Buffalo Gal

It's hard to argue otherwise. At least when it comes to cities.
Consider the tale of the incredible shrinking hometown. When I was in grade school (1970) there were 1.3 million people in the Buffalo/ Niagara Falls area. Almost 8 percent of the population disappeared in the next decade. Between 1980 and 1990, my exit window, another four percent left. Only another 2 percent jumped before the millenium.
For the city itself, ringed in white-flight suburbs, the picture is much worse.
In 1900, the 40 square miles which define Buffalo held the 8th most populous city in the nation with 352,387 residents. We were home to two U.S. presidents and the Pan-American exposition was about to make us the assassination point for a third.
Harvesting the power of Niagara Falls put us at the epicenter of the industrial revolution.
Our architecture today pays large and silent tribute to the unchecked optimism of that time. Mammoth, showy monuments to commerce and the success of that era still dot the downtown, Marvelous mansions still sprinkle the immediate environs.
By 1950, the population jumped to 580,132 -- the 15th largest city in the nation and a center for steel, auto making, grains/ cereals and other big-shouldered industries.
By 2000, 292,648 people remained in my city -- a large percentage urban poor. She ranks 58th in population behind dozens of places that didn't exist in her glory days.
Between 1900 and 2000, the US population tripled. Buffalo lost 60,000 people.
I came back.. and I even brought a guy from St. Louis. We live in a wonderful downtown loft in a renovated old store that would cost double and triple what we pay in other urban centers.
Our daughters remain in the Sunbelt, rightly considering jobs and opportunity before Mom's nostaligic heritage. Living downtown, I see what was and can't help but dream of what could be here.
The other day Charlie and I were stuffing a mailing for the people attending the symphony opener. It says something of the strength of the town that it will still carries a symphony born of the glory days -- and even more that the opener sold out.
I couldn't help but notice a lot of downtown zipcodes. Sure, most of them were legal and financial firms having their tickets sent to the office. But there were others, singles and couples, who actually live in the place too many people think is dead.
Maybe something is happening here.
Or maybe I just really wish it were so.
Copyright 2005 Judi Griggs

Buffalo Gal Judi Griggs I'm a communications professional, writer, cynic, mother, wife and royal pain. The order depends on the day. I returned to my hometown in November 2004 after a couple of decades of heat and hurricanes. I can polish pristine copy, but not here. This is my morning exercise -- 20-minute takes without a net or spellcheck. It's easier than sit ups for me. No guarantee what it will be for you. Clicking on the subscribe link will send you an email notice when each new entry is posted.
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Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (0) Share on Facebook		2005-09-16 7:40 AM Does size matter? It's hard to argue otherwise. At least when it comes to cities. Consider the tale of the incredible shrinking hometown. When I was in grade school (1970) there were 1.3 million people in the Buffalo/ Niagara Falls area. Almost 8 percent of the population disappeared in the next decade. Between 1980 and 1990, my exit window, another four percent left. Only another 2 percent jumped before the millenium. For the city itself, ringed in white-flight suburbs, the picture is much worse. In 1900, the 40 square miles which define Buffalo held the 8th most populous city in the nation with 352,387 residents. We were home to two U.S. presidents and the Pan-American exposition was about to make us the assassination point for a third. Harvesting the power of Niagara Falls put us at the epicenter of the industrial revolution. Our architecture today pays large and silent tribute to the unchecked optimism of that time. Mammoth, showy monuments to commerce and the success of that era still dot the downtown, Marvelous mansions still sprinkle the immediate environs. By 1950, the population jumped to 580,132 -- the 15th largest city in the nation and a center for steel, auto making, grains/ cereals and other big-shouldered industries. By 2000, 292,648 people remained in my city -- a large percentage urban poor. She ranks 58th in population behind dozens of places that didn't exist in her glory days. Between 1900 and 2000, the US population tripled. Buffalo lost 60,000 people. I came back.. and I even brought a guy from St. Louis. We live in a wonderful downtown loft in a renovated old store that would cost double and triple what we pay in other urban centers. Our daughters remain in the Sunbelt, rightly considering jobs and opportunity before Mom's nostaligic heritage. Living downtown, I see what was and can't help but dream of what could be here. The other day Charlie and I were stuffing a mailing for the people attending the symphony opener. It says something of the strength of the town that it will still carries a symphony born of the glory days -- and even more that the opener sold out. I couldn't help but notice a lot of downtown zipcodes. Sure, most of them were legal and financial firms having their tickets sent to the office. But there were others, singles and couples, who actually live in the place too many people think is dead. Maybe something is happening here. Or maybe I just really wish it were so. Copyright 2005 Judi Griggs Read/Post Comments (0) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top