Buffalo, Oklahoma

In 1907, the town was "staked out" and a post office was established with the name Buffalo, which was derived from nearby Buffalo Creek. In 1908, a county seat election gave the seat to Buffalo and the town was incorporated in the same year.[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/B/BU004.html Bamburg, Maxine. "Buffalo," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608022947/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/B/BU004.html |date=June 8, 2009 }} Buffalo's founders issued instructions for all buildings to be built of stone, thereby many of those structures survived the test of time.

When citizens of Harper County decided to link their county seat with the railroads,{{cite web|url= http://genealogytrails.com/oka/harper/countyhistory.html |title=Harper County, Oklahoma, County History|publisher=GenealogyTrails|accessdate=November 15, 2021}} they created the Buffalo and Northwestern Railroad, which arrived in Buffalo in May 1920.{{cite web|url= https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=BU004 |title=Buffalo|publisher=Maxine Bamburg, Oklahoma Historical Society|accessdate=November 15, 2021}} However, that trackage was abandoned in 1982,{{cite web|url= http://www.abandonedrails.com/buffalo-district |title=The Buffalo District|publisher=AbandonedRails.com|accessdate=November 15, 2021}} and Buffalo currently has no rail service.{{cite web|url= https://www.brokenarrowedc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/State-Rail-Map-2018-2020.pdf |title=Oklahoma 2018-2020 State Railroad Map|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation|accessdate=October 22, 2021}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, Buffalo has a total area of {{convert|0.8|sqmi|km2}}, all land. The city lies in the northwestern corner of Oklahoma at the Panhandle's eastern entrance, along U.S. routes 64/183, {{convert|12| miles|km}} south of the Kansas state line. It is {{convert|30|miles|km}} northeast of the Texas state line and {{convert|174| miles|km}} northwest of Oklahoma City.

Doby Springs Park and Campgrounds, located about 11 miles west,{{cite web|url= https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Doby+Springs+Park,+Laverne,+OK/Buffalo,+OK+73834/@36.8417138,-99.7731129,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x87a88398ea7f6bb7:0x84810b510cd8dcf7!2m2!1d-99.7748397!2d36.8288282!1m5!1m1!1s0x87a89ea43a77c2db:0xa13ef98b1abc1522!2m2!1d-99.6303972!2d36.8355869 |title=Doby Springs Park to Buffalo, Oklahoma|publisher=Google Maps|accessdate=August 20, 2021}} includes a fishing lake, camping sites, a playground, and nature trails along rolling canyons.{{cite web|url= http://www.buffalooklahoma.com/OutdoorRecreation.html |title=Outdoor Recreation|publisher=Town of Buffalo, Oklahoma|accessdate=August 20, 2021}}{{cite web|url= https://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.2265 |title= Doby Springs Municipal Golf Course & Recreation Park|publisher=TravelOK.com|accessdate=August 20, 2021}} The complex also has a PGA-rated 9-hole golf course.

While not the snowiest location in Oklahoma ranked by highest annual average snowfall, Buffalo has the distinction of holding the State snowfall record over 24 hours, being 23” which fell February 21, 1971.{{cite web|url= http://www.coolweather.net/staterainfall/oklahoma.htm |title= Oklahoma Annual Rainfall and Climate Data|publisher=CoolWeather.net|accessdate=April 8, 2021}}

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Buffalo, Oklahoma (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1907–2011)

| Jan record high F = 87

| Feb record high F = 92

| Mar record high F = 99

| Apr record high F = 105

| May record high F = 108

| Jun record high F = 115

| Jul record high F = 115

| Aug record high F = 115

| Sep record high F = 112

| Oct record high F = 102

| Nov record high F = 93

| Dec record high F = 89

| year record high F =

| Jan avg record high F = 73.5

| Feb avg record high F = 78.6

| Mar avg record high F = 86.2

| Apr avg record high F = 92.2

| May avg record high F = 98.0

| Jun avg record high F = 103.1

| Jul avg record high F = 107.4

| Aug avg record high F = 107.1

| Sep avg record high F = 101.6

| Oct avg record high F = 93.2

| Nov avg record high F = 82.1

| Dec avg record high F = 71.4

| year avg record high F = 109.7

| Jan high F = 47.3

| Feb high F = 52.3

| Mar high F = 60.8

| Apr high F = 70.1

| May high F = 79.0

| Jun high F = 88.4

| Jul high F = 94.3

| Aug high F = 93.6

| Sep high F = 84.8

| Oct high F = 72.0

| Nov high F = 58.9

| Dec high F = 47.0

| year high F = 70.7

| Jan mean F = 34.1

| Feb mean F = 38.4

| Mar mean F = 46.5

| Apr mean F = 56.0

| May mean F = 66.0

| Jun mean F = 76.0

| Jul mean F = 81.3

| Aug mean F = 80.4

| Sep mean F = 71.4

| Oct mean F = 58.5

| Nov mean F = 45.4

| Dec mean F = 34.5

| year mean F = 57.4

| Jan low F = 20.8

| Feb low F = 24.5

| Mar low F = 32.2

| Apr low F = 41.9

| May low F = 53.0

| Jun low F = 63.6

| Jul low F = 68.2

| Aug low F = 67.2

| Sep low F = 58.1

| Oct low F = 45.0

| Nov low F = 31.9

| Dec low F = 22.0

| year low F = 44.0

| Jan avg record low F = 5.3

| Feb avg record low F = 8.1

| Mar avg record low F = 16.4

| Apr avg record low F = 26.5

| May avg record low F = 38.6

| Jun avg record low F = 51.2

| Jul avg record low F = 57.9

| Aug avg record low F = 56.5

| Sep avg record low F = 40.6

| Oct avg record low F = 27.8

| Nov avg record low F = 16.1

| Dec avg record low F = 6.9

| year avg record low F = -0.8

| Jan record low F = -17

| Feb record low F = -13

| Mar record low F = -8

| Apr record low F = 15

| May record low F = 25

| Jun record low F = 35

| Jul record low F = 45

| Aug record low F = 43

| Sep record low F = 26

| Oct record low F = 12

| Nov record low F = 0

| Dec record low F = -10

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 0.66

| Feb precipitation inch = 1.00

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.81

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.21

| May precipitation inch = 3.63

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.08

| Jul precipitation inch = 2.06

| Aug precipitation inch = 2.84

| Sep precipitation inch = 2.09

| Oct precipitation inch = 2.14

| Nov precipitation inch = 1.22

| Dec precipitation inch = 0.95

| year precipitation inch = 24.69

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 2.2

| Feb precipitation days = 3.5

| Mar precipitation days = 5.4

| Apr precipitation days = 5.6

| May precipitation days = 7.2

| Jun precipitation days = 7.6

| Jul precipitation days = 5.3

| Aug precipitation days = 6.5

| Sep precipitation days = 5.4

| Oct precipitation days = 5.3

| Nov precipitation days = 3.2

| Dec precipitation days = 3.1

| year precipitation days = 60.3

| Jan snow inch = 2.1

| Feb snow inch = 3.7

| Mar snow inch = 2.0

| Apr snow inch = 0.2

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.0

| Nov snow inch = 1.8

| Dec snow inch = 3.5

| year snow inch = 13.3

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 1.0

| Feb snow days = 1.4

| Mar snow days = 0.6

| Apr snow days = 0.1

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.4

| Dec snow days = 1.3

| year snow days = 4.8

| source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=oun

|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = December 15, 2023}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00341243&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = December 15, 2023}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1910= 282

|1920= 479

|1930= 990

|1940= 1209

|1950= 1544

|1960= 1618

|1970= 1579

|1980= 1381

|1990= 1512

|2000= 1200

|2010= 1299

|2020= 1039

|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]

}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 1,200 people, 495 households, and 336 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,502.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 599 housing units at an average density of {{convert|750.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 92.92% White, 0.08% African American, 1.17% Native American, 4.67% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.33% of the population.

There were 495 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,433, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $20,515 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,328. About 8.2% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Buffalo School District oversees primary and secondary education.

The Buffalo Weekly News was established in 2014 and is published every Wednesday.{{cite web|url= http://www.buffaloweeklynews.com |title=Homepage|publisher=Buffalo Weekly News|accessdate=April 8, 2021}}

The Harper County Journal, consolidated from the Buffalo Republican and the Harper County Democrat, was published in Buffalo from 1903 to 2014, when it merged with the Laverne Leader Tribune to become the Harper County Leader,{{cite web|url= https://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/36/8254/23865 |title=Harper County Journal|publisher=mondotimes.com|access-date=December 30, 2020}} still published weekly in Laverne, Oklahoma.{{cite web|url=https://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/36/8555/23904 |title=Harper County Leader| publisher=mondotimes.com|access-date=December 30, 2020}}

Other early newspapers included the Buffalo News, the Buffalo Bugle, and the Post.

U.S. Route 64 and U.S. Route 183 run concurrently through town.{{cite web|url= https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Buffalo+Municipal+Airport,+Buffalo,+OK/Buffalo,+OK+73834/@36.8556175,-99.653396,13.25z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x87a89e627f5185a5:0x2d70fcb2f1039d95!2m2!1d-99.6186043!2d36.8644816!1m5!1m1!1s0x87a89ea43a77c2db:0xa13ef98b1abc1522!2m2!1d-99.6303972!2d36.8355869 |title=Buffalo Municipal Airport to Buffalo, Oklahoma|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=December 29, 2020}}

Buffalo Municipal Airport is located about 2 miles north.

{{main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Harper County, Oklahoma}}

The following in the Buffalo area are NRHP-listed:

• Buffalo City Park Pavilion
• Farmers’ Co-op Elevator
• Feuquay Elevator
• Harper County Courthouse
• I.O.O.F. Building of Buffalo
• Monhollow Artificial Stone House
• Page Soddy

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Buffalo, Oklahoma}}

• [http://www.buffalooklahoma.org City of Buffalo]
• [http://www.buffalo.k12.ok.us Buffalo Public Schools]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090905013751/http://www.buffalotheatre.net/ Buffalo Theatre and Community Centre]}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090608022947/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/B/BU004.html Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Buffalo]

{{Harper County, Oklahoma}}

{{Oklahoma county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Harper County, Oklahoma

Category:Towns in Oklahoma

Category:County seats in Oklahoma