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Illinois›Rock Island County

Buffalo PrairieIL

This town of 9 people was settled in 1849.

Population
9
Census survey, 2020–24
Settled
1849
177 years ago

Is Buffalo Prairie a good place to live?

No town among the 769 in Illinois we compare has a higher share of homes lived in by their owners than Buffalo Prairie. Buffalo Prairie has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

9 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Buffalo Prairie.

Climate

The climate in Buffalo Prairie brings four seasons and pleasant summers

22″snow a winter

In July, afternoons reach 84°; in January, nights fall to 14°, and about 22 inches of snow falls in a winter.

Typical low → high °F

Winter18–34°
Spring40–61°
Summer63–83°
Fall42–63°
Oct 19
typical first frost
Apr 22
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazards

High risk in Buffalo Prairie, with inland flooding at the top

63risk score of 100

Expected losses in Buffalo Prairie break down as 37% from inland flooding and 19% from cold waves. Its risk rating from FEMA comes in at 63 of 100.

FEMA risk score
63High riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Health

How healthy Buffalo Prairie is

The share of adults in Buffalo Prairie who report frequent physical distress is 13%, where Illinois’ towns sit at 13% and U.S. towns at 14%. The town beats the Illinois average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 20% of Buffalo Prairie adults binge drink.

Buffalo PrairieIllinois townsU.S. towns
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)20%18%16%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)20%23%25%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)33%35%36%
Depression (CDC PLACES)21%22%23%
32 measures vs. Illinois
7 better22 too close to call3 worse
What stands outBuffalo PrairieIL
Fewer adults facing food insecurity9.7%15.9%
Fewer adults facing housing insecurity8.4%13.2%
More adults who have had cancer10.1%7.6%
Genesis Medical Center, Aledo
10.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Buffalo Prairie

13pages on Buffalo Prairie
Nearby attractions

Rock Island Arsenal and 12 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Buffalo Prairie. Close and well known come first.

All 21 attractions →
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Rock Island Arsenal: Robert A, Ryan, J. Ceronia, and Bruce A. Harms, Photographers, Public domain · Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum: Shadow2700, Public domain · Black Hawk State Historic Site: Bill Whittaker (talk). Original uploader was Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Figge Art Museum: Ctjf83, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Herbert Hoover National Historic Site: Billwhittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Putnam Museum: Ctjf83 of English Wikipedia (log), Public domain

Getting set up

Moving to Buffalo Prairie: who provides what

Buffalo Prairie is unincorporated, so Rock Island County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerAmeren Illinois Company16.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesRock Island CountyRock Island County provides services here
SchoolsRockridge Community Unit School District 300Which school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Illinois you can register online until 16 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereRock Island County ClerkRock Island County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes61279, 6123761279 66% · 61237 34%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.

After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Buffalo Prairie; the nearest are

Questions about Buffalo Prairie

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Buffalo Prairie, IL a good place to live?

Buffalo Prairie has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Buffalo Prairie is in here

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