Buffalo was founded in 1867. It took its name from Buffalo Creek, which was named after the American bison, commonly known as the buffalo. The first store in Buffalo opened in 1869 and the first hotel in 1870. Buffalo experienced growth in 1886 when the Missouri Pacific Railroad was built through it. Buffalo was incorporated as a city in 1898.
Geography
Buffalo is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all of it land.
As of the census of 2010, there were 232 people, 95 households, and 70 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 123 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 97.8% White, 0.9% Native American, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population. There were 95 households of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couplesliving together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.3% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.79. The median age in the city was 40 years. 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.4% were from 45 to 64; and 14.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 284 people, 107 households, and 78 families residing in the city. The population density was 820.7 people per square mile. There were 133 housing units at an average density of 384.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 96.83% White, 0.35% African American, 1.76% Native American, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population. There were 107 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09. In the city, the population was spread out with 31.3% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,688, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $26,750 versus $15,938 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,529. About 6.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 5.7% of those sixty five or over.
Buffalo is served by USD 387 Altoona-Midway. The Altoona-Midway High School mascot is Jets. Buffalo High School closed in 1958 through school unification. The Buffalo High School mascot was Pirates.
