Buffalo, New York has seen more ups and downs than many of the other American cities of its size but always seems to come out of it alright. As a center for manufacturing and production since its early years, with the coming and going of several businesses this metropolis has seen a yo-yo effect with population and employment rates. Currently, Buffalo sits with a population of more than 1.2 million residents in its metropolitan area. As far as business goes, the city that was once known as a railroad hub, for steel manufacturing, automobile production, and aircraft design and manufacturing has now diversified into many different economic sectors.

BuffaloZip.com is a site set up to show you exactly how you can take full advantage of this fabulous city in terms of living, working, and entertainment. With the top ten private sector employers covering everything including health care, commercial banking, entertainment, and retail, there are few reasons for not settling down in this great city.

Known as the "Queen City" due to its distinction as the second largest city in the state after New York City, there are many areas where Buffalo does better than second best. Recently, the city has become a leader for bioinformatics and human genome research, with exciting work being done at both the University of Buffalo and the Roswell Park Cancer Institution. The DNA samples used for research purposes for the Human Genome Project are even collected anonymously from local Buffalo donors.

There are also two major players from the world of banking with offices in Buffalo. The international HSBC has one of its more crucial USA offices within the city. M&T Bank, a member of the country's Fortune 500 companies, houses its headquarters in Buffalo. Other banks which have a large presence in Buffalo include the Bank of America and KeyBank.

Another important company rounding out Buffalo's economic picture is Rich Products, one of the world's leading food manufacturers with an emphasis on family-oriented food items. Rich Products is responsible for the popular food item, Cool Whip. Canadian Beer manufacturer, Labatt, also moved its US headquarters to the city in May of 2007.

Buffalo also has a rich culture all its own, including influences in everything from food to architecture. Food festivals like the Taste of Buffalo and the National Buffalo Wing Festival take the city by storm each summer, bringing thousands of visitors from across New York State and into Ontario. The Hotel Buffalo was a revolution of its time as the first hotel to include a private bathroom with each guest room.

For those looking for a city where they can attend a solid job in day and then come out for some great nighttime entertainment, Buffalo might just be that perfect place. Whether you're taking a shopping trip to nearby Canada or taking in a game of the Buffalo Bills, there is something for everyone in Buffalo.