Buford, Georgia | |
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City | |
 Main Street | |
 Show Buford Show Gwinnett County Show Georgia Show the United States | |
  Buford Location inMetro Atlanta | |
| Coordinates:34°08′11″N84°01′59″W / 34.13639°N 84.03306°W /34.13639; -84.03306 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Counties | Gwinnett,Hall |
| Incorporated | August 24, 1872; 153 years ago (1872-08-24) |
| Named after | Algernon Sidney Buford |
| Area | |
• Total | 18.22 sq mi (47.18 km2) |
| • Land | 18.13 sq mi (46.96 km2) |
| • Water | 0.085 sq mi (0.22 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,053 ft (321 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,144 |
| • Density | 945.5/sq mi (365.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 30515, 30518, 30519 |
| Area codes | 770,678 |
| FIPS code | 13-11784[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403950[2] |
| Website | www |
Buford is a city inGwinnett andHall counties in the U.S. state ofGeorgia. As of the2020 census, the city had a population of 17,144. Most of the city is in Gwinnett County, which is part of theAtlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area. The northern sliver of the city is in Hall County, which comprises theGainesville, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area and is part of the larger Atlanta-Athens-Clarke-Sandy SpringsCombined Statistical Area.
The city was founded in 1872 after a railroad was built in the area connectingCharlotte, North Carolina, withAtlanta. Buford was named afterAlgernon Sidney Buford, who at the time was president of theAtlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway. The city's leather industry, led by theBona Allen Company, as well as its location as a railway stop, caused the population to expand during the early 1900s until after theGreat Depression had ended.
The city has its own school district, theBuford City School District, and has been the birthplace and home of several musicians and athletes. Various tourist locations, including museums and community centers, the largest mall in the state of Georgia, theMall of Georgia, andLake Lanier Islands are in the Buford region.
Buford appears in historical records beginning in the early 19th century. The area that is now Buford was originally part ofCherokee territory. Despite the treaty in 1817 that ceded the territory to the United States and Gwinnett County's legislative establishment in 1818, the area was still largely inhabited by the Cherokee until the 1830s.[4] The first non-Native Americans moved to the Buford area in the late 1820s or early 1830s, although the Buford area was not largely settled by them until the 1860s.[4]
During thepost-Civil War construction of the extendedRichmond and Danville Railroad System in 1865, railroad stockholders Thomas Garner and Larkin Smith purchased land around the railroad'sright-of-way and began developing the city of Buford.[4][5][6] The city was named afterAlgernon Sidney Buford, who was president of theAtlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway during the railroad's construction.[6][7] The town began rapidly expanding around the railway after its completion in 1871,[4] and it was incorporated as the Town of Buford on August 24, 1872,[8] and renamed the City of Buford in 1896.[7]
In the late 1800s and early 1900s Buford became widely known for its leather production, becoming prominently associated with the leather industry and earning the nickname "The Leather City".[9] Buford became a large producer of leather products, including saddles,horse collars,bridles, and shoes. Buford's leather industry began with a leatherworker named R.H. Allen[10] opening a harness shop and tannery[11] in 1868, three years before the completion of the railway and the founding of Buford.[12] R.H. Allen's brother Bona Allen moved to Buford fromRome, Georgia, in 1872 and founded theBona Allen Company the following year.[13] The leather industry quickly became the city's largest industry despite setbacks from several fires,[11] including a fire in 1903 that destroyed the buildings of several businesses[14] and a fire in 1906 that destroyed a straw storehouse and nearly destroyed the city's harness and horse collar factory.[15]
Bona Allen saddles were available through theSears mail order catalog,[12] and many Hollywood actors used saddles made by the Bona Allen Company, including cowboy actors[16]Gene Autry, the cast ofBonanza, andRoy Rogers, who used a Bona Allen saddle on his horseTrigger.[11] A statue of Roy Rogers and a Bona Allen saddle-maker saddling Trigger is located in downtown Buford.[11] The Bona Allen Company thrived during the Great Depression in the 1930s, likely as a result of the Depression forcing farmers to choose horses over expensive tractors, thereby increasing the demand for saddles, collars, bridles, and other leather products.[11]
The Bona Allen Company constructed Tannery Row in downtown Buford as a shoe factory in 1919.[16] After a brief employeestrike the shoe factory was closed in 1942, although it was briefly reopened by the request of the federal government during World War II to make footwear for the military. Afterwards, the factory closed in 1945.[13] In 2003 Tannery Row became home to the Tannery Row Artist Colony, which houses galleries and studios for artists.[17]
After the Great Depression the use of horses for farming decreased and tractors took their place, and the Bona Allen Company steadily downsized until the tannery was eventually sold to theTandy Corporation in 1968.[12] Buford's leather industry ended after the tannery experienced a fire in 1981, when the Tandy Corporation decided not to rebuild the tannery and closed the facility.[11]
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Buford is located in both northern Gwinnett County in northern Georgia, with a small portion extending north into Hall County. The city is a suburb within the Atlanta metropolitan area. According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2010 the city has a total land area of 17.09 square miles (44.26 km2), of which 17.01 square miles (44.06 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.20 km2), or 0.44%, is water.[18] The city's elevation is 1,183 feet (361 m).[19]
Buford's city limits are 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of theEastern Continental Divide.[20] Ridge Road, part of which uses Buford as a mailing address, runs along the Eastern Continental Divide,[21] although the road itself is outside the city limits. Buford's primary water supply comes fromLake Lanier[22] an impoundment on theChattahoochee River.[23]
The climate of Buford, as with most of the southeastern United States, ishumid subtropical (Cfa) according to theKöppen classification,[24] with four seasons including hot, humid summers and cool winters. July is generally the warmest month of the year with an average high of around 87 °F (31 °C). The coldest month is January which has an average high of around 50 °F (10 °C).[25] The highest recorded temperature was 107 °F (42 °C) in 1952, while the lowest recorded temperature was −8 °F (−22 °C) in 1985.[25]
Buford receives rainfall distributed fairly evenly throughout the year as typical of southeastern U.S. cities, with February on average having the highest average precipitation at 5.3 inches (130 mm), and April typically being the driest month with 3.7 inches (94 mm).[25]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 896 | — | |
| 1890 | 496 | −44.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,352 | 172.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,683 | 24.5% | |
| 1920 | 2,500 | 48.5% | |
| 1930 | 3,357 | 34.3% | |
| 1940 | 4,191 | 24.8% | |
| 1950 | 3,812 | −9.0% | |
| 1960 | 4,168 | 9.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,640 | 11.3% | |
| 1980 | 6,578 | 41.8% | |
| 1990 | 8,771 | 33.3% | |
| 2000 | 10,668 | 21.6% | |
| 2010 | 12,225 | 14.6% | |
| 2020 | 17,144 | 40.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[26] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 8,431 | 49.18% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,301 | 13.42% |
| Native American | 24 | 0.14% |
| Asian | 1,012 | 5.9% |
| Pacific Islander | 13 | 0.08% |
| Other/Mixed | 716 | 4.18% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 4,647 | 27.11% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 17,144 people, 5,003 households, and 3,607 families residing in the city.
Buford, as with the rest of Gwinnett County, has a sales tax of 6%, which is a combination of the 4% state sales tax and a 2% local tax.[28] In 2008,CNN Money ranked Buford as number 3 in its annual "100 best places to live and start a business" list.[29]
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Buford's economy was centered on both its location as a railway stop and its leather industry, until demand for leather declined and other transportation options became more readily available over the course of the 1900s, and these industries were no longer a viable part of Buford's economy by the 1980s.[4]
According to theU.S. Census'sAmerican Community Survey 2007–2011 5-year estimate, around 65% of Buford's population that are 16 years or older are in thelabor force.[30] Of these, around 59% are employed, and 6% are unemployed. The power tool manufacturerMakita operates a factory in Buford with 400 employees.[31] The North American division ofTakeuchi Manufacturing was located in Buford from 1999[32] until 2006, when the company moved to a larger facility inPendergrass, Georgia.[33]
Buford has several walking trails throughout the city; over 7 miles (11 km) of trails are accessible from both the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center and the Mall of Georgia[34] including a portion of theIvy Creek Greenway, which runs through the city.[35][36] Buford has walking trails at Bogan andBuford Dam parks. Bogan Park also has several baseball fields and playgrounds as well as the Bogan Park Community Center and Family Aquatics Center.[37] Buford Dam Park is next toLake Lanier and has areas for swimming and other recreational activities.[38] In addition to the parks run by Gwinnett County there are five city parks located throughout Buford,[39] and a community center, which was completed in early 2012.[40][41]
The southern part ofLake Sidney Lanier[42] and theLake Lanier Islands are also located in Buford.[43]
TheMall of Georgia is the largest mall in Georgia and the 36th largest in the United States,[44] with over 200 stores and a 20 Regal Cinema and IMAX Theaters. While outside the official Buford city limits, the mall uses Buford as its mailing address.[45]
The City of Buford is governed by a three-personcity commission government[46] headed by a Commission Chairman. Phillip Beard has served as Buford's Commission Chairman since 1975.[47] When the Town of Buford was incorporated in 1872, a city commission consisting of six commissioners was established to govern the town.[48] When a newcity charter was enacted in 1896 that renamed the Town of Buford to the City of Buford, the city commission was replaced with amayor and sixcouncilmen.[49] The city council governed the City of Buford until a new charter was approved on December 24, 1937, that re-established the city commission government.[50]
The area of Buford inside Gwinnett County is part ofGeorgia's 7th congressional district[51][52] while the Hall County portions of Buford belong toGeorgia's 9th congressional district.[51][53] For the state government, the city is part of theGeorgia State Senate's 45th and 49th districts, and the 97th, 98th, and 103rd districts for theGeorgia House of Representatives.[51]
TheBuford City School District has jurisdiction for residents that live within the city limits,[54] whileGwinnett County Public Schools andHall County Public Schools operate schools for residents that live outside of the city limits.[55][56][57] The Buford City School District operates three elementary schools, Buford Academy, Buford Senior Academy, and Buford Elementary, as well as Buford Middle School andBuford High School.[58]
The Buford-Sugar Hill Branch of theGwinnett County Public Library is located in Buford.[59][60]
TheGwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center is a museum and cultural center completed in August 2006[61] and is located in Buford.[62] The center was created to educate children about both water and environmental resources[61] as well as Gwinnett's cultural heritage, including the county's Cherokee and Creek cultures.[62] The Chesser-Williams House, a historic home which is believed to predate the 1850s and one of the oldest wooden-frame houses in Gwinnett county, was moved to the museum to become part of the museum's cultural exhibits.[63]
Buford Community Center is a multi-purpose facility that was completed in 2012.[64] Located across the street from Buford City Hall, the Buford Community Center has a museum,[65] 290-seatstage theatre, an outdooramphitheater, and several spaces for meetings, banquets, and weddings.[66]
As part of the Metro Atlanta area, Buford's primary network-affiliated television stations areWXIA-TV (NBC),WANF (CBS),WSB-TV (ABC), andWAGA-TV (Fox).[67]WGTV is the local station of the statewideGeorgia Public Television network and is aPBS member station.[68]
Buford is served by theGwinnett Daily Post, which is the most widely distributed newspaper in Buford as well as Gwinnett county's legal organ.[69] TheAtlanta Journal-Constitution,Gainesville Times, andNorth Gwinnett Voice are also distributed in Buford. During the late 1800s, the city of Buford had a number of local newspapers including the BufordGazette and the BufordHerald, none of which gained consistent widespread use in the city.[4] The weekly Gwinnett Herald served Buford until 1885.[70]
Several movies have been filmed in and around Buford including the 2010 filmKillers,[71]Need for Speed,Blended,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory andA Simple Twist of Fate.[72]
Two majorinterstate highways pass through Buford:Interstate 85[73] andInterstate 985[74] both travel through the city in a general northeast–southwest direction.[75] Buford is Exit 115 on I-85 and Exit 4 on I-985.[76]Georgia State Route 20 travels through Buford in a general northwest–southeast direction.U.S. Route 23 travels northeast into Buford before first merging with State Route 20 towards the southeast and then with I-985 towards the northeast.[75]
TheGwinnett County Transit provides public transportation in Buford and Gwinnett County, andGRTA Xpress operates aPark and Ride in Buford that commutes to Atlanta.[77]
As late as 1971 theSouthern Railway'sPiedmont made a southbound stop in Buford on a Washington-Atlanta running passenger run.[78] Until 1967 or 1968 the Southern Railway was running an unnamed northbound successor train to itsPeach Queen that made a flag stop in Buford.[79][80]
The nearest airport is theGwinnett County Airport in the city of Lawrenceville, a small public airport with a singleasphalt runway 14 miles (23 km) from Buford. The closest major airports areHartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is 48 miles (77 km) from Buford andAthens Ben Epps Airport, which is 53 miles (85 km).[81]
Buford has several clinics and family doctors, including anEmory Healthcare clinic[82] and aNorthside Hospital imaging center,[83] but no major hospitals inside the city limits.[84] The closest hospital isNorthside Hospital-Forsyth, which is 9 miles (14 km) away inCumming.[85]Gwinnett Medical Center and Emory Johns Creek Hospital are both 12 miles (19 km) from Buford, inLawrenceville[86] andJohns Creek[87] respectively. Northeast Georgia Health System has a hospital inGainesville andBraselton.[88]
Buford is home to several Atlanta Falcons players, includingdefensive tackleCorey Peters[89] andcornerbackChris Owens.[90] Former Falcons playersJeff Merrow, who played for the Falcons from 1975 to 1983, also lives in Buford, andScott Case, a formerNFLdefensive back from 1984 to 1995 for the Falcons and Dallas Cowboys, also lives in Buford.[91] Other athletes who live in Buford include retired hockey playerRandy Manery, professionaldrag racing driverKurt Johnson, and professional baseball pitcherJon Huber. Professional baseball playerJerry McQuaig died in 2001.Roy Carlyle, who was aMajor League Baseballoutfielder between 1925 and 1926 for the Washington Senators (1925), Boston Red Sox (1925–26), and New York Yankees (1926), was born in Buford. Soccer playerLuke Biasi was also born here.[92]
Several professional athletes have graduated from Buford High School, includingwide receiverP. K. Sam and his younger brotherquarterbackLorne Sam, as well as professionalWNBA playerChristi Thomas.Brownie Wise, saleswoman largely responsible for the success ofTupperware, was born in Buford, as was semi-retiredprofessional wrestler andtrainerSteve Lawler.
Several musicians live in Buford, includingWidespread Panic guitaristJimmy Herring[93] andDe'Angelo Holmes of the hip-hop duoYing Yang Twins. Grammy Award-winning songwriterJoe South lived in Buford before his death on September 5, 2012.
Back in the early seventies Mr. Allen, in a humble way, began the manufacture of saddles...and gradually the business has grown, until today it is one of the most important establishments in the South, and Buford is known far and wide because of the creative ideas of this splendid builder.
...Buford Volunteer Fire Department saved Buford from having a very disastrous fire Saturday night, when the straw house of R. H. Allen burned to the ground.
Municipalities and communities ofGwinnett County, Georgia,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofHall County, Georgia,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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