History of Buffalo

The region's first inhabitants were the Ongiara, an Iroquois tribe that were known as the Neutrals by French settlers, who found them helpful in mediating disputes with other tribes.

The first European settlement was in 1758, when the French arrived at the mouth of Buffalo Creek (what is now Erie County). The British captured Fort Niagara a year later and all its buildings were destroyed by the evacuating French. The British went on to take control of the entire region following the end of the French and Indian War, in 1763.

Early history

Buffalo became a full-fledged city in 1832. Along with the title came all of the legislative trimmings, which the authors of the new city charter fully exercised. It allowed officials to tax the citizens US$8,000 per year, which was used for municipal improvements and maintenance.

The new Common Council appointed the city's richest citizen, Dr Ebenezer Johnson, as Buffalo's first mayor. Ironically, although Mayor Johnson had not practiced medicine for some time, the city was immediately struck by an epidemic of cholera just after he was appointed. The practice of medicine was far from advanced in these days and he could do little but form a board of health and build a simple hospital.

The Erie Canal development brought growth to the area and Buffalo began to prosper due to the new harbour. With the Lake Ontario and Lake Erie traffic, the city became the ‘Gateway to the West’, as the largest grain handling port in the world. Brewing had also become a major commodity in Buffalo, which remains to this day.

From 1832 to 1834, the Evans Ship Canal was excavated and Buffalo Harbour continued to flourish. In 1836, a new dry dock and marine railway appeared. That same year, work on the Main and Hamburg Canal was started. A huge storm in 1837 killed many people and destroyed many of the wharves and deposited several ships onto the city's streets.

In 1838, the city began construction of a sea wall with the help of federal aid. Throughout the decade, the facilities of a first class port were continually added to and improved.

Rapid development

During the 1830s, Buffalo gained many enterprises. The Commercial Bank opened in 1834, and that same year, the city's first railroad, the Buffalo & Black Rock, was chartered. By 1836, this line was known as the Buffalo & Niagara Falls, and before the end of the year, trains ran regularly to the falls.

During the 1830s, architect Benjamin Rathburn is credited with the construction of a large portion of the city's buildings. He built the City Jail, Unitarian Church, Darrow Block, United States Hotel, American Hotel and countless other commercial and residential buildings. His business empire also included stone quarries, brick factories, the famous Eagle Tavern, several grocery stores and stagecoach services.

In order to fund his growing empire, he had vastly over-extended himself financially. He was found guilty of having used approximately US$1.5 million in forged notes and was sentenced to five years in prison.

During this period, the Canal Street area became well-known for its boisterous saloons and gained the reputation as ‘the wickedest street in the world’. It housed over 100 saloons and bars, and innumerable houses of ill repute. Lake sailors and canal sailors were the regular visitors, and they rarely got along with each other; their brawls were legendary.

The 20th century

At the turn of the century, Buffalo was a growing city with an expanding economy. It attracted immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Germany and Poland, who came to work in the steel and grain mills. Hydroelectric power from nearby Niagara Falls made Buffalo the first American city to have widespread electric lighting. The Pan-American Exposition in 1901 was notable for being the scene of the assassination of President William McKinley.

The city's importance declined in the latter half of the 20th century, mainly due to the opening of the St Lawrence Seaway in 1957. Goods which had previously passed through Buffalo, could now bypass it using a series of canals and locks, reaching the ocean via the St Lawrence River.

There was also considerable suburban migration and the city saw its population decline by some 50 per cent. Industries shut down and people left the Rust Belt for the employment opportunities of the South and West. Erie County has lost population in every census year since 1970.

Today, Buffalo is New York’s second largest city nicknamed ‘City with a Heart’, receiving an All American Award..