South Buffalo, Buffalo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Buffalo
Neighborhood
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Erie
Population  (2010)
• Total	42,717
Time zone	Eastern (EST)
ZIP Code	14210, 14220
Area code(s)	716

South Buffalo is a neighborhood in the southern part of Buffalo, New York. It is well-known for its large Irish-American community. Many other groups of people also live here.

This area used to have many factories and mills. There were steel mills, car parts makers, and places that refined oil. Over time, many of these factories closed. This led to fewer jobs and a smaller population.

South Buffalo has clear borders. To the east is the town of West Seneca. To the south is the City of Lackawanna. Lake Erie is on its western side. The Buffalo River forms its northern border. Main streets in South Buffalo include New York State Route 16 (Seneca Street), Abbott Road, and South Park Avenue.

Learning and Schools in South Buffalo

South Buffalo has many schools for students. These include public elementary and high schools. There are also elementary charter schools. Catholic elementary and high schools are available too.

Trocaire College has a campus on Abbott Road. It also has another campus on Seneca Street.

In recent years, some Catholic schools in South Buffalo joined together. They formed one school called South Buffalo Catholic School. It is located on Abbott Road.

Public schools in the area include Hillary Park Academy and Southside Elementary. Lorraine Academy and several charter schools are also here. South Park High School is the only public high school in the neighborhood.

For Catholic high school students, there are two options. Boys can attend Bishop Timon - St. Jude High School. Girls can go to Mount Mercy Academy.

South Buffalo also has two libraries for everyone to use. The Dudley Branch is part of the Erie County Library System. It is located on South Park Avenue. The Cazenovia Library is an independent library. It serves as a community center on Cazenovia Street.

Community Life and Culture

South Buffalo is home to many Irish Americans. Many Irish families moved to Buffalo after the Erie Canal was finished. More came when railroads and factories grew in the 1800s. Most of these families arrived after the Irish Famine. They came to work in the growing industries. These included steel mills, oil refineries, and car factories.

Many Irish residents also joined the Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Fire Department. Others worked in construction jobs. These included carpenters, bricklayers, and iron workers.

Fun Activities and Events

Youth ice hockey is very popular here. The Cazenovia Chiefs hockey program helps many children play. This program has even produced famous players like Patrick Kane.

The neighborhood hosts the Goin' South Irish Feis every year. This is a very popular event. It features food, fireworks, and live music. Many local Celtic bands perform.

South Buffalo also has many Italian Americans. They host an Italian Festival each summer. Another popular event is the annual Seneca Street Car Show. This show brings many visitors to South Buffalo.

Several traditional Irish Dance Academies are in the neighborhood. These include Rince Na Tiarna and Clann Na Cara.

Besides Irish people, South Buffalo has other groups too. These include English, Italian, German, Polish, and Puerto Rican communities.

Local news about the area can be found in The South Buffalo News. There is also a newsletter from the Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce. The South Buffalo & Southtowns Online news website also shares local news.

Exploring South Buffalo's Geography

South Buffalo is home to two beautiful parks. These parks were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. He also designed Central Park in New York City. The parks are Cazenovia Park and South Park. They were once connected by wide streets lined with elm trees. McKinley Parkway and Red Jacket Parkway are examples of these old green paths.

Cazenovia Park

Cazenovia Park is the larger of the two parks. It has fields for baseball and softball. There is a nine-hole golf course. You can also find a wading pool, playground, and courts for basketball and tennis. The park has three soccer fields too. A building called a casino, common in old parks, is also there. A road in the park is named after famous baseball player Warren Spahn.

South Park

South Park is located near the border of Lackawanna. It also has a nine-hole golf course. Two softball fields are available for play. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is located inside this park. It's a favorite spot for Canada geese in the summer.

Hillery Playground is another important play area. It is in the Seneca Street neighborhood.

For fishing, there are many spots along the water. These include the Small Boat Harbor and Gallagher Beach. The Union Ship Canal is also a good spot.

Buses from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority serve South Buffalo. You can catch buses on Seneca Street, Abbott Road, and South Park Avenue.

South Buffalo: Then and Now

In the 1940s and 1950s, swimming was a popular summer activity. People swam in the two outdoor pools at Cazenovia Park. Now, these pools are gone. They have been replaced by one indoor pool that is open all year. Fishing in Cazenovia Creek was another summer fun. In winter, a lagoon near the creek was used for ice skating. This lagoon is also no longer there.

A game called chestnuts was popular back then. Kids would hang horse chestnuts on a string. They would take turns hitting each other's chestnuts. The goal was to crack the opponent's chestnut. The winning chestnut would gain "kingships."

Community picnics were held every year. They took place at Cazenovia Park and Crystal Beach Park in Crystal Beach, Ontario. These picnics were organized by local business groups.

Sports and Entertainment

Baseball was, and still is, a very popular sport. In the past, there wasn't a formal little league. Games were played everywhere. This included playgrounds, empty lots, and even the street. Teams were chosen by picking players one by one.

The South Buffalo Celtics represent the area in amateur American football. The Celtics won a championship in 2011.

Two old movie theaters, the Capitol and Shea's Seneca, offered entertainment. Movie tickets were very cheap back then. The Strand also showed movies.

Spoonley The Trainman was a famous toy train shop. It was on Choate Street. People from all over came to see the amazing train layouts. The shop featured Lionel and American Flyer trains.

Changes in Industry

In the past, Bethlehem and Republic companies provided many jobs. Most South Buffalo residents worked there. However, these steel companies also caused a lot of air pollution. Dust and particles from the factories covered everything. People didn't fully realize this until the mills closed. Then, surfaces stayed much cleaner.

South Buffalo faced tough times in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Many factories closed down. These included steel mills, car factories, and oil refineries. Many people had to leave New York to find jobs. Small shops on Seneca Street and South Park Avenue suffered greatly. What was once a busy shopping area became quiet. However, middle-class neighborhoods near McKinley Parkway and Abbott Road were less affected.

Traditions and Famous People

The Valley St. Patrick's Day Parade was brought back about 20 years ago. It is a more traditional celebration than the main city parade. The main parade is held on Delaware Avenue.

Every year since 2004, the Moe Talty-Franz walk takes place. It is held in Cazenovia Park. Hundreds of people join to support breast cancer awareness.

The South Buffalo Italian Festival is held each summer. It celebrates the contributions of Italian Americans to the area.

Another new tradition is the South Buffalo Business Expo and Irish Feish. It usually happens in September at Cazenovia Park. This event features local businesses, food, dance, and music.

The Labor Day parade is also a favorite. Union members from all over Western New York march proudly. They go from the Irish Center to the Casino in Cazenovia Park. A special Mass is held at St. Joseph the Worker shrine. This shrine was built by Msgr. John P. Boland, known as the "Labor Priest." The parade and Mass are followed by a picnic.

Many famous people grew up in South Buffalo. These include political activist Carl Paladino. Tim Russert from NBC's Meet the Press is another. James T. Molloy was a former Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives. Jim Kelley is a well-known hockey writer. Dan Neaverth is a longtime Buffalo radio broadcaster. He was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Dan attended Timon High School in South Buffalo.

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