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Buffalo, city and port, seat (1821) of Erie county, western New York, U.S. It is located where the eastern end of Lake Erie narrows into the Niagara River. New York’s second largest city, it is the metropolis of a large urban complex that includes the cities of Lackawanna, Lockport, Niagara Falls, and Tonawanda–North Tonawanda, as well as the towns...
Buffalo’s site, at the natural junction of east-west transportation routes from the Hudson-Mohawk river valleys to the Great Lakes basin, was visited by early French trappers and Jesuit missionaries. It was there on the banks of the Niagara River that the explorer René-Robert Cavelier, sieur (lord) de La Salle, built his ship the Griffon in 1679. A French trading post under Chabert Joncaire was established in 1758 but was abandoned the following year after it was burned by the British. Seneca Indians under British protection settled the area in 1780. The town was laid out in 1803–04 by Joseph Ellicott of the Holland Land Company. Named New Amsterdam (but popularly called Buffalo), it had a population of about 1,500 at the time of the War of 1812 and became the American military headquarters for operations on the Niagara frontier. It was again burned by the British in 1813 but was rebuilt and incorporated as the village of Buffalo in 1816. The origin of the place-name is in dispute, as buffalo (bison) did not inhabit the area; it may reflect a mispronunciation of the French beau fleuve (“beautiful river”), in reference to the local Buffalo Creek.
The first steamboat on the upper Great Lakes, Walk-on-the-Water, was built at Buffalo in 1818. The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 brought a tremendous economic boom to the community, attracting immigrants and boosting its population to some 10,000 at the time of its incorporation as a city in 1832. Trade with the expanding West grew rapidly during the American Civil War period. Railroads, attracted by existing markets and trade routes, converged on the city. Shipyards, iron and steel mills, meat-packing plants, flour mills, and railroad car industries developed. The harnessing of Niagara waterpower in the 1890s further stimulated the growth of highly diversified industry.
The chief manufactures include auto parts, chemicals, plastics, medical supplies, machine tools, pharmaceuticals, and wood products. However, services (notably those related to trade and government employment) constitute the largest share of the city’s economy. Buffalo is a major port of the St. Lawrence Seaway; it is the terminus of the New York State Canal System and is a major rail centre and highway crossroads. As the main U.S. gateway to the Toronto-Hamilton industrial region of Ontario, it processes a large percentage of trade between the United States and Canada. The international Peace Bridge to Fort Erie, Ontario, was opened in 1927 as a memorial to 100 years of peaceful relations between the United States and Canada.
The State University of New York at Buffalo (University at Buffalo) was founded in 1846, and the State University College at Buffalo (Buffalo State College) originated in 1867. Colleges in the city and suburbs include Canisius (1870), Medaille (1875; chartered 1937), D’Youville (1908), Erie Community (1946), Daemen (1947), Trocaire (1958), and Villa Maria (1960). Buffalo is also an established centre for medical research. Cultural institutions include the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, the Buffalo Museum of Science, Kleinhans Music Hall (home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra), Shea’s Performing Arts Center (in a renovated theatre built in 1926), and Studio Arena (a professional theatre founded in 1965).
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- 16.8 miles to city center. Half Day to Full Day. TIME TO SPEND. Just about 20 miles north of Buffalo, Niagara Falls makes for a great day trip.
- 2.5 miles to city center. Address: 1411 Delaware Avenue. Free, Parks and Gardens, Monuments and Memorials, Sightseeing. TYPE. 1 to 2 hours.
- 1.1 miles to city center. Address: 3 Symphony Circle. Entertainment and Nightlife. TYPE. 2 hours to Half Day.
- 3.7 miles to city center. Address: 125 Jewett Parkway. Historic Homes/Mansions, Tours, Sightseeing. TYPE. 2 hours to Half Day.
Explore popular experiences. See what other travellers like to do, based on ratings and number of bookings. See All. Fun & Games (9) Self-guided Tours (11) Points of Interest & Landmarks (22) Historical Tours (8) Day Trips (5) History Museums (9) Day Cruises (3) Walking Tours (5) Parks (56) City Tours (4) Half-day Tours (5) Historic Sites (9)
- What are the top attractions to visit in Buffalo?The top attractions to visit in Buffalo are: Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park Canalside Buffalo City...
- What are the best outdoor activities in Buffalo?The best outdoor activities in Buffalo according to Tripadvisor travellers are: Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens Delaware Park The Buffalo...
- What are the best day trips from Buffalo?The best day trips from Buffalo according to Tripadvisor travellers are: Private Custom Niagara Falls, Canada Scenery Tour from Buffalo,NY Luxury B...
- What are the most popular things to do in Buffalo with children?The most popular things to do in Buffalo with children according to Tripadvisor travellers are:Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic SiteB...
Buffalo has all the excitement and offerings of a major city at a fraction of the price. Situated on Lake Erie, less than 30 minutes from Niagara Falls, this city famous for its exemplary architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan and H.H. Richardson is also a fun trip for the whole family.
Jan 19, 2023 · Aptly nicknamed “the City of Good Neighbors” for its welcoming environment, Buffalo is a beautiful city with a mix of urban life and peaceful tranquility. Located in Western New York and the county seat of Erie County, Buffalo is home to an endless array of unique attractions which attract tourists year-round.
Buffalo is a city in the U.S. state of New York and the seat of Erie County. It lies in Western New York, at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, on the United States border with Canada.
