The City responded, first in 1900, by building a second west side public high school-Lincoln High School- at the intersection of Scranton Road and Castle Avenue, and then in 1902, by relocating West High School further to the west, on a larger site and into a larger three-story brick and stone building on Franklin Boulevard near what is today.

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• Winter Storm Uri was a major coast-to-coast storm that spread snowfall and damaging ice from the Northwest into the South, Midwest and Northeast Feb.

General Information

Welcome to the city of Buffalo Neighborhoods Map. The 'City of good neighbors' consists of thirty-two neighborhoods varying in size, function, and historic significance. These current neighborhoods are described by location within the city, community associations, and cultural and ethnic history. Additional features of this page include links to related sites and a selected bibliography of source materials used in compiling the Neighborhoods Map website.

List of Buffalo Neighborhoods

A - Allentown

Location

Situated between Virginia St and North St, Allentown is one of buffalo's most beautiful, diverse, and unique neighborhoods.Known for its historic houses, trendy bars, and artsy shops, Allentown isan expeiriance.

The neighborhood centers on Allen Street, from Main Street to Symphony Circle. It is adjacent to the theater district of downtown Buffalo on the south.

Street boundaries: Virginia, Main, North, College, Allen, Park, Elmwood, & Delaware.

Neighborhood Association

• Allentown Association, Inc., 232 Allen Street

Schools

• Elmwood Village Charter - 124 Elmwood Ave.
• Bilingual Elementary -10 Days Park
• Tapestry Charter School - 40 North St.
• Latin American Institute - 115 Elmwood Ave.

Libraries

Many representative styles of architecture appear with a variety and flavor that is common in this neighborhood.

'Allentown is essentially an artist community..it's where all the young boho-trendy people hang out.'--Gabe Armstrong/Deanna Knapile

The Allentown Neighborhood dates back to 1827, when Lewis Allen purchased 29 acres of farm land. The now popular Allen st, was once Lewis Allen's cowpath. Since then Allentown has been the residence of many famous Buffalonians such as, Millard Fillmore and Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain). In 1901 Thoedore Rooselvelt was inaugurated President at the Ansley Wilcox Mansion on Delaware avenue. Allentown has become one of the country's largest historic preservation districts because of it's amazingly large collection of unique American architecture.By the 1950's Allentown was in decline, but talkof a smalloutdoor art show was the beginning of a beautiful future for this neighborhood.

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site
Wilcox Mansion (1838), 641 Delaware Avenue

Allentown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Notable in the area is the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site (Wilcox Mansion), important for both its historical and architectural significance. The site also maintains the Wilcox gardens, which surround the mansion.

Entertainment & Events

• First Fridays

  On the first Friday of every month Allentown's Art Galleries, Restaurants, and businesses enjoy visitors for rich cultural events.

• Allentown Art Festival

  Every year in June, Allentown holds an Arts Festival that shows off the communitie's arts, crafts, and goods.

For Kids

Allen Street

Book stores are among the selection of shops that add to the neighborhood perks.

According to the Allentown Association, it is a 'neighborhood of ethnic and lifestyles diversity.' A center for the visual, performing and culinary arts, the area is well-known for its many art and antique galleries and restaurants. The annual Allentown Art Festival started in 1959 and brings thousands of Western New Yorkers to this old Buffalo neighborhood.

Restaurants/Bars and Clubs (Selection)

• Allen St. Hardware Cafe - 245 Allen Street
• Bellini's Ristorante - 445 Delaware Avenue
• Fiddleheads - 62 Allen Street
• Grille 620 - 620 Delaware
• Adonia's - 20 Allen Street
• Cathode Ray - 26 Allen Street
• Fugazi - Franklin Street
• Just Vino - 846 Main Street
• Miss Kitty's - 649 Main Street

'Rust Felt Books encompasses theessence of Allentown. If you want to know Allentown, go to Rust Felt Books.'--Resident comment.

Shops, galleries, and specialty stores abound.

'People come here to get away from the hustle and bustle of typical social scenes… which actually makes allentown a huge social scene in itself. You'll find all sorts of people here.'--Molly Brinkworth owner of 'Pink'

Map showing the Allentown Neighborhood. (See also: Google map)

Photographs with '1' in lower right by Rachael Hickson and Andrea Kaptein, who also supplied portions of the text.

BL - Bailey-Lovejoy

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on the intersection of Bailey Avenue and Lovejoy Street. As a part of the larger East Side, the area extends north to Broadway, south to William Street, and to the city line on the east with the village of Sloan.

In Buffalo's industrial history, this was the site of extensive railyards and repair shops for the New York Central Railroad.

BR - Black Rock

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Hertel Avenue and Niagara Street along the Black Rock Canal.

High Schools

McKinley Vocational High School, 1500 Elmwood Avenue

Neighborhood Association

Delaware and North District--BlackRock Riverside NHS 716-877-3910; 203 Military Road.

Black Rock takes its name from a black limestone formation on the Niagara River near School Street. The rock was removed in 1825 during the digging of the Erie Canal. The Black Rock Canal Lock (1909-1914) diverts water traffic away from the powerful currents of the Niagara River, providing safe access to the Erie Canal and Lake Erie.

The neighborhood began as an independent municipality along the eastern bank of the Niagara River. It was incorporated into the city of Buffalo in 1853. The nineteenth century saw a great development of commercial and residential properties due to both the Erie Canal lock and the railroad system which criss-crossed the community. Prominent architectural monuments in the area include the Romanesque - style church of St. Francis Xavier (now the Buffalo Religious Arts Museum) and the Classical Revival-style Unity Temple on Niagara Street.

See: photos and article on the church.

CP - Central Park

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Depew Avenue and Morris Avenue, between Main Street and Parkside Avenue. The south edge is the north side of Amherst Street.

Early in this century, some of the largest and most expensive family homes were built in this neighborhood. There are several churches and the Central Park United Methodist Church dominates the neighborhood.

C - Cold Springs

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Michigan Avenue close to the intersection of Main Street and East Utica Avenue.

This area is a small part of the larger East Side of Buffalo.

DD - Delaware District

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Delaware Avenue from the Scajaquada Expressway south to North Street. Ferry Street runs across the center of the district; a large residential area lies east of Elmwood Avenue.

High Schools

• Canisius High School
  1180 Delaware Avenue
• Nardin Academy High School
  135 Cleveland Ave
• The Buffalo Seminary
  205 Bidwell Parkway Ave

Delaware Park is the centerpiece of a city-wide parks system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The park is a green haven in the city offering meadows, gardens, trails, Delaware Lake, the Buffalo Zoo, and recreational facilities. In the summer it hosts 'Shakespeare in the Park,' the second largest open-air Shakespeare festival in the country.

Adjacent to Delaware Park is Forest Lawn Cemetery. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cemetery is known for its park-like beauty and outstanding examples of memorial sculpture. Many 19th & 20th century notables, including Civil War generals, famous inventors, and others, are buried here. President Millard Fillmore and Seneca Chief Red Jacket are among these.

Temple Beth Zion is a contemporary architectural monument featuring stained glass by Ben Shahn.

The Pan-American Exposition (1901) was sited on the Western/Northern end of the Delaware neighborhood.

Clement House (1910-1913) - 786 Delaware Avenue - Edward B. Green, architect

Beautiful and often stately homes dating from the turn of the century surround the park. Many of them have been converted to organizational or corporate headquarters; for example, the Clement House, donated in 1941 by Carolyn Tripp Clement, to the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Running through parts of the Delaware District, Elmwood Strip, and West Side are the Soldiers Circle, Bidwell Parkway and Chapin Parkway. These Olmsted-designed parkways cross over many parts of Buffalo.

D - Downtown

Location

Downtown Buffalo centers on Main Street from Goodell Street to the Buffalo River. Within this two mile area are three separate centers: the Theater District in the north, the civic and commercial center around Niagara and Lafayette Squares, and the Waterfront area at the south end.

High Schools

• Buffalo Alternative High School - 256 South Elmwood Avenue
• Charles Grandison Finney High School - 512 Pearl Street

Neighborhood Association

Buffalo Chamber of Commerce,
107 Delaware Avenue.

Buffalo's Downtown has distinguished itself with buildings of great architectural beauty, diversity and prominence. Notable among them are City Hall, the Prudential (formerly Guaranty) Building, St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Ellicott Square Building, Old County Courthouse, Shea's Buffalo Center for the Performing Arts and in more recent years the Marine Midland Center and Arena. The addition of the Metro Rail and renovation of many of these landmark buildings is revitalizing the area as a center of commerce, recreation and historical interest.

Once a bustling commercial harbor, the picturesque waterfront area has enjoyed recent redevelopment, bringing many people to its marinas and parks. The Buffalo & Erie County Naval Servicemen's Park offers tours of retired naval ships.

(photo credits: UB Dept. of Art History Visual Resources)

ES - East Side

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood lies east of Downtown Buffalo. This huge area extends five miles eastward to the city line. The main streets are Genesee, Sycamore, Broadway, William, and Clinton.

Parks:

• Bennett Park (Olmsted park that no longer exists).

Student Speed Dating Near Lower West Side Street

High Schools

• Emerson Vocational High School, 1405 Sycamore Street
• Buffalo Traditional School, 450 Masten Avenue

Other Schools

• Bennett Park Montessori (PS32)

Neighborhood Association

East Buffalo Community Ownership, 1981 Broadway.

Further Link

Map of Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood. (Appendix A). Intensive Level Historic Resources Survey of the area as part of a Buffalo City study by Preservation Board.

The East Side is comprised of many smaller neighborhoods:

• Bailey-Lovejoy
• Hospital Hill
• Perry
• Central Park
• Humboldt Park
• Polonia
• Cold Springs
• Kaisertown
• Schiller Park
• Fillmore-Leroy
• Kensington
• Willert Park
• Fruit Belt
• Masten Park
• Valley
• Hamlin Park

E - Elmwood Strip

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Elmwood Avenue from Forest Avenue south to North Street.

The Elmwood Strip is located in the western half of Buffalo in between the West Side and the Delaware District, with Allentown to the south and Delaware Park to the north.

'The Strip' stretches on Elmwood Avenue between Forest Avenue in the north and Virginia Street in the south.

While the whole of Elmwood Avenue is 7 miles long, what is called The Elmwood Strip is about 2.1 miles in length.

The Elmwood 'strip' commercial district includes a variety of cafes, ethnic restaurants, nightclubs and specialty shops catering to neighborhood residents and the students of nearby Buffalo State College.

The blocks running off of Elmwood Avenue are lined with fine examples of residential Victorian architecture. Leaded glass windows and wooden 'tracery' embellish these older single and multiple family houses.

Running through parts of the Delaware District, Elmwood Strip, and West Side are the Soldiers Circle, Bidwell Parkway and Chapin Parkway. These Olmsted-designed parkways cross over many parts of Buffalo.

Elmwood Village Association, 1068 Elmwood Avenue

Transportation

Bus Route #20 covers transportation to and from Elmwood Avenue. Bus Routes (NFTA Metro)

Libraries

James L. Crane Library, 633 Elmwood Avenue

Churches

Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, 695 Elmwood Avenue

Local History

• In 1850, what was then known as Johnson Park developed as an elite residential area in the southern part of Elmwood Avenue and was considered the most exclusive part of the city.
• The rest of Elmwood, just north of Johnson Park was secluded from the city.
• This part was called Shingletown and was not yet urbanized.
• From 1880-1900, the overall population of Buffalo began to increase and the whole of Elmwood became more residential.
• In 1900, the Elmwood Avenue and Johnson Park area was home to Buffalo’s first mayor, Ebenezer Johnson. It was an upper class community, located just outside of the center of downtown Buffalo.
• The Buffalo Female Academy was the most selective school in Buffalo.
• Johnson Park, running on an east-west axis, blocked movement of downtown Buffalo and the central business district.
• The Common Council decided to split the park in half and Elmwood Avenue was extended into the heart of the city.

Businesses (selection)

The businesses of Elmwood Avenue are as diverse as the populace. Every few feet, you’re sure to find a restaurant, bar, or specialty shop. Such a high concentration of unique bustling businesses is unlikely to be found in any other area of Buffalo. Several are:

• Plum Pudding, 779 Elmwood Ave.
• ShoeFly, 801 Elmwood Ave.
• Everything Elmwood, 740 Elmwood Ave.
• Spot Coffee, 765 Elmwood Ave.
• Louie’s Hot Dogs.

Nightlife

The Elmwood Strip is one of Buffalo’s premiere locations for nightlife. The area is teeming with various bars and clubs of every type to fit any personality, mood, and desire. These include:

• Cole’s: voted best burger and beer selection in Buffalo
• Thirsty Buffalo
• Nektar: voted best martini bar in Buffalo
• Nietzsche’s
• Left Bank: voted #1 most romantic restaurant in Buffalo

Entertainment and Leisure

Stuff for Families

Although not typically thought of as a family area the Elmwood Strip is becoming increasingly family friendly. There are plenty of stores, galleries, and events throughout the year to occupy the entire family. These include:

• Free summer concert series on Tuesdays in July and August
• Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony: Celebrating the commencement of the holiday season, complete with caroling, hot chocolate, and cookies.
• Albright-Knox Art Gallery: World renowned art gallery that includes large collection of modern artwork.
• “A Musical Feast”- A music festival on Sunday, November 14th with many musicians including classical and contemporary artists.
• Harvest Festival and Safe Trick or Treat: includes a petting zoo, hayrides, and pumpkin picking, a safe environment for trick or treating, and great bargains for the parents
• Carriage Rides: ride around Elmwood Strip with the family in a horse drawn carriage during the holidays, $25 per ride.

Stuff for Kids

The Elmwood Strip has plenty of stores and events to occupy children while their parents people watch and shop Elmwood’s many boutique stores. Such as:

• Can Can Candy and Gifts
• Santa Saturdays: Santa will be on Elmwood Avenue for Christmas wishes and pictures for the kids
• Adventure Cards and Comics
• Fowler’s Chocolates
• Dolci: An authentic Italian desert and candy shop

Photographs with '2' in lower right by Jeff Malone, Leah Swartz, Michael Longley, who also supplied portions of the text.

FL - Fillmore-Leroy

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on the intersection of Fillmore Avenue and Main Street. Leroy Avenue runs east to west across this industrial and residential neighborhood.

Neighborhood Association

Fillmore-Leroy Area Residents, 307 Leroy Avenue.

Buffalo has many churches that are significant in the city's architectural history. One of these churches is the Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church on Leroy Avenue. Designed by architect Chester Oakley and built from 1923-1928, this church, according to 'Buffalo Architecture: A Guide' (MIT Press, 1983), exemplifies a Northern Italian Romanesque-style common to Lombardy.

Many local commercial concerns have been headquartered in this district, among them, Kaufmann's Bakery still operates on Fillmore Avenue. Nearby is the former Trico Plant #2, which manufactured automobile windshield wipers for decades.

FW - First Ward

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on South Park Avenue. The I-90 Thruway runs along the northern side, and the Buffalo River forms the southern boundary of this industrial district.

The First Ward is bordered by Downtown and the East Side. Many streets take their names from states, such as Tennessee St., Kentucky St., Mississippi St., and Illinois St.

Boundaries

Perry St. (N); Smith St. (E);Buffalo River (S); Illinois St (W).

Neighborhood Association

Valley Community Association, 93 Leddy Street

Student Speed Dating Near Lower West Side

Community Center

Old First Ward Community Center
62 Republic Street

Read more about the neighborhood: Old First Ward Community

Medical Care

Mercy Health Center

Until the 1960s, Buffalo was first in the world for grain refining. Now aging elevators await their fate.

The Old First Ward was settled in the nineteenth century by Irish immigrants who worked in the local coal and lumber yards, and most notably the grain elevators along the Buffalo River. Small houses line streets with such names as Alabama, Louisiana, and Ohio.

The Irish-American population went to St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church and school on the corner of Fulton and Louisiana Streets. After St. Bridget's was demolished, the neighborhood's spiritual center became Our Lady of Perpetual Help on O'Connell Avenue.

Today the neighborhood is in transition as its ethnic population diversifies.

Religious Institutions

• Saint Stephens Roman Catholic Church
• Saint Claire Roman Catholic Church
• Saint Valentines School
• Saint Francis School
• Catholic Charities of Buffalo
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

Night Life

• Adolph Bar
• The Swannie
• Cooks Bar
• Mc Carthy’s Restaurant
• Morrisey Irish Pub
• Malamute Tavern

Photographs with '4' in lower right by David Freundschuh and Olivia Christman, who also supplied portions of the text.

If you have more to share on this neighborhood, please contact us.

FB - Fruit Belt

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on High Street, with the '33' (Kensington Expressway) enclosing the southern boundary of the Fruit Belt. Jefferson Avenue runs along the East Side, but it is Grape, Peach, Orange, and Lemon Streets that gave the name to the district.

Cherry Street was once part of this neighborhood but the completion of the Kensington Expressway (rte 33) isolated it from the rest of the Fruit Belt.

Gethsemane Grape Street Baptist Church (55 Grape Street) serves this African-American community. (The church was formerly called: St. Paul's Evangelical United Brethren Church.)

If you have more to share on this neighborhood, please contact us.

H - Hamlin Park

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Delevan Avenue from Main Street east to the '33' (Kensington Expressway). Hamlin Road runs east to Humboldt Parkway. This neighborhood is dominated by Canisius College.

St.Vincent de Paul - 15 Eastwood Place

St. Vincent de Paul, one of the many interesting churches of Buffalo's historical past, is now part of Canisius College.

If you have more to share on this neighborhood, please contact us.

HH - Hospital Hill

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on High Street east of Main Street.

The area known as Hospital Hill is dominated by three medical centers. Buffalo General Hospital has been at this site for over one hundred years. The Roswell Park Cancer Institute is on the south side of the hill going downtown, and the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute is on High Street. Also at 1021 Main St. is the Research Institute on Addictions.

Buffalo General Hospital - 100 High Street

At the bottom of the hill on the western edge of this neighborhood is the Anchor Bar. This bar and grill claims to be the original Home of the 'Buffalo Chicken Wing.'

If you have more to share on this neighborhood, please contact us.

HP - Humboldt Park

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on the residential area north of Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

As part of the Frederick Law Olmsted Parkway System, this large neighborhood contained 'The Parade' (later Humboldt Park) and the 200 foot-wide Humboldt Parkway which connected northward to Delaware Park.

At one time largely German and Jewish populations supported many houses of worship in this neighborhood. Many of these religious buildings are still standing but have changed denominational affiliation. They now reflect the neighborhood's African-American cultural identity.

(former names: The Parade, Humboldt Park)

The King Memorial is located in Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The neighborhood and the Park were originally named Humboldt Park after Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), the noted geographer and explorer.

Located near the entrance to the Park, at 1020 Humboldt Parkway, is the Buffalo Museum of Science.

K - Kaisertown

Location:

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Clinton Street and is physically enclosed by the Buffalo River on the south and the Thruway 90 on the northwest.

Read: History of Kaisertown, Buffalo

Read: Kaisertown Statistical data

This area was established as a German-American area during the last century and is now a Polish-American neighborhood. Streets named Weimar and Weiss are still present, but Beer Street has been re-named Casimir Street.

When St. Casimir Catholic Church was built in 1928, it became the heart of this Polish-American neighborhood; it remains so even today.

Houghton Park stretches from Clinton Street to the Buffalo River, and is one of the cities best recreational parks.

KE - Kensington

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Kensington Avenue from Main Street to the city line at Cheektowaga. Bailey Avenue is an important north-south street in the neighborhood. The '33' (Kensington) Expressway cuts this large district in half.

High Schools

• Kensington High School (See also architecture site)
• Burgard High School
• St. Mary's School for the Deaf, 2253 Main Street
• The Math, Science and Technology Preparatory School at Seneca (formerly known as Seneca Vocational High School)

Neighborhood Association

• Ken/Bailey N.H.S., 1048 Kensington Avenue.

Hospitals

Two major hospitals, the Erie County Medical Center and Sisters Hospital (below right), are located within this area.

KH - Kensington Heights

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Eggert Road in the northeast corner of Buffalo.

In the Atlas of the City of Buffalo (American Atlas Co., 1894), this area is named 'Kensington Highlands.' The street grid shows the residential blocks which still make up this neighborhood of single family houses.

Kensington Highlands - map detail from: Atlas of the City of Buffalo (1894)

LWS - Lower West Side

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Niagara Street from City Hall to Porter Avenue.

High School

Leonardo Da Vinci High School
320 Porter Avenue

Read about City Hall

Beginning in 1890, Italian-American immigrants settled this area close to the lake, giving the Lower West Side an Italian cultural identification. This can be seen by the two churches of Holy Cross and St. Anthony of Padua. Mass is still celebrated in Italian at St. Anthony's, but the neighborhood has changed and mass is celebrated in Spanish at Holy Cross. The Lower West Side is currently identified with the Buffalo Hispanic Community.

MP - Masten Park

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Best Street from Michigan to Jefferson Avenue.

High School

City Honors School - 450 Masten Avenue

About 1900, a high school was built at Masten Place, a small hillside park in the district. Today the building houses the City Honors School, known throughout the state for its academic excellence.

Also situated on this high ground was a reservoir, the basin upon which the 'Rock Pile' (War Memorial Stadium) was built. It is now a large recreational field with a track and baseball diamonds.

NB - North Buffalo

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Hertel Avenue from Main Street west to Elmwood Avenue. The city line runs along its border with the village of Kenmore.

North Buffalo's south borders along Delaware Park and the Buffalo Zoo.

High Schools

• Bennett High School (PS 200), 2885 Main Street
• Holy Angels Academy, 24 Shoshone Drive

Neighborhood Association

North Buffalo C.D.C., 203 Sanders Street.

This neighborhood was traditionally populated with Italian Americans.

—Throughout the 50’s and 70’s, historically known for Jewish community.

North Park is a section of North Buffalo that has many affluent homes and architectural properties, and is distinct from the rest of the area around it.

The neighborhood is a stable residential community typified by older duplex homes. Hertel Avenue has always supported a healthy commercial district and today is lined with antique shops, restaurants and Buffalo's most noted movie theater for independent films, the North Park Theatre.

View a statistical profile of North Buffalo.

The Italian Village Festival was moved to North Buffalo due to the large population there. The festival is considered as one of the five largest street festivals in the United States.

Churches

• Carmelite Monastery (75 Carmel Road)
• St. George Orthodox Church (2 Nottingham Terrace)
• St. Margaret’s Roman Catholic (1395 Hertel Ave)

—

Libraries

North Park Library —975 Hertel Avenue

Dining, Local Entertainment & Nightlife

North Buffalo has a wide variety of excellent restaurants and small markets offering a diverse selection of foods.Also, a number of bars and night clubs on Hertel Avenue provide many evening entertainment spots. One of these is: the Sterling Pub (147 Hertel Ave).

For movies, the North Park Theatre —(1428 Hertel Ave) is known for its old theatre styling, and is Buffalo's most noted theater for independent films. Read also the theatre's history

North Buffalo is served by the NFTA bus system and has special transportation services as well: Rural/Metro Medical Services

Portions of the text supplied Nikki Pascal and Justin Watt.

P - Parkside

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Jewett Avenue from Parkside to Main Street.

Parkside website. Useful data.

Neighborhood Association

Parkside Community Association, 2318 Main Street.

Parkside was planned as a residential neighborhood in 1883 by Frederick Law Olmsted. The curved streets follow the shape of adjacent Delaware Park. The Episcopalian Church of the Good Shepherd was the first church built in this neighborhood (1888).

Among the architectural treasures of Buffalo are several outstanding examples of the work of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Gardener's Cottage demonstrates Wright's design principles in a modest home while the Darwin D. Martin House is a prime example of his renowned prairie style architecture. The Darwin Martin House is currently undergoing total restoration.

PO - Polonia

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Broadway, which runs through this historic Polish-American area. Fillmore Avenue runs along the western edge, and is part of the larger East Side of Buffalo. Active since 1873, St. Stanislaus is the oldest Polish-American Roman Catholic Church in Western New York. An area landmark, it is the center for ecclesiastical and secular commemorative ceremonies.

For more information on Polonia visit the Forgotten Buffalo website.

For example, before his papal investiture, Pope John Paul II celebrated mass here. The oldest Polish library in the U.S., the 'Polska Czytelnia' (established in 1889) is located in the parish Pitass Center.

A few blocks south of the Market is the New York Central Terminal. A monumental railroad terminal built in 1929, it was heavily utilized for troop transport during World War II but has since fallen into disrepair. A volunteer citizens group has lately undertaken a renovation project in hopes of spurring commercial interest in its redevelopment.

The Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle at 612 Fillmore Avenue was established in 1895 as a literary and theatrical organization in Buffalo's Polish East-Side. Closed for 17 years, this treasure reopened on September 17, 2011. Additional information and photos are available from the Forgotten Buffalo page.

Broadway Market

On Broadway and Lombard is the Broadway Market, well-known throughout the year for its fresh food vendors. It is a particularly popular Buffalo shopping center at Easter-time when its stalls are over-flowing with seasonal foods, gifts, and flowers.

See more photos and information on Polonia, as well as other East Side neighborhoods.

This historic neighborhood had many Buffalo landmark businesses, such as Sattler's on 998 Broadway.

R - Riverside

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on the intersection of Tonawanda and Ontario Streets. Vulcan Street runs along the northern edge of this area of Northwest Buffalo.

High School

Riverside Institute of Technology (PS 205)
51 Ontario Street

Neighborhood Association

Blackrock/Riverside N.H.S., 203 Military RoadBlack Rock/Riverside History

Riverside developed as the northern 'suburb' of Black Rock early in the 20th century due to the expansion of the trolley system. The area was greatly enhanced by Riverside Park (designed by F.L. Olmsted's landscape architecture firm in 1898) which overlooked the Niagara River. Today the park is used by community residents for sports and neighborhood festivals, notably the Fourth of July carnival and fireworks celebration. St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church continues to be the most prominent church in the area and both Tonawanda and Ontario Streets provide retail outlets for the community residents.

S - Schiller Park

This residential area circles around Schiller Park. Inside this small city park Scajaquada Creek has been channeled underground and continues west under the city to Forest Lawn Cemetery. Villa Maria College, a large Catholic school, dominates the eastern half of the neighborhood.

A local family business, Scharf's Schiller Park Restaurant, draws customers from all over the city of Buffalo for its authentic German cuisine and its famous Friday 'fish-fry.'

See a map and basic vital statistics on Schiller Park.

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Genesee Street and Pine Ridge Road, which is the line between the City of Buffalo and Cheektowaga.

High Schools

Two private high schools existed in this neighborhood

Turner-Carroll High School, 185 Lang Avenue

Villa Maria Academy, 600 Doat Street

Both are now closed.

College

Villa Maria College is on the edge of Schiler Park.

Celebrity

Christine Baranski, actress and high school graduate of Villa Maria Academy, was born and grew up in the Schilleer Park neighborhood.

SB - South Buffalo

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on the area south of the Buffalo River. A large district, it extends to the Lackawanna city line on the south; to South Park Avenue on the west; and to the eastern side of Cazenovia Park on the east.

Boundaries

Cazenovia Creek / Amber Street / South Park Avenue and Southside Parkway / Hopkins Street, Lilac Street, and the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western RR line.

See: 1872 Map; Thirteenth Ward map (1872); history;

High Schools

• South Park High School (PS 206) - 150 Southside Parkway
• Bishop Timon-Saint Jude High School - 601 McKinley Parkway

Neighborhood Associations

• Tosh Collins Community Center - 35 Cazenovia Street
• Neighborhood Housing Services of South Buffalo
• South Buffalo Community Development Association - Street: 35 Cazenovia Street - Buffalo, NY 14220-1705 - Phone: (716) 822-4532
• South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce
• Religious Institutions. South Buffalo has a wide-variety of churches and religious institutions.

This residential neighborhood grew in response to the commercial success of the industrial development in the First Ward. Traditionally Irish-American, the neighborhood retains its celtic flavor in area restaurants, churches, and social clubs. Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Trocaire College are important community centers. Cazenovia Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo River, winds through the neighborhood and the beautifully landscaped Cazenovia Park. The Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens are located in South Park. This park was also designed by F.L. Olmsted.

Note:The Botanical Gardens and the surrounding South Park were previously considered part of Lackawanna; that area is now owned and maintained by Buffalo.

Hospitals

Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, 565 Abbott Road, Buffalo, NY 14220, (716) 826-7000

Other Organizations

• South Buffalo Baseball Association
• South Buffalo Football Association

Libraries

Dudley Branch Library, 2010 South Park Avenue,Buffalo, NY 14220 Map, 716-823-1854

South Buffalo Celebrity

Tim Russert, a journalist, recognized for his long-time role on NBC's Meet the Press, grew up in this neighborhood and many times told stories of his Buffalo experience. He has been honored throughout the area with a variety of parks and tributes. See videos on Tim Russert and Buffalo.

Cazenovia Park (Buffalo Parks System)

Plan of Cazenovia Park, 1896 - Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot, landscape architects

See also: Cazenovia Park (Olmsted Conservancy)

Stuff to Do

Businesses

South Buffalo businesses are primarily restaurants, with an abundance of traditional bars, taverns, and pizza places, though there are some others, including: automobile dealers, mechanics, floral shops, barber shops, and medical centers. Recent national notice has been given to the bar that the late Tim Russert often highlighted as his father's favorite, the present day restaurant and club, the Blackthorn.

Tim Russert’s Children’s Garden - South Park & Choate Avenues

Photographs with '3' in lower corner by Martin Palczewski and Emmalee Russo, who also supplied portions of the text.

UD - University District

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Winspear Avenue from Main Street east to Bailey Avenue

This neighborhood is a large residential area south of the Main Street campus of SUNY at Buffalo.

UH - University Heights

Location

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Main Street from Niagara Falls Blvd. south to LaSalle Avenue.

Neighborhood Association:

University Heights C.D.C., Gloria Parks Community Center, 3242 Main Street.

This area is both a commercial district running along Main Street, and a residential area west of Main Street.

Visit the University Heights Community blog for neighborhood activities.

Hayes Hall on the UB Main Street (South) campus is located on one of the highest natural sites in the city (between 690 - 700 feet elevation).

Abbott Hall maintains its historic E.B.Green facade, but has been completely renovated and now houses UB's Health Sciences Library.

Abbott Hall (1933) - Edward B. Green & Son, architects - (photo credit: UB Dept. of Art History Visual Resources)

V - Vernon Triangle

Location

This Buffalo Neighborhood centers on Vernon Street, but the area forms a triangle with the borders being Main Street, Amherst Street, and Fairfield Avenue.

An isolated neighborhood between roads and along the Transit Line, this has a nice charm and small variety of stores, and diversity of people.

Vernon Triangle 2002 Satellite Image

Vernon Triangle (Sanborn Map 1916)

WS - West Side

Location:

This Buffalo neighborhood centers on Grant Street and is one of the largest neighborhoods by area in the city. The West Side runs west from Elmwood Avenue to Lake Erie and north from Porter Avenue to Buffalo State College.

High Schools

• Lafayette High School (PS 204), 370 Lafayette Avenue
• Grover Cleveland High School (PS 202), 110 14th Street

Neighborhood Associations

• West Side N.H.S., 359 Connecticut Avenue
• West Side Community Services, 161 Vermont Avenue.

The West Side is home to many important buildings. Among them is H.H. Richardson's Buffalo Psychiatric Center which is set amidst a parklike setting designed by F.L. Olmsted.

Internationally acclaimed for its outstanding acoustical design, Kleinhans Music Hall is home to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Other landmarks in the area include: the Peace Bridge (connecting Buffalo to Fort Erie, Ontario); the Connecticut Street Armory; and Trinity Episcopal Church (noted for its outstanding LaFarge and Tiffany stained glass windows).

An interesting transportation pattern that has survived thruway construction are part of the F.L. Olmsted-designed Parkway. Bidwell Parkway, which is two hundred feet wide, runs westward to a circle at Richmond Avenue. It continues via Massachusetts and Porter Avenues to Front Park.

This neighborhood has a diverse population today including most recently Asian and Southeast Asian residents. Much of the neighborhood has been Italian-American for decades and the Annunciation and Holy Angels Roman Catholic Churches are cultural institutions.

W - Willert Park

Location

This Buffalo Neighborhood centers on a small park named Willert, which is close to downtown Buffalo to the West. The surrounding streets are Broadway, Jefferson, and Cedar.

Map showing Willert Park neighborhood

Find statistics and data for Willert Park.

If you have more to share on this neighborhood, please contact me.

This page is updated regularly and will include neighborhood boundaries, more photos, more links, and additional data.

If you live in a neighborhood and have photos or other materials that you can share, we would be willing to consider them for addition to this site (credit for photos will be given).

Map KEY

Bibliography

The following sources were consulted in creating this website:

• American Atlas Company. Atlas of the City of Buffalo, New York. (NY: American Atlas Company, 1894 [i.e. 1895])
• Beveridge, Charles E. The Master List of Design Projects of the Olmsted
  Firm, 1857-1950. (Washington, DC: National Association for Olmsted Parks in conjunction with the Massachusetts Association for Olmsted Parks, c.1987)
• Buffalo Architecture: a guide. (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, c.1981)
• Cram, George F. Company. A descriptive review of the commercial,
  industrial, agricultural, historical development of the state of
  New York, with special charts, detail maps and profuse half tone
  illustrations from all parts of the Empire state. (Chicago, NY: G.F. Cram, [c.1914])
• Geological Survey (US). Buffalo quadrangle, New York. (Map). (Washington, DC: The Survey, 1948).
• Geological Survey (US). New York. Erie County. Buffalo Quadrangle. (Map). (Washington, DC: The Survey, 1901).
• Goldman, Mark. City on the Lake: the challenge of change in Buffalo,
  New York. (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1990).
• Goldman, Mark. High Hopes: the rise and decline of Buffalo, New York. (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, c.1983)
• Kowsky, Francis R., editor. The Best Planned City: the Olmsted legacy
  in Buffalo. (Buffalo, NY: Buffalo State College Foundation, 1991)
• The National Register of Historic Places. (Washington, DC: National Parks Service, 1969- )
• Simon, Jacqueline C. 'Changes in the residential neighborhood Parkside,
  Buffalo, NY, 1925-1950.' (Master's Thesis, SUNY University at Buffalo, 1989)

In addition, materials produced in English 201 (M.E. Schindler) are being incorporated into neighborhood pages from course projects (2010- ). Students are credited on pages relating to their project contributions.

Related Sites

Buffalo, New York Metropolitan Area

• Buffalo in Maps. Maps, charts, aerial photos, GIS, and other map resources at UB and on the Internet.
• Buffalo Public Schools. Complete listing of schools, addresses, programs, photos, and other information.
• Buffalo Catholic Schools (WNY Catholic Schools website). Search for schools in the region.
• City of Buffalo Official Website.
• Churches in Buffalo. Beautiful photographs of many (very many) churches in the Buffalo area. Search by name.
• Schools of Buffalo. By the author/photographer of the Churches in Buffalo site (above). Beautiful photographs of many (very many) schools in the Buffalo area. Search by name.
• Forgotten Buffalo. Great emphasis on Buffalo Neighborhoods and their history. Provides tour info and stories, etc.
• History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County:with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, in Two Volumes. Edited by H. Perry Smith. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1884. Online facsimile of the book.
• Our Buffalo. Graphic map showing some of the neighborhoods.
• List of Street Name Changes in Buffalo. Brief listing of old names and new names.
• 1894 City of Buffalo Atlas. Property maps of the city. Full-color digital version of the original maps with good resolution (may not work with all browsers).
• UB Regional Institute. Resources on city development and activity.

Buffalo Parks, Olmsted Works and Activities

• Buffalo Parks System Map, 1914. Shows Olmsted's designs.
• Parkways: Lincoln, Bidwell, Chapin, Richmond, Porter, Red Jacket, McKinley.
• Circles: Soldiers, Gates, Colonial, Ferry, Symphony, McClellan, McKinley.
• Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN) dedicated to fostering historic preservation in the Buffalo Niagara region, serving seven counties in Western New York.

Other Great Buffalo Neighborhood-Related Sites

• Buffalo as an Architectural Museum. Lists websites of existing buildings in Metro Buffalo, including Erie and Niagara Counties in New York State. Has many illustrations and photos.
• Buffalo in Bloom. Great site on flowers and plants that beautify Buffalo. Also great for emphasis on neighborhoods.
• Buffalo, New York History. Photographs, drawings, maps, articles; wide variety of topics.
• Buffalo Spree magazine. Includes articles and resources on neighborhood activities, history, and culture.
• Guide to Buffalo English. Partly entertaining, this page does provide a good summary of the 'accent' of Buffalonians.
• Erie Canal website. The Canal had a big part to play in Buffalo history and the old route is now covered beneath the city along the Niagara River.
• Visit Buffalo/Niagara page. Information and data on variety of Buffalo area sights and neighborhood activities.
• Tifft Nature Preserve. Just beyond the Buffalo boundaries but an important site in the effort to revive the city.

Buffalo and Western New York Region

• Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Area (Wikipedia). Links to data and text on towns and villages in Erie and Niagara Counties.
• Western New York 211. Help find health services in eight WNY counties.
• WNY Maps. UB Map Collection maps, charts, aerial and satellite photos, and online maps of Western New York, including Erie, Niagara, and other local counties.

Boston, Massachusetts

• Boston: A City of Neighborhoods. From full city map, click on each neighborhood to obtain a specific map.

Albany, New York

• Albany's Neighborhoods (City of Albany, NY).

Manhattan, New York