9 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know (Did You?) About Buffalo

There are a lot of layers to Western New York. Whether you just moved here or have lived here all your life, it seems like there is always something you didn’t know about it. We are passionate about being from Buffalo. About not being Upstate New York but being Western New York. We love our home, but do we actually know all about it?

Having lived in Western New York for just over eleven years now, it still surprises me too when I discover a new nugget of information or piece of trivia I didn't know before. What's even more surprising is when I find out that most people born and raised here don't know it either.

For people not from here, I can see how they might gloss over all the rich history in Buffalo because of our proximity to Niagara Falls. After all, it is one of the seven wonders of the world. And outside of Western New York, Buffalo doesn't have the greatest reputation. But, that's changing, having just been named to some attention-grabbing lists. Like one of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, a few years ago Buffalo was dubbed America's Friendliest City, one of the best places to live in 2022, and as a top city for runners, just to name a few. So our reputation is getting better, but here at home, we already know how great Buffalo is.

So how is it that most people who live here don't know about some of the Queen City's rich history or how much Buffalo has been a pioneer city? We all know Buffalo is the second-largest city in New York and that it has more than one nickname. Known as the City of Good Neighbors (for good reason) and as the City of Light, having been the first city with widespread electrically lit streets (thanks Niagara Falls!).

But here are 9 interesting facts you didn't know (did you?) about Buffalo