Buffalo's position on the Great Lakes has made it an international port. It handles large quantities of such bulk products as iron ore, limestone, coal, and grain. The Welland Ship Canal, 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Buffalo, in the Canadian province of Ontario, links Lakes Erie and Ontario and provides a water route to the St. Lawrence River. The Erie Division of the New York State Barge Canal connects Buffalo to the Hudson River. The city's harbor is at the mouth of the Buffalo River. Protected by an immense breakwater, it is one of the best harbors on the Great Lakes. A new harbor has also been made by building a breakwater in the Niagara River. Two bridges span the river, connecting Buffalo with the village of Fort Erie, Ont. The Peace Bridge, which was completed in 1927, was built to commemorate 100 years of peace between Canada and the United States.

Buffalo is a major center of railroad transportation, the city's largest single industry. Its principal shipments are grain, lumber, coal, and ore. Key manufacturing industries are iron and steel production and flour, feed, and grain milling. Other products are chemicals, aircraft and aerospace components, machinery, transportation equipment, rubber, linseed oil, cereals, plastics, clothing, furniture, and dyes.

Tree-lined drives link the city's ten parks. Overlooking the lake at the mouth of the Niagara River is The Front, a park situated on a bold bluff 60 feet (18 meters) high. The largest park is Delaware Park, where the Pan-American Exposition was held in 1901. A marble shaft in Niagara Square honors the memory of President William McKinley, who was shot and fatally wounded while attending the exposition.

Buffalo is the home of the State University of New York at Buffalo, the State University College at Buffalo, Canisius College, and D'Youville College. Places of interest include the Museum of Science, the Historical Museum, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Kleinhans Music Hall, and Memorial Auditorium, where the city's professional ice hockey team plays. Rich Stadium is the home of football's Buffalo Bills.

At the beginning of the 19th century Buffalo was a trade center. In the War of 1812 it was burned by the British. In 1825 the Erie Canal reached Buffalo, and in 1832 the city was incorporated. During the 1860s it became a rail center. Its industrial growth was spurred at the end of the 19th century by electric power generated at plants that harnessed the power of Niagara Falls. The city has a mayor-council form of government. Population (2000 census), 292,648.