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Buffalo is a city in Leon County, Texas, in the east-central part of the state, located at the crossroads of Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 79, roughly halfway between Dallas and Houston. That central position on the state's principal Dallas–Houston corridor has long shaped the town's identity, making it a familiar stopping point for travelers and giving residents an unusual degree of highway flexibility for a small town. The community was established in 1872 as a settlement along the International-Great Northern Railroad, which drove its early growth as a rail stop and shipping point in the region's agricultural economy. The railroad remains part of Buffalo's heritage, and the town's early survey and layout were tied directly to the line's expansion through Leon County. Over the decades, Buffalo grew to become the largest community in Leon County, a role it still holds today, with a 2020 census population of about 1,800 — ahead of the county seat of Centerville, which lies about 14 miles to the south. As the county's largest town, Buffalo serves as a local hub for schools, commerce, and services in a largely rural area. It is served by the Buffalo Independent School District, which covers northern Leon County and extends into southern Freestone County, operating the community's elementary, middle, and high schools. The district's athletic teams and events are a focal point of community life, and the schools anchor the town's family-oriented character. The surrounding landscape is the gently rolling countryside of east-central Texas, where farmland, ranch land, and small communities define the region between the Blackland Prairie and the East Texas Piney Woods. The town's economy mixes highway-oriented services along the I-45 and U.S. 79 corridors with the small-town commercial life of its center, giving residents both convenience and a rooted sense of place. For residents, Buffalo offers a quiet, rural lifestyle with a distinctive advantage: its position roughly midway between Dallas and Houston puts both major metropolitan areas within a direct highway drive for work, healthcare, shopping, and cultural access. That combination of small-town pace, local schools, and central location is what defines Buffalo's appeal in east-central Texas.

Population 1,767

County Leon

Active Listings 83

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Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Buffalo in?

Buffalo is a city in Leon County, Texas, in the east-central part of the state. It is the largest community in Leon County and sits about 14 miles north of Centerville, the county seat.

Where is Buffalo located?

Buffalo sits at the crossroads of Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 79, roughly halfway between Dallas and Houston. Its location on the main Dallas–Houston corridor has made it a familiar stop for travelers and gives residents direct highway access to both metropolitan areas.

What school district serves Buffalo?

Buffalo is served by the Buffalo Independent School District, based in the city, which covers northern Leon County and extends into southern Freestone County. The district operates the community's elementary, middle, and high schools, with the Buffalo Bison as its athletic identity.

What is the history of Buffalo?

Buffalo was established in 1872 as a settlement along the International-Great Northern Railroad, which shaped the town's early growth. The railroad remains part of the city's heritage, and Buffalo grew to become the largest community in Leon County.

How far is Buffalo from Dallas and Houston?

Buffalo is about halfway between Dallas and Houston on Interstate 45, roughly 14 miles north of the county seat of Centerville. The city's position on I-45 and U.S. Highway 79 makes it a convenient base and a well-known stopping point along the Dallas–Houston route.

City Guide

About Buffalo

Real Estate & Housing

Buffalo's housing reflects its role as a small county-center town on a major highway. The city offers a mix of older homes in its established neighborhoods and newer single-family construction, with larger lots and rural acreage available in the surrounding Leon County countryside. As the largest community in Leon County, Buffalo provides more housing and services than the county's smaller towns, while remaining far more affordable and low-density than the Dallas and Houston metros at either end of I-45. Buyers are often drawn by the combination of small-town character, local schools, and the flexibility of a home base roughly halfway between the state's two largest cities.

Neighborhoods

Buffalo is a compact town centered on its original railroad-era core, with residential streets extending outward toward the I-45 and U.S. Highway 79 corridors that frame the community. The town functions largely as a single neighborhood, with homes near the schools, downtown, and highway services, and rural properties spreading into the surrounding countryside. Because Buffalo is the largest community in Leon County, it serves as the local center, but its overall scale remains small and walkable. The nearby county seat of Centerville and the smaller Leon County towns extend the area's rural, small-town character.

Lifestyle in Buffalo

Buffalo offers small-town living with a uniquely central Texas location. As a city at the crossroads of Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 79, it sees steady traveler traffic between Dallas and Houston, yet daily life retains the pace and character of a rural East Texas community. The town's railroad-era roots give it a sense of history, and its role as the largest community in Leon County makes it the local hub for services, schools, and commerce. Residents enjoy a quiet, neighborly environment with the convenience of being able to reach either Dallas or Houston on I-45, a flexibility unusual for a town of its size in rural east-central Texas.

Schools & Education

Buffalo is served by the Buffalo Independent School District, based in the city. The district covers northern Leon County and extends into southern Freestone County, operating the community's elementary, middle, and high school campuses. Buffalo's schools are a central part of town life, with the district's athletic programs and events bringing the community together. For higher education, residents are within reach of Navarro College, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, and the larger university systems of the Dallas and Houston areas, all accessible via the Interstate 45 corridor.

Getting Around

Buffalo's transportation is defined by its position at the crossroads of Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 79. Interstate 45 runs north toward Dallas and south toward Houston, placing Buffalo roughly halfway between the two cities, while U.S. Highway 79 provides east-west access through Leon County and the surrounding region. This highway junction makes Buffalo one of the most accessible small towns in east-central Texas, with both metropolitan areas within a direct drive. The city's railroad heritage also remains part of its transportation story, and daily travel is otherwise by car along the local and farm-to-market roads of the surrounding countryside.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Buffalo centers on the rural east-central Texas landscape and the town's central location. The surrounding Leon County countryside offers open space for hunting, fishing, and rural outdoor pursuits, and the region's lakes and state parks are within driving distance for boating and camping. Buffalo's own parks and school facilities host local sports and community events. The town's position halfway between Dallas and Houston also makes it a convenient base for reaching the larger recreational, cultural, and sporting offerings of both metropolitan areas, while its railroad and small-town heritage provide a quieter, more traditional backdrop for everyday life.

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