Allentown, Buffalo

Allentown Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Buffalo's Allentown district
Allentown Historic District map (2012)
Location	Buffalo, NY
Coordinates	42°53′58″N 78°52′47″W / 42.89944°N 78.87972°W / 42.89944; -78.87972Coordinates: 42°53′58″N 78°52′47″W / 42.89944°N 78.87972°W / 42.89944; -78.87972
Architect	Olmsted, Frederick Law; Et al.
Architectural style	Stick/Eastlake, Italianate, Queen Anne
NRHP reference #	80002605
Added to NRHP	April 21, 1980

The Allentown district is a neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. The neighborhood is home to the Allentown Historic District.

Allentown is named after Lewis F. Allen (1800-1890) who came to Buffalo in April 1827 to serve as Corporate Secretary and Financial Manager of an Insurance company. Allen was also a farmer and when looking for space to let his cattle pasteurize, purportedly his neighbor, Thomas Day, suggested some of his land, which sat between the cities of Buffalo and Black Rock. Allen’s cattle path became known as Allen Street. Notably, Allen was one of the founders of the Buffalo Historical Society and Forest Lawn, where he is buried. Allen was married to Margaret Cleveland Allen and was the uncle of president Grover Cleveland. Allen introduced his nephew to many influential people, including the partners in the law firm of Rogers, Bowen, and Rogers where Cleveland later took a clerkship which led him to practice law and enter into politics.

Allentown is the first neighborhood north of the Downtown Buffalo core. It borders the downtown theater and entertainment district to its south, and runs north to North Street at its northern edge, Plymouth Avenue on the west, and Main street on the east. The neighborhood is generally centered on Allen Street and Elmwood Avenue.

Allentown is known for its community of artists, for its embrace of bohemian, hipster and gay culture, and for the civic commitment of residents to the historic and aesthetic sensibilities of the neighborhood. Allentown is one of Buffalo's premier areas for nightlife, dining, and antique shopping.