Buffalo, New York

When people think of New York, many think first of the Big Apple. Sometimes folks forget that Buffalo, located on the western edge of the state, is the second largest city in one of the biggest states in the country. Serving as both the cultural and economic hub of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls Metro area, this dynamic city of more than 250,000 is the most powerful financial engine within a greater metropolitan community that is more than one million people strong.

Originally settled in the mid-1700s by Native Americans, Buffalo serves as Erie’s County Seat and is rich in many dimensions of American cultural heritage. Though much of the original town of Buffalo was lost in the war of 1812, the economy rebounded in large part due to the trade and other commercial opportunities made available first by the Buffalo River – which is the city’s namesake – followed later by the man-made Erie Canal.

Buffalo also was a major historical factor in the movement to abolish slavery. Freedom fighters such as William Wells Brown brought many African-Americans to Buffalo as their final stop on the famous Underground Railroad before assisting them to escape to freedom across the Canadian Border.

Nicknamed the “City of Light,” Buffalo was known as a progressive community in the late 1800s when they instituted a widespread municipal lighting system, powered by hydroelectric generators placed on the river. Around that same time Buffalo’s population boomed as local manufacturers participated in developing much of the equipment used during the Civil War: an industry that helped to define commerce in Western New York.

Though industry suffered somewhat in the Buffalo area in the middle of the twentieth century after the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the last few years have seen a significant economic boom in the area. In 2007, economic development topped $4 billion in Buffalo, an increase of more than 800 percent over the previous ten years. The historic city has been undergoing a major re-urbanization effort, which helped to contribute to Forbes’ Magazine’s designation of Buffalo as one of the top one-hundred rated communities in which to live nationwide, placing above such stalwarts as Cleveland, Detroit and even New York City itself.

Buffalo’s proximity to the Great Lakes adds to the milder “maritime” climate enjoyed by locals, also contributing enough rainfall to give rise to a stunning array of foliage throughout the spring and summer seasons. Nearby Niagara Falls and Ontario, Canada lend a unique flavor to this distinctly American part of the world.

The city of Buffalo is well-known for its passion for sports as well. Home to the Buffalo Sabres Hockey Club and the Buffalo Bills football franchise, the winter months heat up as local fans turn out in droves for their favorite teams. And with a number of commercial train depots nearby, a trip to Philadelphia or New York City are popular day-long and weekend journeys. Come for a game, come for the food, come for the great housing bargains! If it's historic, victorian, modern, traditional, or a condo on the waterfront, Stovroff & Taylor Realtors are ready to find you exactly what you are looking for. Come let us show you around!

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