Where is Buffalo, New York?

Buffalo is located in the western part of the state of New York, United States. It is the second most populous city of the state New York, after New York City.

Locationn Map of Buffalo

Where is Buffalo About Map - Map showing location of Buffalo in the western part of the state of New York.

Where is Buffalo Located?

Buffalo is a city and port, seat of Erie county, western New York, United States. It is located eastern end of Lake Erie at the head of the Niagara River opposite Fort Erie, Ontario. The city and nearby Niagara Falls. According to the United States Census Bureau, Buffalo has an area of 52.5 sq mi (136 km2), with a population of 278,349 according to the 2020 census, its population density was 6,893.41 per square mile (2,661.58/km2).

In December 2022, The winter storm Elliott leaves 28 dead in Buffalo area. The region around Buffalo, in upstate New York, has been worst affected.

Buffalo, New York Quick Facts

CityBuffalo
CountyErie County
StateNew York
State CapitalAlbany
US RegionNortheast
Latitude42.8864° N
Longitude78.8784° W
Elevation600 ft (183 m)
Land Area (sq mi)40.38
Water Area (sq mi)12.13
Total Area (sq mi)52.51
Population (2020 Census)278,349
Population Density (per sq mi)6,895
ZIP Codes14201, 14202, 14203, 14204, 14206, 14207, 14208, 14209, 14210, 14211, 14212, 14213, 14214, 14215, 14216, 14217, 14218, 14220, 14222, 14223, 14225, 14226, 14228
Area Code716
Time Zone StandardEastern Standard Time (UTC-5)
Time Zone DaylightEastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code36-11000
Congressional DistrictNew York's 26th Congressional District

Nearby Cities to Buffalo, New York

  • Tonawanda, New York - 6 mi North
  • Kenmore, New York - 7 mi North
  • Lackawanna, New York - 6 mi South
  • Cheektowaga, New York - 8 mi East
  • West Seneca, New York - 10 mi Southeast
  • Amherst, New York - 10 mi Northeast
  • Niagara Falls, New York - 20 mi North
  • Lockport, New York - 31 mi Northeast
  • Batavia, New York - 38 mi East
  • Dunkirk, New York - 47 mi Southwest

Buffalo, New York Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January32193.1
April55373.0
July80633.2
October61453.4
Annual574240.5
Climate Classification (Köppen)Humid Continental (Dfa)
Annual Rainfall40.5 in
Annual Sunshine Days155
Hurricane/Tornado RiskLow Hurricane Risk, Low Tornado Risk
Snowfall95.4 in

Driving Distances from Buffalo, New York

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
Niagara FallsNew York2025 min
RochesterNew York741 hr 15 min
BataviaNew York3840 min
JamestownNew York721 hr 20 min
SyracuseNew York1502 hr 20 min
EriePennsylvania951 hr 40 min
ClevelandOhio1903 hr
TorontoOntario1002 hr
AlbanyNew York2924 hr 40 min
PittsburghPennsylvania2153 hr 45 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Buffalo, New York

Airport NameBuffalo Niagara International Airport
IATA CodeBUF
PortPort of Buffalo
Major HighwaysI-90, I-190, I-290, NY 33, US 62
Train/Amtrak ServiceAvailable via Buffalo Exchange Street Station and Depew Station
Local Bus/Transit ServiceNFTA Metro Bus and Metro Rail
  • Interstate 90 - Main east-west route connecting Buffalo with Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany.
  • Interstate 190 - Connects downtown Buffalo with Niagara Falls and Canada.
  • Interstate 290 - Northern bypass route through suburban Erie County.
  • New York State Route 33 - Major expressway connecting downtown and the airport.
  • U.S. Route 62 - Regional route linking Buffalo with communities across Western New York.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Buffalo, New York

Landmark NameType
Buffalo City HallHistoric Landmark
CanalsideWaterfront District
Buffalo AKG Art MuseumMuseum
Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin HouseHistoric Site
Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military ParkMuseum
Delaware ParkPark
Buffalo ZooZoo
Sahlen FieldSports Venue
Forest Lawn CemeteryHistoric Site
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic SiteHistoric Site

Economy and Major Employers in Buffalo, New York

SectorMajor Employer or IndustryNotes
HealthcareKaleida HealthOne of the region's largest employers.
Higher EducationUniversity at BuffaloMajor research and educational institution.
GovernmentState and Local GovernmentProvides significant public-sector employment.
FinanceM&T BankCorporate headquarters located in Buffalo.
ManufacturingAdvanced ManufacturingSupports regional industrial activity.
TechnologyTechnology and Innovation FirmsGrowing sector in the metropolitan area.
TransportationLogistics and DistributionBenefits from proximity to Canada.
TourismHospitality IndustryDriven by visitors to Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

Colleges and Universities in Buffalo, New York

Institution NameType (Public/Private)LevelNotable For
University at Buffalo (SUNY)PublicUniversityFlagship SUNY research university
Buffalo State UniversityPublicUniversityEducation, arts, and sciences programs
Canisius UniversityPrivateUniversityJesuit higher education
D'Youville UniversityPrivateUniversityHealth sciences and professional studies
Daemen UniversityPrivateUniversityHealthcare and business programs
Medaille UniversityPrivateUniversityLiberal arts and professional education
Trocaire CollegePrivateCollegeNursing and healthcare education
Erie Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeCareer training and transfer programs

Waterbodies in Buffalo, New York

Lake Erie, Niagara River, Buffalo River, Black Rock Canal, Scajaquada Creek, Cazenovia Creek, Lake Erie Harbor, Erie Basin Marina, Bird Island Pier, Buffalo Outer Harbor

Golf Courses in Buffalo, New York

Delaware Park Golf Course, Grover Cleveland Golf Course, Buffalo Tournament Club, Diamond Hawk Golf Course, Harvest Hill Golf Course, Glen Oak Golf Club, Fox Valley Club, Terry Hills Golf Course, Sheridan Park Golf Course, Audubon Golf Course

Buffalo, New York - Key Historical Facts

  • Buffalo grew rapidly during the early 19th century after becoming the western terminus of the Erie Canal in 1825.
  • The city became a major transportation and grain-shipping center linking the Great Lakes with the Atlantic coast.
  • President William McKinley was assassinated in Buffalo during the Pan-American Exposition in 1901.
  • Theodore Roosevelt took the presidential oath of office in Buffalo following McKinley's death.
  • Buffalo became known for its industrial economy, particularly steel production and manufacturing.
  • The city has one of the largest collections of buildings designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Written and fact-checked by | Last Updated: January 11, 2025, 11:50 PM ET