Our Communities

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo, New York, The Queen City, claims more than 52 square miles along the eastern shores of Lake Erie at the confluence of the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers. This charming waterfront city, home to 292,648 people (2000 Census), is NY's second most populous city. Thirty-two different neighborhoods comprise the city of Buffalo.

Located in western NY, Buffalo serves as the seat and center of commerce for Erie County, where manufacturing has traditionally driven the local market. Currently, healthcare and education are the lifeblood of Buffalo's economy, and these sectors continue to grow despite the national economic downturn. Buffalo also boasts a lower rate of unemployment than the state and national average.

While the largest private sector employers are Kaleida Health, Catholic Health System, and HSBC Bank USA, Buffalo is the headquarters site for several well-known companies. These include Delaware North, Labatt, M&T Bank, Lawley Insurance, Merchants Insurance Group, and Rich Products, one of the largest family-owned food manufacturers in the world. Buffalo is also home to a national FBI field office, a district office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the office of the United States Attorney, and the managerial offices of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.

Buffalo has an extensive network of healthcare facilities. Local hospitals include Buffalo General Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Sisters of Charity Hospital, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, and several additional facilities located on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The New York State Department of Health holds all of the healthcare facilities in Buffalo to a strict code of rules and regulations. The department accepts and reviews all complaints of medical malpractice or negligence.

Buffalo features an outstanding public school system with 78 schools and nearly 50 private and parochial schools from which to choose. Buffalo's private post-secondary institutions include D'Youville College, Medaille College, and Trocaire College. The State University of New York (SUNY) also has several colleges in the Buffalo area, including Buffalo State College and the University at Buffalo.

Known for its exciting nightlife, Buffalo features attractions, events, and recreational opportunities for people of all ages. There are more than 50 private and public art galleries, several museums, and more than 80 local sites that are included on the National Register of Historic Places. Popular sites of interest include The Anchor Bar, where the buffalo wing originated, the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, the Buffalo Museum of Science, the Buffalo Zoo, the Edward M. Cotter fireboat, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Lafayette Square, Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center, and the USS Little Rock. Buffalo also has numerous sports teams, such as the Buffalo Bills, the Bisons, and the Sabres.

Buffalo, New York offers all the amenities and benefits of a bustling metropolis while maintaining the more laid-back ambiance of a smaller community. In 2010, Forbes ranked the Buffalo as the 10th best place to raise a family.