Demographics of Buffalo, New York facts for kids
Buffalo, New York is a big city in New York State, second only to New York City in how many people live there. In 2020, about 278,349 people called Buffalo home. If you look at the larger area around Buffalo, called the Buffalo–Cheektowaga–Olean Combined Statistical Area, there are over 1.2 million residents.
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Discovering Buffalo's History
Buffalo has a rich history, starting with settlers mainly from New England. The first big group of European immigrants were Germans. Later, many Irish people arrived, some to help build the Erie Canal, and others escaping the famine.
Over time, Buffalo became a true melting pot of cultures. People from Poland, Italy, and Jewish communities moved here. More recently, new residents have come from Somalia, Sudan, and various parts of Asia.
Buffalo's Diverse Neighborhoods
Different parts of Buffalo show off its diverse heritage. The Old First Ward still feels very Irish. Kaisertown, another neighborhood, shows its German roots.
Buffalo's Polish community used to be centered around the Broadway Market on the East Side. This market is a great place to experience Polish traditions and foods. Today, the East Side is home to many African Americans, whose families moved north during the Great Migration. They celebrate their culture with the annual Juneteenth Festival in Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
The West Side is where many Hispanic families live, especially those of Puerto Rican descent. This area was once known as "Little Italy." However, in the 1980s, many Italian American families moved to North Buffalo. Some Italian American traditions, like preparing special meatless meals for Saint Joseph's Day (March 19) to share with the poor, are still observed in homes, churches, and restaurants.
Buffalo also has a large Jewish community. Early German Jewish immigrants settled on the West Side in the mid-1800s. Later, Russian and Polish Jewish immigrants settled on the Lower East Side. Over time, the community moved to the Masten Park area and then to North Buffalo. While many Jewish people still live in the city, especially in North Buffalo, most now live in the nearby suburbs. Buffalo's Jewish Community Centers are in the Delaware District, North Buffalo, and Amherst.
Buffalo's New Identity
Buffalo is changing from a city known for its factories to a hub for culture, banking, education, and medicine. It's also becoming a popular spot for architectural tourism. In 2001, USA Today called Buffalo the "City with a Heart" and the nation's "friendliest city." Buffalo has also won the All-America City Award twice!
Buffalo's Population Story
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,508 | — | |
| 1820 | 2,095 | 38.9% | |
| 1830 | 8,668 | 313.7% | |
| 1840 | 18,213 | 110.1% | |
| 1850 | 42,261 | 132.0% | |
| 1860 | 81,129 | 92.0% | |
| 1870 | 117,714 | 45.1% | |
| 1880 | 155,134 | 31.8% | |
| 1890 | 255,664 | 64.8% | |
| 1900 | 352,387 | 37.8% | |
| 1910 | 423,715 | 20.2% | |
| 1920 | 506,775 | 19.6% | |
| 1930 | 573,076 | 13.1% | |
| 1940 | 575,901 | 0.5% | |
| 1950 | 580,132 | 0.7% | |
| 1960 | 532,759 | −8.2% | |
| 1970 | 462,768 | −13.1% | |
| 1980 | 357,870 | −22.7% | |
| 1990 | 328,123 | −8.3% | |
| 2000 | 292,648 | −10.8% | |
| 2010 | 261,310 | −10.7% | |
| 2020 | 278,349 | 6.5% | |
| Historical Population Figures U.S. Decennial Census |
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| Racial composition | 2020 | 2010 | 1990 | 1970 | 1940 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 47.1% | 50.4% | 64.7% | 78.7% | 96.8% |
| —Non-Hispanic | 43.1% | 45.8% | 63.1% | 77.4% | 96.8% |
| Black or African American | 36.5% | 38.6% | 30.7% | 20.4% | 3.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 12.3% | 10.5% | 4.9% | 1.6% | (X) |
| Asian | 5.9% | 3.2% | 1.0% | 0.2% | − |
City Population Changes
Like many cities that used to rely on factories, Buffalo saw its population shrink for a while. This happened as industries changed. Buffalo's population was largest in 1950, when it was the 15th biggest city in the United States.
By 2006, Buffalo's population was similar to what it was in 1890. This shows a big change over 120 years! But in 2020, for the first time in 70 years, Buffalo and Erie County actually saw their populations grow.
In 2010, the city's population was about 50.4% White, 38.6% Black or African American, and 10.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race). There were also smaller groups of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Asian people.
In 2000, there were about 292,648 people living in Buffalo. The city had many households, with about 28.6% having children under 18. The average household had 2.29 people.
The median age in Buffalo was 34 years old. This means half the people were younger than 34 and half were older. About 26.3% of the population was under 18.
Buffalo is home to many different groups of people. These include those of Bosnian, Irish, Italian, Polish, German, Hungarian, Jewish, Greek, Arab, African American, Indian, Macedonian, and Puerto Rican descent.
While some neighborhoods still have strong ethnic ties, they have changed a lot over the years. In 1940, most of the city's population was White. In the early 1900s, Polish Americans lived mainly on the East Side, and Italian Americans lived on the West Side. Today, the East Side is mostly African American, and the West Side is a mix of many cultures, with a strong Latino influence.
Recently, more people of Arab descent, especially from Yemen, have moved to Buffalo. The city's Muslim population has grown to about 3,000. Since the 1950s and 1960s, many Jewish families have moved to the suburbs or to the city's upper West Side.
Buffalo's Metropolitan Area
The larger area around Buffalo, including Erie and Niagara Counties, had an estimated population of over 1.1 million people in 2006. In this wider area, about 82.2% of people were White, 13% African American, and 3.3% Hispanic.
The median age for the metropolitan area was 38. Most people (82.88%) had a high school diploma, and about 23.2% had earned a Bachelor's degree from college.
Images for kids
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Map showing racial distribution in Buffalo in 2010.
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Chart showing Buffalo's population from 1830 to 2006.
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