
courtesy of the New York Public Library
In case it isn’t clear, we don’t own any old maps. We watch for when map owners digitize and upload theirs, then we add links. Links to commercial sites should not be considered endorsements.
Date Range | Name & Link | Description |
---|---|---|
Undated | Street Name Changes in Buffalo | There were a lot of street name changes around the turn of the 20th century. A list courtesy of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. |
1785-1835 | Holland Land Company | Over 1300 full color, hand-drawn maps online here of Buffalo, Erie County, and all of Western New York. Courtesy of SUNY/Fredonia. |
1800 | Plan of New Amsterdam on Lake Erie | Possibly the first map ever drawn of what later became Buffalo |
1800 | Plan of the Village of New Amsterdam | Another rendering of what became Buffalo |
1802 | Original Land Subdivisions in Buffalo | A black & white map showing the names and outlines of large tracts of land in early Buffalo, including the Buffalo Creek reservation |
1802 | Original Land Subdivisions in Buffalo | This map, produced in 1901, takes the tract boundaries shown in the map above and superimposes modern-day city streets over them. Shows the original boundaries of Black Rock. |
1804 | Proposed Plan of Black Rock | Proposed plan of the village at Black Rock |
1804? | Village of New Amsterdam | A color version of Joseph Ellicott’s map |
1804 | Village of New Amsterdam | As designed by Joseph Ellicott, before the name Buffalo stuck |
ca. 1805 | Village of Buffalo | The inner lots, essentially the Niagara Square/Main Street portion of downtown Buffalo |
ca. 1805 | Village of Buffalo | Courtesy of the New York State Archives |
ca. 1810 | Village of Black Rock Prior to War of 1812 | Includes the location of the actual black rock |
1812 | War of 1812 Sites | A Google map of sites in the Buffalo area associated with the War of 1812 |
1813 | Village of Black Rock | Peter Porter’s hand-drawn map showing location of major buildings and the location of the original black rock on the left edge of the image |
1813 | Buffalo Village | Shows buildings and some land owners prior to the burning of Buffalo |
1813 | Map of Burned Buffalo | A diagram of the tiny village of Buffalo that was burned during the War of 1812. Includes buildings. |
1813 | Battle of Buffalo: Buildings Destroyed and Burnt | A contemporary map of downtown Buffalo with an overlay of the buildings that were burned during the War of 1812 |
1814 | Niagara River | Shows “Buffaloe Creek” and Black Rock |
1822 | Plan of Inner Lots, 206-214 | On the Buffalo Creek |
1826 | Plan for Locating Public Lands on the Margin of Black Rock Harbor | Courtesy of the New York State Archives |
1827 | South Village of Black Rock | Courtesy of the New York State Archives |
1829 | Black Rock | Part of the Niagara River and plan of the proposed harbor at Black Rock |
1829 | Niagara River | Shows Unity (formerly Squaw) Island and harbor at Black Rock |
1830s-1864 | Underground Railroad | A modern Google map by this webmaster showing Underground Railroad sites in Buffalo, according to period sources |
1834 | Erie Canal Surveys | Maps of the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Royalton, brought to you by the New York State Archives |
1835 | Black Rock | Southwest of Fort Porter. Courtesy of the New York State Archives |
1836 | Village of Black Rock | Courtesy of the New York State Archives |
1836 | Buffalo | Shows ward boundaries for the 1840 and 1850 censuses. By W.B. Gilbert. |
1836 | Buffalo | Same as above, with greater zoom & download sizes. Courtesy of the NY Public Library. |
1838 | Buffalo | An interesting negative (white on black background) map of the downtown area |
1840 | Map of the vicinity of Buffalo | Bathymetric map of the harbor. Courtesy of the NY Public Library |
ca. 1840? | Niagara River | Shows proposed bridge crossings and ship canal at Buffalo |
1841 | Buffalo Creek Reservation | A basic outline map showing the changing boundaries of the Seneca territory |
1842 | Buffalo Creek Reservation | Shows part of the reservation territory north of the Buffalo River |
1846 | Black Rock Village | Shows the lots along the Niagara River south of Albany Street. Courtesy of the New York State Archives |
1849 | Buffalo | Includes ward boundaries for the 1840 & 1850 censuses. Look for numbers 1-5 and subtle dotted lines |
1851 | Buffalo | Shows lot lines, lot numbers, acreages, and street names. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. |
1853 | Buffalo Harbor | A bird’s eye view of the foot of Main Street |
1854 | Buffalo Harbor | Shows the breakwater and water depths |
1854 | Quackenboss & Kennedy Atlas | Downtown Buffalo only. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. |
1855 | Buffalo | Oddly printed with the Niagara River flowing east-west, but shows ward boundaries |
1855-1890 | Ward Map of Buffalo for Census Years 1855-1890 | Title is self-explanatory |
1858? | Niagara River at the City of Buffalo Shewing Proposed Bridge Crossings & Ship Canal | Shows a portion of the Niagara River beginning at Lake Erie and ending at Squaw Island (now called Unity Island). Includes the Black Rock Harbor. |
Ca. 1860 | State Land in Buffalo | Niagara River from York to Ferry Streets, including Fort Porter. Courtesy of the New York State Archives |
1863 | Bird’s Eye View of the City of Buffalo | Photos of an enormous lithograph in the “Neighbors” exhibit at The Buffalo History Museum. Shows individual buildings. |
1866 | Buffalo | From the Stone & Stewart Atlas of Erie County. Shows some buildings as tiny black squares or undifferentiated blocks. |
1866 | Buffalo | Same as above, only this version is available as a reprint |
1866 | Buffalo | From the Stone & Stewart Atlas of Erie County. This site sells reproductions of the plates. |
1866 | Buffalo River | Shows Buffalo River with an overlay of a modern aerial photograph |
ca. 1870 | Buffalo Psychiatric Center, Plan of Grounds | As designed by Olmsted & Vaux for what we now call the Richardson complex |
ca. 1870 | Delaware Park | Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1870-1899 | Front Park | 39 drawings & plans. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1872 | New York State Asylum for the Insane | Now called the Richardson-Olmsted complex. 25 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1872 | Cornelius Creek | The now-buried stream is shown with an overlay of a modern aerial photo |
1872 | Hopkins Atlas of Buffalo | This is the first atlas to show footprints of buildings for the entire city of Buffalo. Courtesy of the NY Public Library. |
1872 | Hopkins Atlas of Buffalo | This site sells reproductions of the plates. |
1874 | North Street Circle | Now Symphony Circle. 4 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
ca. 1875 | Improvement of Batavia Street | Now Broadway at Lafayette Square. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
ca. 1875 | Lafayette Square | 2 drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
ca. 1875 | Parkside neighborhood | 37 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1876 | Prospect Place | Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1876 | Refectory at the Parade | Now Martin Luther King Park. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1878-1879 | Delaware Park | 10 drawings & plans. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1880 | Buffalo Ward Map | Shows names of large landowners. Reproduced from the Beers Atlas of Erie County. Courtesy of the NY Public Library. |
1880 | Buffalo Parks | A schematic map showing the street grid but not street names, with the Olmsted park system in contrasting black |
1880 | Bird’s Eye View of Buffalo | An artist’s conception showing downtown in the foreground |
1881 | Olmsted’s Sketch map of Buffalo | Buffalo’s park system as planned by Olmsted |
1881 | Olmsted’s Sketch Map of Buffalo | Same as above, but with greater zoom & download capability. Courtesy of the NY Public Library. |
1882 | Buffalo Harbor and Head of Niagara River | From House Document 72, 55th Congress, 1st Session |
1883-1887 | Terrace Park | 5 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1884 | Trunk Sewer Line in Buffalo | Map showing new underground sewer system |
1884 | Western Terminus of the Erie Canal | The Canal District with a modern aerial photograph superimposed on it |
1887 | Bennett Park | 5 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1887 | Day’s Park | 3 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1887 | Masten Place | 5 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1887-1895 | South Park | 114 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1888 | All Roads Will Lead to Buffalo in September | BIrd’s eye view to promote the International Industrial Fair |
1889 | City of Buffalo | Street map by Rand McNally |
1890s-1940s | Sanborn Maps | Show individual buildings. Multiple volumes are now online courtesy of the Library of Congress. |
1891 | Addition to the Front | 4 drawings & plans. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1891 | City of Buffalo | From Atlas of the World |
1891 | City of Buffalo atlas | The entire G.M. Hopkins atlas. Shows individual buildings. |
1892 | City of Buffalo | From The Indexed Atlas of the World |
1892-1896 | Cazenovia Park | 13 drawings & plans. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1893 | Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, and Buffalo atlas | The entire atlas by G.M. Hopkins. Shows individual buildings. Images are zoomable and can be purchased as reproductions. |
1893 | City of Buffalo | The Buffalo map from the G.M. Hopkins Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, and Buffalo atlas. Shows ward boundaries. Can be purchased as a reproduction. |
1893 | Christian Homestead Association Map | This is the notorious “brothel map” of Buffalo’s Canal District. Courtesy of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. |
1894 | City of Buffalo Atlas | All 3 volumes are online, courtesy of the County of Erie. Each volume has a clickable map to open the matching page in the atlas. Shows individual buildings. |
1894 | City of Buffalo | Shows ward boundaries |
1894-1899 | Jones Tract | Now called Riverside Park. 19 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1895 | Buffalo Ward Map | Full color sheet map published by Joseph Rudolph Bien. Courtesy of David Rumsey. |
1895 | Buffalo Ward Map | Same as above, brought to you by Historic Maps Restored. Available as a reprint. |
1895 | Buffalo | By Rand McNally & Company |
1895 | Borings for Natural Gas in the City of Buffalo | From the New York State Museum 49th Annual Report of 1895 |
1896 | Buffalo | From Cram’s Universal Atlas Geographical, Astronomical and Historical |
1897 | Buffalo | From a Rand McNally’s Atlas of the World |
1897-1902 | Delaware Park | 49 plans & drawings. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1897 | Good Roads, Buffalo Section | A bicycling guidebook with maps |
1898 | Buffalo | From Cram’s Universal Atlas, Geographical, Astronomical and Historical |
1898 | Main Portion of Buffalo | From Rand McNally and Company |
1900 | City of Buffalo | From Universal Atlas of the World |
1900 | City of Buffalo | Another copy from Universal Atlas of the World |
1900 | Lake Erie Entrance to Black Rock Harbor and Erie Basin | From U.S. House of Representatives, 56th Congress, 1st Session, Doc. No. 143 |
1901 | Buffalo | From Rand McNally’s Enlarged Business Atlas and Shippers Guide |
1901 | Buffalo | Another map from Rand McNally, fully zoomable |
1901 | Buffalo Church Map | A 1901 map recreated as a Google Map. Churches are color-coded by denomination, some with pictures. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. |
1901 | New Map of the City of Buffalo | Shows the Pan American Exposition grounds in relation to the rest of the city. By George Cram. |
1901 | New Map of the City of Buffalo | Same as above, courtesy of the Boston Public Library. |
1901 | Pan-American Exposition Grounds | A large-scale, detailed black & while map |
1901 | Pan-American Exposition Grounds | A rendering in black, white, and red |
1901 | Pan-American Exposition Grounds | Another color rendering |
1901 | Pan-American Exposition Grounds | A bird’s eye view in full color |
1901 & later | Pan-American Exposition Grounds and Neighborhood Overlay | Shows the Pan Am grounds with an overlay of the streets that were built there after the Exposition |
1901 & later | Pan-American Exposition Then and Now | Shows the Pan Am grounds with an overlay of the streets that were built there after the Exposition, courtesy of the Buffalo History Museum. The Temple of Music and the New York State Building are highlighted in yellow. |
1901 & 1926 | 1926 Aerial Photo Superimposed on the Map of the Pan-American Exposition | A cool animation that shows a small section of the Exposition map morphing into an aerial photograph from 1926 |
1901 & 2007 | Pan-American Exposition | A map of the grounds superimposed on a modern aerial photograph |
1901-1999 | Black Businesses in 20th Century Buffalo | A Google map of Black-owned businesses in mid-20th century Buffalo. Compiled by The Buffalo History Museum in 2020. |
1902 | Bird’s Eye View of Buffalo | Zoom in and see individual buildings! Expect artistic shortcuts–the artist couldn’t go and sketch every single factory, house, and shed. But still impressive. |
1905 | City of Buffalo | From Enlarged Business Atlas and Shippers Guide |
ca. 1905 | Humboldt Park/Martin Luther King Park | 18 plans & drawings. As designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Courtesy of the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site. |
1906 | Geological Map of Buffalo | “Typical geologic map with fine detail including details of Buffalo city proper and cross section printed perpendicular to map along edge.” |
1907 | Buffalo | From Cram’s Standard American Atlas |
1907 | Buffalo | From Dodd, Mead & Co.’s International Encyclopedia |
1909 | Buffalo | Another version from Baedeker’s Guide |
1909 | Buffalo Ward Map | From the Century Atlas of Erie County |
1911 | Buffalo | From Rand McNally’s Indexed Atlas |
1912 | Buffalo | From The Library Atlas of the World |
1912 | Buffalo | From The Rand McNally Imperial Atlas of the World |
1914 | Buffalo River Area | Shows the downtown and South Buffalo area from roughly Tupper Street to the Buffalo River |
1915 | New Century Atlas, vol. 1 | Covers Buffalo downtown and north of downtown, shows individual buildings & names of some land owners |
1915 | New Century Atlas, vol. 1 | Same as above, courtesy of the NY Public Library |
1915 | New Century Atlas, vol. 2 | Covers Buffalo south of downtown, shows individual buildings & names of some land owners |
1915 | New Century Atlas, vol.2 | Same as above, courtesy of the NY Public Library |
1916 | Buffalo | In two sections. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. |
1916 | Up-to-Date Map of Buffalo | By Matthews-Northrup, courtesy of the Boston Public Library |
1917 | Buffalo | A street map produced for the 1917 Buffalo city directory. Courtesy of the NY State Archives. You may need to disable your pop-up blocker. |
1916 | Buffalo | From the Commercial Atlas of America |
ca. 1920 | Railroad Map of Buffalo | Shows “pre-merger” railroad lines along the Niagara River and in Buffalo |
1920 | Extension of City Limits | Shows how the city expanded over time |
1920-1923 | Prohibition Raids in Buffalo & Erie County | A Google map with 650 addresses. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum, compiled in 2019 |
1921 | Buffalo | From Gazetteer of Cities and Towns of the World |
1922 | Plan of Buffalo | Very few street names are shown, but parks and major traffic routes are color-coded. |
1925 | Buffalo | From the Commercial Atlas of America |
1925 | Plan of Elevators, Mills, Warehouses, Yards and Docks of the Washburn-Crosby Company and Frontier Elevator & Mill Co. | A black & white rendering of grain elevators courtesy of the Library of Congress |
1927 to the present | Buffalo: World Capital of Drivers Hitting Buildings | Added for sheer silliness. |
1920s-1950s | Buffalo Movie Theaters | Hand drawn by Carl Zoschke |
1932 | Buffalo Property Values | Color-coded. By Curtis Pub. Co. |
1935 | Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority | Maps of the spatial distribution of ethnic & immigrant groups; population density; crime, juvenile delinquency, venereal disease; and other social conditions. Includes a ward map. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. |
1935 | International Railway Co. Street Car and Bus Routes | Shows trolley and bus routes in Buffalo |
1935-1940 | Redlining Map of Buffalo | Scan, shape file, and neighborhood narratives are downloadable here |
1938 | Buffalo Police Precincts | Title is self-explanatory. |
1940 | Buffalo | Scanned in four sections |
1945-1970 | Buffalo Jazz Clubs, 1945-1970 | A Google Map courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum, compiled in 2012 |
1950 | Downtown Buffalo | Shows the property owners in downtown Buffalo just before the advent of Urban Removal and surface parking blight |
1950 | Historic USGS Maps | Focuses on railroads in Buffalo |
1950s | New York Central Trackage in, Buffalo | Includes the New York Central Terminal |
1982 | Buffalo, New York and Vicinity Railroads & Industries | Very detailed |
1984 | Buffalo Central Terminal | Sanborn maps of the entire complex |
1984 | Bethlehem Steel | Maps of the complex in Lackawanna |
1987 | Buffalo Zoning Map | In four sections and in black & white. Courtesy of the University at Buffalo. Now out of date. |
2000 | Average Housing Age Distribution | Shows age of Buffalo houses based on census figures but does not make distinctions among houses older than 50 years, which is most of the city |
2003 | Downtown Buffalo Parking Lots and Ramps | Contrary to the popular imagination, there is so much parking downtown that there is little to do BUT park. Scroll down for map. |
2004 | Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood | Shows house lots but not buildings. A PDF. |
2004 | Triangle Neighborhood | South Park-Abbott Rd area in South Buffalo. Shows house lots but not buildings. A PDF. |
2010 | Buffalo Neighborhood Map | Courtesy of the University at Buffalo |
2011 | Buffalo Common Council Districts | A PDF |
2015? | Buffalo High Schools | A Google map courtesy of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library |
2016 | Grover Cleveland Sites | A Google map of places in Buffalo where Grover Cleveland lived, worked, and spent leisure time. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. |
2017 | Buffalo Grain Elevators | A Google map of grain elevators, past and present. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. |
2017 | Historic Markers | A Google map of historic markers in Buffalo and Erie County. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. |
2017 | Local Landmarks & HIstoric Districts | A very detailed PDF courtesy of Preservation Buffalo Niagara. |
2018 | Buffalo Drinking Map | A Google map of breweries, distilleries, wineries, malt houses, and cider houses, past and present, in Buffalo and Erie County. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. |
2018 | Frank Lloyd Wright in Western New York | A Google map of sites associated with the architect |
2018 | Landmarks & Historic Districts | A color-coded PDF showing if your address is in a designated landmark district. Courtesy of Preservation Buffalo Niagara. |
2018 to present | Little Libraries | Unofficial Google map of Little Libraries (LLs) in Buffalo & Erie County. Most are not registered & don’t appear on the official Little Free Library map. Locations are color-coded by city & town. |
2019 | Religious Centers of Western New York | A map of current churches, mosques, synagogues, and other houses of worship |
2019 | Women’s History | A Google map of sites in Buffalo & Erie County associated with women. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. |
2020 | Erie County Cemeteries | A Google map of cemeteries & burial grounds in Buffalo and Erie County, past and present. Courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. |
2020 | African-American Churches in Buffalo | A Google map courtesy of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library |
2020 | Landgrid: Buffalo | Mouse over any parcel and it shows you the current owner. Also shows a photo which may not be accurate. |
Since you read this far, here’s an appreciation of Buffalo’s cartographers (mapmakers).
Update, Dec. 8, 2020: All links open in new tabs