Buffalo  is a city in Western New York and the seat of Erie County, on the eastern shores of Lake Erie at the head of the Niagara River. As of 2014, Buffalo is the state’s second most populous city after New York City with 258,703 residents, and with a population of 1.13 million, the metropolitan area is the 50th largest in the United States.

Buffalo grew significantly in the 19th and 20th centuries as a result of the Erie Canal, railroads and Lake Erie, providing an abundance of fresh water and an ample trade route to the Midwestern United States, while grooming its economy for the grain, steel and automobile industries during the 20th century. After an economic downturn in the latter half of the 20th century, Buffalo’s economy has transitioned to sectors that include financial services, technology, biomedical and education.

Residents of Buffalo are called “Buffalonians”. The city’s nicknames include “The Queen City”, “The Nickel City”, and “The City of Good Neighbors”.