Communities Western New York

Western New York (WNY) is located upstate in the western portion of New York State, just a short distance from Niagara Falls and approximately eight hours from New York City. WNY includes the Buffalo-Niagara Metropolitan area, which is comprised of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara Counties, with Erie designated as the State’s second largest with a population of just under one million. Home to an abundance of state parks, natural wildlife preserves, a thriving downtown Buffalo waterfront, and many world-renowned institutions, including the State University of New York at Buffalo; and Roswell Park Cancer Institute, a premier cancer-research center, WNY offers residents a mix of culturally-diverse communities who celebrate their rich heritage with an abundance of festivals, including the Allentown Art Festival and the Erie County Fair; two of the largest events of their kind in the U.S. There are also NYS and tribal-owned casinos, as well as many other entertainment attractions to choose from throughout the area. 

WNY enjoys the beauty of four seasons, making it an outdoor mecca for fun throughout the year! Trails for snowmobiling, sledding, biking, hiking and more abound at ski resorts and state parks across the region. WNY also has a rich historic character as it is home to the Erie Canal, the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, and much more! Many nationally-recognized businesses call WNY home, including General Mills; General Motors Tonawanda Engine Plant; Moog, Inc.; Tesla Gigafactory; Tops Markets, LLC; and an array of privately-held, family-owned businesses, which include Essex Homes of WNY.