Buffalo, New York

Buffalo is a <a href="/facts/Administrative_divisions_of_New_York_(state)/YBKkD8Jp">city</a> in the U.S. state of <a href="/facts/New_York_(state)/mnl67G1G">New York</a>. It lies in <a href="/facts/Western_New_York/9jaHzFmB">Western New York</a> at the eastern end of <a href="/facts/Lake_Erie/m9RScPVI">Lake Erie</a>, at the head of the <a href="/facts/Niagara_River/yonqBsqS">Niagara River</a> on the <a href="/facts/Canada%25E2%2580%2593United_States_border/Q7TTKItn">Canadian border</a>. It is the <a href="/facts/List_of_municipalities_in_New_York/zErwL5av">second-most populous city</a> in New York with a population of 278,349 at the <a href="/facts/2020_United_States_census/dTEm5TRr">2020 census</a>, while the <a href="/facts/Buffalo%25E2%2580%2593Niagara_Falls_metropolitan_area/F9jteH6Q">Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area</a> with over 1.16 million residents is the <a href="/facts/Metropolitan_statistical_area/Y2yX0KJg">51st-largest metropolitan area</a> in the United States. It is the <a href="/facts/County_seat/ItAWPoWw">county seat</a> of <a href="/facts/Erie_County%2c_New_York/XoUErEE8">Erie County</a>.
Before the 17th century, the region was inhabited by nomadic <a href="/facts/Paleo-Indians/Cy2QSqUH">Paleo-Indians</a> who were succeeded by the <a href="/facts/Neutral_Confederacy/jmarRdDp">Neutral</a>, <a href="/facts/Erie_people/QRquvbjl">Erie</a>, and <a href="/facts/Iroquois/PnYFTuIP">Iroquois</a> nations. In the early 17th century, the French began to explore the region. In the 18th century, Iroquois land surrounding <a href="/facts/Buffalo_River_(New_York)/2gSX3G1D">Buffalo Creek</a> was ceded through the <a href="/facts/Holland_Land_Purchase/lDuKQMcn">Holland Land Purchase</a>, and a small village was established at its headwaters. In 1825, after its harbor was improved, Buffalo was selected as the terminus of the <a href="/facts/Erie_Canal/NBrheTH9">Erie Canal</a>, which led to its incorporation in 1832. The canal stimulated its growth as the primary <a href="/facts/Inland_port/mstVTAxx">inland port</a> between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. <a href="/facts/Transshipment/XFsvJSsl">Transshipment</a> made Buffalo the world's largest <a href="/facts/Grain_trade/ICzwqp6R">grain port</a> of that era. After the coming of railroads greatly reduced the canal's importance, the city became the second-largest railway hub (after <a href="/facts/Chicago/yPMokrXH">Chicago</a>). During the mid-19th century, Buffalo transitioned to manufacturing, which came to be dominated by steel production. Later, <a href="/facts/Deindustrialization/DCGYhT1B">deindustrialization</a> and the opening of the <a href="/facts/St._Lawrence_Seaway/bVP7lw6V">St. Lawrence Seaway</a> saw the city's economy decline and diversify. It developed its <a href="/facts/Service_industries/xTfyF8rL">service industries</a>, such as health care, retail, tourism, logistics, and education, while retaining some manufacturing. In 2019, the <a href="/facts/Gross_domestic_product/zQRgyFKc">gross domestic product</a> of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls MSA was $53 billion (~$62.3 billion in 2023).
The city's cultural landmarks include the <a href="/facts/Parks_and_recreation_in_Buffalo%2c_New_York/l1pckuJc">oldest urban parks system</a> in the United States, the <a href="/facts/Buffalo_AKG_Art_Museum/rIdxTnNT">Buffalo AKG Art Museum</a>, the <a href="/facts/Buffalo_History_Museum/SdplTvR7">Buffalo History Museum</a>, the <a href="/facts/Buffalo_Philharmonic_Orchestra/VqK6WqHz">Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra</a>, <a href="/facts/Shea%2527s_Performing_Arts_Center/DYPldqEA">Shea's Performing Arts Center</a>, the <a href="/facts/Buffalo_Museum_of_Science/Dc8hWBrH">Buffalo Museum of Science</a>, and several <a href="/facts/List_of_festivals_in_Buffalo%2c_New_York/zkW0ELFm">annual festivals</a>. Its educational institutions include the <a href="/facts/University_at_Buffalo/gbIhPu11">University at Buffalo</a>, <a href="/facts/Buffalo_State_University/gbIhPu11">Buffalo State University</a>, <a href="/facts/Canisius_University/S3sKvX9W">Canisius University</a>, and <a href="/facts/D%2527Youville_University/FcN5qU9z">D'Youville University</a>. Buffalo is also known for its <a href="/facts/Lake-effect_snow/UHeegk1o">winter weather</a>, <a href="/facts/Buffalo_wing/yMvxv0KQ">Buffalo wings</a>, and two major-league <a href="/facts/Sports_in_Buffalo/SIgDcyM0">sports teams</a>: the National Football League's <a href="/facts/Buffalo_Bills/AEmAPcBQ">Buffalo Bills</a> and the National Hockey League's <a href="/facts/Buffalo_Sabres/Qhy0YcDv">Buffalo Sabres</a>.

Buffalo, New York open-in-new

Buffalo, New York