'''Buffalo''' is the second largest of [[New York|New York State]] and pothole capital of [[North America]]. Once the nation's 15th largest city, the city has been in demographic decline and is now ranked as the 78th.<ref>https://www.neilsberg.com/insights/buffalo-ny-population-by-year/</ref> In 2023, Buffalo was ranked #1 for having the highest percentage of residents born in the state of residence (a.k.a natives) as it had 81.69% native residents.<ref>[https://stepoutbuffalo.com/see-where-buffalo-ranks-among-u-s-cities-with-the-most-native-residents/ We’re Not At All Surprised That Buffalo Ranked #1 For This Stat], Step Out Buffalo website</ref> From 2011 to 2019, Buffalo experienced a significant amount of gentrification. In recent years, according to United States census data, its Buffalo's population has increased largely due to immigration by 17,000 people from 2010 to 2020 to a population of approximately 280,000 people, after losing more than 50% of its populstion population since 1950.<ref>[https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo-and-erie-county-see-population-growth-in-2020-census/#:~:text=Based%20on%20the%202020%20Census,working%2C%E2%80%9D%20added%20Mayor%20Brown. Buffalo and Erie County see population growth in 2020 Census]</ref> A study conducted in 2014 showed 6,900 new "undocumented" or [[illegal alien]] before the [[Biden border crisis|Biden Harris flood]] of [[illegal immigration]].<ref>https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/BuffaloSyracuse_brief_Final.pdf</ref> In June 2024 , [[New York City]] began announced that it would begin shipping off its flood of 500 migrants to Buffalo to alleviate its own immigration crisis.<ref>https://youtu.be/NV22js3Nsag</ref> This was primarily due to being a low income area living costs and both legal and illegal immigration.<ref>[https://www.buffalo.edu/news/tipsheets/2021/020.html In Buffalo, immigrants and refugees drive population growth, improve quality of life, UB expert says], University at Buffalo</ref> From 2011 to 2019, Buffalo experienced a significant amount of gentrification.<ref>[https://www.buffalo.edu/provost/messages.host.html/content/shared/university/news/news-center-releases/2024/08/zhang-barr-gentrification.detail.html#:~:text=BUFFALO%2C%20N.Y.,a%20University%20at%20Buffalo%20study. Balancing act: UB study links gentrification to reduced crime, but downsides of gentrification can’t be ignored], University of Buffalo</ref><ref>[https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11189242/ Gentrification and crime in Buffalo, New York], PLoS One. 2024 Jun 20;19(6):e0302832. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302832</ref> The Buffalo-Cheektowaga metropolitan area had a population of 1,155,604 people in 2023.<ref>[https://censusreporter.org/profiles/31000US15380-buffalo-cheektowaga-ny-metro-area/?ref=kirbykersels.com Census reporter]</ref>
Buffalo suffers from high rates of [[AIDS]],<ref>https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/providers/health_advisories/docs/health_advisory_hiv.pdf</ref> [[divorce]],<ref>https://wibx950.com/new-york-toxic-marriages/</ref> and [[alcoholism]].<ref>https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2024/09/05/rochester-buffalo-ny-among-most-stressed-cities-in-u-s-wallethub-study-heres-why/74970935007/</ref> At night Buffalo does not close up until 4 a.m., later than most cities that shut down by 2 a.m., leaving the city wide open for drug dealing and gang violence.<ref>[https://wblkwww.comwbfo.org/local/buffalo2016-ny02-gangs05/legislature-rejects-earlier-closing-time-for-local-bars Legislature rejects earlier closing time for local bars]</ref>
Due to its traditionally [[Democrat]] and working-class roots, the [[socialism|socialist]] India Walton was beaten in a mayoral race by the incumbent Democrat Byron Brown. In 2021, the ''New York Post'' reported about one of the mayoral debates: "Fighting to remain Buffalo mayor — incumbent, write-in candidate Byron Brown slammed his opponent, India Walton, as a Democratic socialist and “apologist” for criminals, whose ideas are 'bad at best'."<ref>[https://nypost.com/2021/10/27/byron-brown-slams-socialist-buffalo-mayor-candidate-calls-her-criminal-apologist/ Buffalo debate: Byron Brown slams socialist candidate India Walton, calls her criminal ‘apologist’], New York Post, 2021</ref>
Buffalo is located in the north west northwest corner of the state, at the eastern end of [[Lake Erie]] and the south end of the [[Niagara River]]. The metropolitan population is 1.2 million people, up from lows in the 1960s when St. Lawrence Seaway was opened changing the flow of trade and the rust belt reorganization of manufacturing jobs. It was reported in 2021 that U.S. census indicated that Buffalo is growing for the first time in 70 years – and that Erie County, New York is growing also.<ref>[https://buffalonews.com/news/local/rod-watson-buffalo-is-growing-not-everyone-got-the-message/article_1f8d2a50-0559-11ec-94c2-9ff1c6f59b90.html Rod Watson: Buffalo is growing? Not everyone got the message], Buffalo News</ref> Buffalo is joined by the Peace Bridge to [[Canada]], and by the [[Erie Canal]] to the [[Hudson River]], and ultimately the [[Atlantic Ocean]].
Buffalo has a radial street pattern,<ref>https://www.archdaily.com/951587/radial-city-plan-nine-examples-around-the-world-seen-from-above</ref> and is one of one three cities in the [[United States]] having this beautiful layout.<ref>https://www.archdaily.com/951587/radial-city-plan-nine-examples-around-the-world-seen-from-above</ref> Buffalo is also exceptional in the amount of flour milling done there, ranking it among the highest in the world along with [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]] (where flour milling began to decline in the late 1930s as electric power began to replace water power).
In 2010, ''[[Forbes Magazine]]'' rated Buffalo tenth in the top 10 places to raise a family.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.forbes.com/2010/06/04/best-places-family-lifestyle-real-estate-cities-kids.html | title = America's Best Places to Raise a Family | publisher = Forbes.com | first=Francesca | last=Levy | date=June 7, 2010|accessdate=September 25, 2012}}</ref>
Buffalo is nicknamed "The Queen City" due to it being the second largest city in New York<ref>[https://thenew961.com/why-is-buffalo-called-the-queen-city/ Why Is Buffalo Called the Queen City?]</ref> and is resident to a number of gay bath houses.<ref>https://www.google.com/search?q=gay+bathhouses+in+buffalo+new+york&num=10&sca_esv=04ccc06d6a14a3bd&sxsrf=ADLYWILM5ly17QV48-1iM5NiwIoxLDk1Yw%3A1730402510350&ei=ztgjZ_mKFcPm0PEP25vD-A8&ved=0ahUKEwj5qcrXq7mJAxVDMzQIHdvNEP8Q4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=gay+bathhouses+in+buffalo+new+york&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiImdheSBiYXRoaG91c2VzIGluIGJ1ZmZhbG8gbmV3IHlvcmsyBhAAGBYYHjILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGIAEGKIESIVtUABYpUxwAHgBkAEAmAHCAaAB6RCqAQQyLjE2uAEDyAEA-AEBmAIJoAKLCMICBhAAGAcYHsICCBAAGAUYDRgewgIIEAAYCBgNGB6YAwDiAwUSATEgQJIHAzIuN6AH2D0&sclient=gws-wiz-serp</ref> Buffalo has a number of nicknames such as the Queen City, City of Good Neighbors, The City of Light and The Nickle City.
Buffalo is home to two professional sports franchises: the [[Buffalo Bills]] of the [[NFL]] and the [[Buffalo Sabres]] of the [[NHL]]. Due to the size of the city and its metropolitan area, both franchises are often rumored to be potential targets for relocation; however, the Segura family (which has many business interests in the area) owns both teams and has committed to keeping them in Buffalo. Furthermore, the Buffalo Bills fans are known for strong loyalty to the team. In 2021, the Buffalo Bills fans were voted the 3rd most loyal fans in the NFL and the third rowdiest fans in the NFL.<ref>[https://www.wgrz.com/article/sports/locked-on/nfl-podcast/bills-show/bills-mafia-voted-3rd-most-loyal-fanbase-buffalo-bills-football-lineups/71-728b3dda-d92d-4a5d-bb21-cfc9093fc694 Bills Mafia voted 3rd most loyal fanbase], WGRZ</ref>