Buffalo, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Buffalo is a town in Putnam County
, West Virginia
, along the Kanawha River
. The population was 1,236 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²). 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (14.55%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,171 people, 490 households, and 338 families residing in Buffalo. The population density
was 828.4 inhabitants per square mile (320.7/km²). There were 559 housing units at an average density of 395.4 per square mile (153.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.18% White, 0.09% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, and 2.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 490 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,481, and the median income for a family was $35,938. Males had a median income of $29,519 versus $16,106 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,005. About 12.8% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
, covering over one million square feet, is located in Buffalo. Transmissions and 4- and 6-cylinder engines are manufactured.
Valley, Buffalo was originally settled by waves of ancient cultures of prehistoric indigenous peoples
. Clovis point
s indicate the presence of inhabitants more than 10,000 years ago. One of the last cultures, that of the Fort Ancient
people, had a few villages such as Buffalo and Marmet
that survived into the time of Europe
an exploration. Archaeologists have found European trade items among Fort Ancient artifacts.
Historic tribes such as the Huron, from the Great Lakes
region, and the Conoy (also spelled Conois and Kanawha) were driven out of the central valley by Iroquois
' invading from their base in present-day western New York
. Many of the Conoy by the early 17th century had resettled on the west side of the Chesapeake Bay
and below the Potomac River
. After decades of encroachment by English colonists, surviving Conoy (also called Piscataway by then) went north to Pennsylvania
and allied with the Susquehannock
and Iroquois.
Note that this is not the site of the 1972 Buffalo Creek Flood
disaster; that occurred near Saunders
, over 50 miles (80.5 km) south of the town of Buffalo.
Putnam County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,589 people, 20,028 households, and 15,281 families residing in the county. The population density was 149 people per square mile . There were 21,621 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, along the Kanawha River
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
. The population was 1,236 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Buffalo is located at 38°37′1"N 81°58′48"W (38.616994, -81.979938).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²). 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (14.55%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,171 people, 490 households, and 338 families residing in Buffalo. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 828.4 inhabitants per square mile (320.7/km²). There were 559 housing units at an average density of 395.4 per square mile (153.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.18% White, 0.09% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, and 2.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 490 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,481, and the median income for a family was $35,938. Males had a median income of $29,519 versus $16,106 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,005. About 12.8% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
Manufacturing
Toyota Manufacturing plantToyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia
Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia is a Toyota Motor Corporation factory in Buffalo, West Virginia. It is estimated to date, the company has spent nearly US$1 billion to build the automobile engine and transmission plant...
, covering over one million square feet, is located in Buffalo. Transmissions and 4- and 6-cylinder engines are manufactured.
History
Along with numerous sites in the Kanawha RiverKanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
Valley, Buffalo was originally settled by waves of ancient cultures of prehistoric indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
. Clovis point
Clovis point
Clovis points are the characteristically-fluted projectile points associated with the North American Clovis culture. They date to the Paleoindian period around 13,500 years ago. Clovis fluted points are named after the city of Clovis, New Mexico, where examples were first found in 1929.At the right...
s indicate the presence of inhabitants more than 10,000 years ago. One of the last cultures, that of the Fort Ancient
Fort Ancient
Fort Ancient is a name for a Native American culture that flourished from 1000-1750 CE among a people who predominantly inhabited land along the Ohio River in areas of modern-day Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Southeastern Indiana and Western West Virginia. They were a maize based agricultural...
people, had a few villages such as Buffalo and Marmet
Marmet, West Virginia
Marmet is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA, along the Kanawha River.-Geography:Marmet is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles , of which, 1.4 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square miles of it is...
that survived into the time of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an exploration. Archaeologists have found European trade items among Fort Ancient artifacts.
Historic tribes such as the Huron, from the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
region, and the Conoy (also spelled Conois and Kanawha) were driven out of the central valley by Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
' invading from their base in present-day western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Many of the Conoy by the early 17th century had resettled on the west side of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
and below the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
. After decades of encroachment by English colonists, surviving Conoy (also called Piscataway by then) went north to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and allied with the Susquehannock
Susquehannock
The Susquehannock people were Iroquoian-speaking Native Americans who lived in areas adjacent to the Susquehanna River and its tributaries from the southern part of what is now New York, through Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Susquehanna in Maryland at the north end of the Chesapeake Bay...
and Iroquois.
Note that this is not the site of the 1972 Buffalo Creek Flood
Buffalo Creek Flood
The Buffalo Creek Flood was a disaster that occurred on February 26, 1972, when the Pittston Coal Company's coal slurry impoundment dam #3, located on a hillside in Logan County, West Virginia, USA, burst four days after having been declared 'satisfactory' by a federal mine inspector.The resulting...
disaster; that occurred near Saunders
Saunders, West Virginia
Saunders is an unincorporated community in Logan County, West Virginia, United States. Saunders is located on County Highway 16 near Buffalo Creek, east-northeast of Man....
, over 50 miles (80.5 km) south of the town of Buffalo.