BUFFALO, a city of the state of New York, standing at the mouth of Buffalo river, which enters lake Erie within 2 in. of its outlet, the Niagara river. In 1801, when B. was founded, the basin of its fresh-water sea contained certainly fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, and seemed cut off from commercial, communication by the .Niagara falls on the e. and the currents of the Detroit and St. Clair on the west. But these and other natural disadvantages have been made to vanish. The construction of, piers and break waters in the river and at its month have removed the bar, and given B. one of the best harbors on the lakes. Steam has brought lakes IIuron, Michigan, and Superior within easy reach. Its commerce is large, the grain trade being the most important item in it. The receipts of grain and flour during the decade ended in 1874 amounted to 522,874, 94-4 bushels. There are more than 30 elevators in B., with storage capacity for upwards of 7,000,000 bushels. Next to the traffic in grain is that in live-stock. In 1874, 504,594 cattle, 783,800 sheep, 1,431,800 hogs, and 21,937 horses, amounting in value to nearly $60,000,000, passed through Buffalo. British improvements along the Niagara and the St. Lawrence, available as they are for sea-going ships, have rendered B. a maritime empo rium. The Erie canal, 364 in. long, has connected B. as its terminus with the tide waters of the Hudson; while three other enterprises of the kind, commencing respect ively at Erie, Cleveland, and Toledo, have linked lake Erie at three or rather four points with the Ohio, and through it with the Mississippi. Since about 1862, its lake commerce
has much decreased, owing to the increase of railway facilities, and manufacturing industries have taken the lead. Among manufactures, that of iron is the chief. Ship building is also largely carried on, and there are extensive wool-factories and numerous saw-mills. The rise of B. has been remarkably rapid; in 1810, there were 1508 inhabit ants; 1830, 8653; 1850, 42,261; 1870, 117,714; and in 1875, 134,573. The city debt in 1878 was $7,509,257; and the valuation, $99,975,575. In 1814, the British burned Buffalo. In 1825, the Erie canal was opened.
B. is situated in lat. 42° 53' n., and long. 78' 55' west. It is regularly built. Its streets are straight and broad-31ain street, in particular, being 2 m. long and 120 feet wide; and its squares, which are 3 in number, are shaded by rows of trees. The most prominent public buildings are the city and county ball, erected at a cost of $2,000,000, custom-house, post-office, arsenal, penitentiary, and an asylum for the insane. There are nearly 80 churches, a university, 8 daily newspapers, several libraries, etc. It is divided into 5 wards, and is governed by a mayor and council annually elected.