buffalo
- Polish Cathedral
- Buffalo City Hall
- Buffalo Fire Department
- Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo, a strange but grammatically valid sentence that includes Buffalo, New York numerous times
[edit] References
- ^ a b Metropolitan & Central City Population: 2000-2005. Demographia.com, accessed September 3, 2006.
- ^ Census 2000 Supplementary Survey Profile for Buffalo - Niagara Falls, NY MSA
- ^ http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/buffalo/rightnav/intro_goldenhorse-en.asp
- ^ a b Derek Burnett, America's Top Five Cleanest Cities. Reader's Digest. Accessed Jan. 4, 2007.
- ^ Grossman, Cathy Lynn (2001-02-12). Lots and lots of heart in Buffalo (HTML). USA Today. Retrieved on March 23, 2007.
- ^ All-America City: Past Winners (HTML). National Civic League. Retrieved on March 23, 2007.
- ^ Buffalo's Climate. National Weather Service. Accessed July 5, 2006.
- ^ 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 on May 2, 2006.
- ^ a b SUNY Buffalo Regional Knowledge Network
- ^ Buffalo most affordable metro area, L.A. least affordable. All Business. Accessed July 5, 2006.
- ^ The 2004 Top 25 Arts Destinations. AmericanStyle. Accessed July 31, 2006.
- ^ Bill Michelmore. "Niagara airport pushed as trade hub; Schumer joins effort to bring global cargo", Buffalo News, 2006-06-26, p. B1.
- ^ New York State Sister Cities. Sister Cities, Inc.
[edit] Further reading
[edit] External links
- City of Buffalo webpage
- Buffalo at the Open Directory Project (suggest site)
- Buffalo Architecture and History
- The Buffalonian, history of Western New York
- Frank Lloyd Wright in Western New York
- Buffalo Music Hall of Fame
- Buffalo Airport
- Buffalo Place - Events, dining, theater and other resources
- MetroBuffalo.com - News, weather, sports, events, attractions, and more.
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
| North: Kenmore, Tonawanda | Northeast: Amherst | |
| West: Fort Erie, Niagara River | Buffalo | East: Sloan, Cheektowaga |
| South: Lackawanna | Southeast: West Seneca |
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Erie County, New York County Seat: Buffalo |
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Categories: Articles lacking sources from March 2007 | All articles lacking sources | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since April 2007 | Television stations in Buffalo | Articles with large trivia sections | New York State Heritage Areas | All-America City | Buffalo, New York | Cities in New York | Erie Canal | Erie County, New York | Canada-United States border crossings | Underground Railroad locations | Cities on the Great Lakes | County seats in New York
