[Sacajaweau]

Buffalo existed well before the Erie Canal.

Furs?? It was for goods.....not furs. Furs were a specialty and a more or less a monopoly.

[thackney]

Buffalo existed well before the Erie Canal.

- - - -

Not as much. Population was 2,400 when the canal was built. 5 years later: 8,668.
10 more years: 18,213
10 more years: 42,261

http://paulwienyshdentry.weebly.com/economic-innovations-the-rise-and-fall-of-buffalo.html

[JeanLM]

Buffalo was an Indian outpost with a population of 8000 until the canal was built in 1825. There wasn’t any connection to the populous East until the canal. Then Buffalo grew to be the second largest city in NY. Not much west of Buffalo back then except furs.