New Buffalo, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Buffalo, Michigan
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Looking north along N. Whittaker Street
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Location within Berrien County
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 New Buffalo, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Michigan | |
| County | Berrien | |
| Incorporated | 1836 (village) 1965 (city) |
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| Government | ||
| • Type | Council–manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.49 sq mi (6.45 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.47 sq mi (6.39 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) 1.19% | |
| Elevation | 640 ft (195 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,708 | |
| • Density | 692.34/sq mi (267.27/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code(s) |
49117
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| Area code(s) | 269 | |
| FIPS code | 26-57220 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0633317 | |
New Buffalo is a small city located in Berrien County, Michigan. It's a part of the United States. In 2020, about 1,708 people lived here. New Buffalo is known for its beautiful location on Lake Michigan and its history as a popular vacation spot.
Contents
History of New Buffalo
Early Days and Shipwrecks
Long ago, the area around the Galien River was home to the Miami and Potawatomi Native American tribes. Later, French missionaries explored the region while searching for a famous water route called the Northwest Passage. For a long time, not many people lived here.
In 1834, a sea captain named Wessel Whittaker from Buffalo, New York had his ship wrecked near the Lake Michigan coast. As he traveled back to report his lost ship, he saw how perfect the New Buffalo area could be for a harbor. He bought land there and, with his family, returned to start a new town. He named it New Buffalo, after his hometown.
The Railroad Boom and Beyond
At first, New Buffalo's harbor wasn't as big as others nearby. However, a new train line, the Michigan Central Railway, was being built across Michigan in the late 1830s. For several years, New Buffalo was the end of this railway line. This caused the town to grow very quickly! Train passengers would stop in New Buffalo to wait for steamboats to take them to Chicago, Illinois. This created a big demand for hotels.
Unfortunately for New Buffalo, the railway line was eventually completed all the way to Chicago. This meant New Buffalo became just another stop, and the fast growth slowed down.
As time went on, New Buffalo became a favorite vacation spot for people from Chicago. It was easy to reach by train and offered a peaceful escape from the busy city and factories of Gary, Indiana. The town also kept its natural sand dunes along the Lake Michigan shore. In the early 1900s, US Highway 12 was built, allowing cars to drive directly to New Buffalo. Later, Interstate 94 was built nearby, making travel even easier.
Geography and Location
New Buffalo is located right on the shore of Lake Michigan, where the Galien River flows into the lake. This creates a natural harbor. This harbor is now a popular spot for pleasure boats and people who visit in the summer.
The city covers about 2.53 square miles (6.55 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 683 | — | |
| 1880 | 523 | −23.4% | |
| 1890 | 553 | 5.7% | |
| 1900 | 629 | 13.7% | |
| 1910 | 528 | −16.1% | |
| 1920 | 496 | −6.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,051 | 111.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,190 | 13.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,565 | 31.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,128 | 36.0% | |
| 1970 | 2,784 | 30.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,821 | 1.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,317 | −17.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,200 | −5.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,883 | −14.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,708 | −9.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 1,883 people living in New Buffalo. There were 881 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. The average age of people in the city was about 48.4 years old.
Economy and Tourism
New Buffalo is a very popular resort town. This is because it's right on the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline and close to the big city of Chicago. Because of this, tourism is the main industry here. Many people visit New Buffalo for vacations and fun.
A large casino resort called Four Winds Casino Resort New Buffalo opened in 2007. It created over 2,000 jobs in the area. The casino has many slot machines and gaming tables. It's a big attraction for visitors.
Transportation
Getting Around New Buffalo
You can travel to New Buffalo by train. Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, has three trains stopping at the New Buffalo station each day. These trains are the Blue Water and the Wolverine.
For freight, CSX Transportation provides train service to the city.
If you're driving, US 12 and I-94 highways offer easy access to cities like Detroit and Chicago.
New Buffalo Harbor
The city also has a harbor where the Galien River meets Lake Michigan. This harbor is used mostly by pleasure boats. It connects to all ports on Lake Michigan and beyond. However, it doesn't have much commercial shipping traffic.
Education in New Buffalo
The New Buffalo Area Schools system includes an elementary school and a combined middle/high school. The New Buffalo Middle/High School was built in 2001. It has a performing arts center, computer labs, and indoor and outdoor running tracks.
The middle/high school also has a special "Smart Lab." This lab is very advanced and allows students to use cool equipment. For example, they can use EKG machines, flight simulators, and video production tools. In 2010, the school added a new two-story weight room and an extra gymnasium.
School Sports
The New Buffalo High School sports teams are called the Bison. They compete in the BCS Conference. The school has a strong history in sports, winning several state championships:
- Boys Basketball: Class C State title in 1963.
- Boys Baseball: Class D State title in 1983 and 1995, and Division IV State title in 2005.
- Boys Cross Country: Class D State title in 1999.
Notable People
Some well-known people have connections to New Buffalo:
- Roger Brown: A famous painter from Chicago.
- Laurent Novikoff: A talented ballet master.
