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–Not graded
History · Buffalo

Buffalo dates to 1878, and 40% of its homes were built before 1940

Its Register listings are the Old Stone Church and the 1916 Buffalo High School. Below: maps from 1897 on and the census since 1890.

1878founded
2on the National Register
40%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Buffalo began

When was Buffalo founded?

1878

Buffalo dates its founding to 1878 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1890.

First census: 177 in 18902020 census: 195148 years
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1878.The full story ↓

What stands out about Buffalo’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Buffalo are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18973 editions of the USGS map, 1897 to 1986. Watch Buffalo change.Boom and bustPeaked at 268 in 1920; 195 people lived here in 2020.Old housesHalf of Buffalo’s homes were built before 1964.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Buffalo’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Buffalo’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Buffalo on the map, 1897 to 1986

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Buffalo. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Buffalo on the 1897 USGS mapBuffalo on the 1967 USGS mapBuffalo on the 1986 USGS map1897Tower sheet · 1:125,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Buffalo.

People over time

Buffalo, census by census

01002003001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 268

Peaked at 268 in 1920; 195 people lived here in 2020.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Buffalo’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Buffalo came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Buffalo.

Read it all →

The first settlement at Buffalo was made in 1878. A post office called Buffalo has been in operation since 1883. The city took its name from Buffalo, New York.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Buffalo, 1878 to 1920

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1878
    FoundingBuffalo is established
  3. 1878Post officeThe New Buffalo post office opens
  4. 1883Post officeThe New Buffalo post office closes
  5. 1883Post officeThe Buffalo post office opens
  6. 1897On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  7. 20th century
  8. 1916Built1916 Buffalo High School is built
  9. 1920CensusPopulation peaks at 268
By decade

Buffalo, decade by decade

Today11 recent
Buffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo, North Dakota2009Buffalo, North DakotaBuffalo2009Buffalo
On the National Register

2 historic places in Buffalo

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
2
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
2
each building in a district counts
first listed
1996
Old Stone Church
Old Stone Church1916 Buffalo High School, built 1916
Buildings

Architectural styles listings

Second Gothic Revival1
Classical Revival1
Old Stone ChurchSecond Gothic Revival
1916 Buffalo High SchoolClassical Revival · Built 1916

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Places that used to be

Lost post offices

Buffalo’s post office has been open since 1883. Another post office, New Buffalo, opened and closed inside today’s town.

New Buffalo
1878–1883
Buffalo
1883–today
18701950today

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Buffalo TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townTower TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Buffalo’s history

What year was Buffalo founded?

In 1878, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Buffalo’s post office opened in 1878, and the census of 1890 counted 177 people here.

What is on the National Register in Buffalo?

Two places: the Old Stone Church (listed 1996) and the 1916 Buffalo High School (2001).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (11), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.