The city of Buffalo and the Western New York region:  An overview
The city of Buffalo, which is often referred to the “Queen City,” is located at the western border of New York State, is situated at the eastern edge of Lake Erie, and ranks as the second-largest metropolitan area in the state.  With a population currently under 300,000, the city has experienced significant decline since the days when it had a population around 600,000.

In the mid-1800s, Buffalo was known as the “flour-milling” capital of the world. Its role as a maritime powerhouse was in part because it was a key transshipment and processing point for grain and lumber coming from the Midwest. Buffalo was also served as an important origin and destination port for commercial traffic moving on the Erie Canal.  Later, the city became an important steel-producing area, taking advantage of its water location and its importance as a railroad hub connecting the raw materials of the upper Midwest with urban markets on the east coast.  During the 1950s, the construction of the Welland Canal between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway eventually resulted in the port of Buffalo becoming less competitive as a transshipping point.  

Today, many still view Buffalo as an old, industrial city.  However, it is undergoing a slow transformation and restructuring from an economy dominated by the manufacturing  of steel and autos to one where new employment is increasingly concentrated in professional and business services, education, health services, high-tech companies, banking, tourism, and cross-border trade with Canada.  Although some manufacturing, especially in the automotive sector, is still important in term of employment (e.g., Delphi Thermal & Interior, General Motors Powertrain, and Ford Motor Company), increasingly the major employers include the University at Buffalo, which is the largest comprehensive campus in the SUNY system; major banks, such as HSBC Bank, USA NA, , as well as back-office banking facilities; Roswell Park Cancer Institute;  the Hauptman-Woodward Research Center; Delaware North Companies; Ingram Micro Inc.;  and many international trade-related businesses, including FedEx Trade Networks.

Culturally, the city is consistently ranked among the nations top 100 cities when it comes to its diversified arts community, unique and historic architecture, low cost of living,  avoidance of the recent housing-mortgage meltdown,  local ethnic neighborhoods, and relatively low crime rate.  Occasionally referred to as an “All American City,” Buffalo is a gateway to Niagara Falls, has two major sports teams (football and hockey), a high percentage of sunny days/year, a newly expanding and renovated waterfront area, opportunities for many winter and summer sport activities, and easy access across three international bridges to the many cultural and recreational opportunities in Canada.

The Buffalo metropolitan area is traditionally referred to as the Buffalo-Niagara region, which consists of Erie and Niagara Counties.  However, the larger Western New York region is typically defined as the eight contiguous counties beyond the city of Buffalo.  These surrounding areas have urban, suburban, and rural environments, with agriculture and agri-business becoming more importance as distance increases from the urban areas. Among the many cultural and recreational opportunities located within these outlying counties are the region’s major ski resorts, the Chautauqua Institution, lake-front recreational opportunities, wine-making enterprises and trails, historical landmarks, casino gambling facilities, the restored and historic Erie Canal, and a state park.  Overall, the entire Western New York region, including the city of Buffalo, has a population of approximately 1.2 million residents. 

Below are several links that provide a broader and more detailed profile of the city of Buffalo and the larger Western New York region. 

Selected Community Links: