First Ward Apartments for Rent

Buffalo’s First Ward neighborhood has a rich history and a vibrant present. The neighborhood was settled by Irish immigrants in the early 1800s. Many of these immigrants had lived near rivers in Ireland, so the Buffalo River waterfront was a natural place to build houses. The neighborhood grew in the mid-1800s as more people fled Ireland’s potato famine. Today, the neighborhood is comprised of many multi-family and single-family dwellings that were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

First Ward, which is in zip code 14204, is made up of several neighborhoods that were once known by other names. The neighborhood’s center is on South Park Avenue. It is bordered on the north by Interstate 190 and on the south by the Buffalo River. The First Ward Community Center keeps the neighborhood active with events such as a 5K race, a golf tournament, and an auction.

Residents can walk to Father Conway Park, home of the annual Buffalo River Fest each June, which celebrates the revitalization of the city’s waterfront. The festival features tours, a fishing contest, a home-made boat regatta, and a classic car show. The park is also an ideal spot for kite flying, and it is home to several adult softball leagues. The Tift Nature Preserve, which is east of First Ward, has five miles of walking trails and is a good place for birdwatching. Snowshowing and cross-country skiing are allowed in the 264-acre nature preserve in the winter.

Several small grocery stores are within a mile of First Ward, including Western Food Mart and Montes Grocery. Downtown Buffalo, which is a mile west of the neighborhood and is accessible via the public bus system, has bank branches, pubs, and coffee shops.