Buffalo, New York is the state's second-largest city, after New York City. The Buffalo-Niagara metropolitan area has a population of 1.1 million. Buffalo lies on the Niagara River, which connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. European-Americans first settled there in the late-18th century. Growth was slow until the city became the western terminus of the Erie Canal some 40 years later.
The century included several U.S. presidents have connections with Buffalo. Millard Fillmore took up permanent residence in Buffalo in 1822 before he became America's 13th president; he was also the first chancellor of the University of Buffalo (later University at Buffalo). Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, lived in Buffalo from 1854 until 1882, and served as Buffalo's mayor from 1882–1883. William McKinley was shot on September 6, 1901 at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, and died in Buffalo on the 14th. Theodore Roosevelt was then sworn in on September 14th, 1901 at the Wilcox Mansion, becoming one of the few presidents to be sworn in outside of Washington, D.C..
The Pan-American Exposition was not the only event that placed Buffalo in the national spotlight in the latter part of the century. Drawing on its proximity to the power generators at Niagara Falls, Buffalo became the first large city in North America to have widespread electric lighting, yielding it yet another nickname, the "City of Lights."
Buffalo has a perhaps undeserved reputation for severe weather. Winters are a bit longer than in other areas, and due to the lake effect, Buffalo averages more snowfall than most northern cities, but they are not extremely cold and include frequent thaws and rain as well. Ski country south of Buffalo receives about twice the amount of snow as the metro area each winter, making it one of the best winter recreation centers in the northeastern USA.
Buffalo is home to two State University of New York institutions, each the largest of their type in the system. Buffalo State College, a comprehensive college, and the University at Buffalo, the flagship university center of the State University of New York. The city also is home to Bryant and Stratton College, Daemen College, D'Youville College, Medaille College, Canisius College, and Trocaire College. A campus of Erie Community College and a site of Empire State College are also located in the downtown area.
The Buffalo area's cuisine reflects Italian, Irish, Polish, Greek and American influences. Beef on Weck, Sahlen's hot dogs, Pierogi, and Haddock Fish Fries are among the local favorites. Teressa Bellissimo, the chef/owner of the city's Anchor Bar, first prepared the now-widespread chicken wing (Buffalo Wing) there on October 3, 1964.
Buffalo is home to several well-known food products companies. Whipped topping, later imitated by Cool Whip, was invented in Buffalo in 1945 by Robert E. Rich, Sr. The food company that produced this first whipped topping, Rich Products Corporation, is today a major employer in Buffalo. General Mills was organized in Buffalo, and Gold Medal brand flour, Wheaties, Bisquick, Betty Crocker mixes and Cheerios are produced there. Freezer Queen Foods, a well-known producer of frozen food dinners, also operates from the Buffalo waterfront. One of the countries largest cheese manufacturers, Sorrento Lactalis has been here since 1947.
Last call is 4 am in Buffalo. Several distinct and thriving nightlife districts have grown around clusters of bars and nightclubs in the City. The most visible nightlife district is Chippewa Street, between Main Street and South Elmwood Avenue, home to high-energy dance clubs, crowded bars, trendy coffehouses, and restaurants. Bohemian Allentown, where bars are as numerous but the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed, is a 20-minute walk to the North. Another 20-minute walk north on Elmwood Avenue from Allentown is the Elmwood Strip, which runs from about Bryant and Elmwood to Elmwood and Forest. Most Elmwood Strip places are more bars than clubs, crowds tending to preppy, or college students.
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, or NFTA, operates public transit throughout the Buffalo area. The NFTA runs a number of buses throughout the city and suburbs, as well as a 6-mile Metro Rail light rail rapid transit system in the city. The NFTA also operates Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport.
The Metro Rail is unique in that unlike most urban rail systems it is at/above ground in the downtown area and underground in the outer areas instead of the other way around. The underground portion also means that Buffalo is the smallest city in the U.S. to have a subway.