BUFFALO (ante), city, a port of entry, and the seat of justice of Erie co., N. Y., in 42° 53' n., 78° 55' w., at the foot of lake Erie, at the mouth of the Buffalo river and at tho head of Niagara river, which ia here crossed by an iron bridge, The city has a water front of about 5 m., running 21 m. along the shore of the lake, and 21 m. along Niagara river. It is connected with Goderich on lake Huron by the Buffalo and Lake Huron railroad; with Detroit by the Great Western railway; with Toronto and Montreal by the Grand Trunk railway. 'the climate is pleasant and healthful ; the streets, broad and generally lined with trees, are well paved, lighted, and supplied with sewers. There are many fine residences with attractive grounds, and numerous squares and public places. A combination of parks and pleasure grounds has been laid out, extending to over 500 acres. It comprises three sections, situated respectively in the northern, western and eastern parts of the city, which, with the connecting boulevards, afford a drive of nearly 10 miles. In population Buffalo is the third city in New York, and the thirteenth in the United States. It was founded in 1801, became a military post in 1813, and was burned by the British on the last day of the same year. After the war the place was rebuilt, and in 1832 it attained the rank of a city. In 1820, it contained 2095 inhabitants. After the opening of the Erie canal in 1825, its .growth was rapid, the population being 8653 in 1830; 18,213 in 1840; 42,261 in 1850; 81,129 in 1860; 117,714 in 1870; 134,238 in 1875, and 154,766 in 1880. A portion of the river front is a bold bluff 60 ft. above the lake and the Erie canal, which passes near it. There are 5 public squares, Niagara, Lafayette place, Washington, Franklin, and Delaware place. The principal streets are Main street, about 3 m. in length, Niagara street, 4 m., and Delaware street, 3 miles. The most important public buildings are the city and county hall, a granite structure, erected at a cost of over $2,000,000, in the form of a double Roman cross with a tower 245 ft. high; the United States custom-house and post-of ice; the state arsenal, the Erie co. penitentiary, which is one of the 6 penal establishments of New York; and the state asylum for the insane, an edifice which cost about $3,000,000, and has a front of 2700 ft. and a capacity for 600 patients. There are 76 churches, the most imposing edifices being St. Joseph's cathedral (Roman Catholic) and St. Paul's (Episco pal. The churches are divided among the various denominations as follows: 18 Roman Catholic, 11 German Lutheran and Evangelical, 10 Episcopal, 10 Methodist, 9 Presby terian, 8 Baptist, 4 Mission, 2 Jewish, 1 French Protestant, 1 Congregational, 1 Uni tarian, 1 Universalist, and 1 Friends'. The Forest Lawn cemetery in the suburbs con
tains 75 acres, tastefully laid out. There are 9 daily newspapers, 5 iu English and 4 in Germau, 10 weeklies, and 7 periodicals issued monthly. The educational institutions comprise a state normal school, 50 public schools with an average of 353 teachers and 21,80S pupils, and a number of collegiate schools and academies. Among other educa tional institutions are Canisius college, founded by the Jesuit fathers; St. Joseph's col lege, conducted by the Christian brothers; Martin Luther college (theological); St. Mary's academy and industrial school for girls; and the medical college of the university of Buffalo. The charitable institutions of the city are numerous. The Buffalo orphan asylum, founded in 1835, occupies a fine building in Virginia street. The St. Vincent's asylum for orphan girls is under the care of the sisters of charity. The St. Joseph's asylum for orphan boys, founded by the Roman Catholic church, has a reformatory insti tution connected with it. The church charity foundation (Episcopal) supports a home for aged and destitute females opened in 1858, and an orphan ward organized in 1866. The St. John's orphan home is under the care of the Evangelical Lutheran church. The Ingleside home was organized in 1869 for the purpose of reclaiming erring women. Among other charities are the St. Mary's asylum for widows, foundlings, and infants; the Buffalo general hospital in High street; the Buffalo association for the relief of the poor; and a homeopathic hospital founded in 1872. B. has 3 national banks. 6 state banks, and 5 savings banks. The Young Men's association has a library of 30,000 volumes, and real estate valued at about $250,000. This society owns St. James hall, which is greatly in demand for concerts and lectures; and their large library building is occupied by the Buffalo historical society with its large library and cabinet; by the society of natural sciences, which has made an extensive collection of minerals and fossil casts; by the academy of fine arts; and by the mechanics' institute. The Young Men's Christian union and the German Young Men's association have good libraries. The Grosvenor library contains'about 15,000 volumes of valuable reference works.