Buford, Georgia

Coordinates: 34°08′11″N 84°01′59″W / 34.13639°N 84.03306°W / 34.13639; -84.03306
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Buford, Georgia
City
Main Street
Main Street
Location of Buford in Gwinnett County, Georgia (left) and of Gwinnett County in Georgia (right)
Location of Buford in Gwinnett County, Georgia (left) and of Gwinnett County in Georgia (right)
Buford is located in Metro Atlanta
Buford
Buford
Location in Metro Atlanta
Coordinates: 34°08′11″N 84°01′59″W / 34.13639°N 84.03306°W / 34.13639; -84.03306
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountiesGwinnett, Hall
Area
 • Total18.22 sq mi (47.18 km2)
 • Land18.13 sq mi (46.96 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2)
Elevation1,053 ft (321 m)
Population
 • Total17,144
 • Density945.46/sq mi (365.05/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30515, 30518, 30519
Area code(s)770, 678
FIPS code13-11784[4]
GNIS feature ID2403950[2]
Websitewww.cityofbuford.com

Buford is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia. Most of the city is in Gwinnett County. A small part of it is in Hall County. In the 2020 census, the city had a population of 17,144.[3]

History[change | change source]

After the American Civil War a railroad was built that travelled from Atlanta, Georgia to Richmond, Virginia. While the railroad was being built two railroad stockholders bought land around the railroad, and began building a town.[5] The town was named after the railroad company's president, Algernon Sidney Buford.[6][7] The railroad was completed in 1871, and Buford officially became a town on August 24, 1872.[8] The Town of Buford was renamed the City of Buford in 1896.[7]

In the later part of the 1800s and the early part of the 1900s Buford became famous for making leather products, including saddles which were sold through the Sears mail order catalog.[9] Many famous actors during that time period used saddles made by the Bona Allen Company in Buford,[10] including Gene Autry, the case of the television show Bonanza, and Roy Rogers' horse Trigger.[11]

After the Great Depression ended the horses were not used for farming as much and tractors were used instead, which meant that there was less need for leather products, and the companies that made leather in Buford closed.[9][11]

Geography[change | change source]

Buford is in north Georgia. It is in the northern part of Gwinnett County and in the southern part of Hall County. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area.

References[change | change source]

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Buford, Georgia
  3. 3.0 3.1 "QuickFacts: Buford city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. Morgan, Handsel Grady (1993). Historic Buford: A History of the City of Buford, Georgia Through 1990.
  6. Krakrow, Kenneth (1975). Georgia Place-Names. Winship Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-0915430000.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "About Buford". City of Buford. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  8. "Our Beginnings". Museum of Buford. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Bona Allen Tannery Buford, Georgia". ngeorgia.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  10. "History of Tannery Row & Buford, Georgia". Tannery Row Artist Colony. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Vardeman, Johnny (22 March 2009). "Bona Allen leather works long gone, but name persists". Gainesville Times. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.