Buford was founded by Larkin Smith & T. S. Garner in 1871.

As the story goes, Mr. Garner rode horseback through the country from Atlanta to Charlotte, to buy the right of way for the railroad,   When the road was under construction a camp was set up on the property of Silas King.  That knoll under Mr. Garner's instructions, became  a depot for the train.  At the time Gwinnett County was established in 1818, the area where Buford formed was still Cherokee Indian Territory, even though the land was ceded to the United States the year prior. By the 1860s, there were a few scattered inhabitants.  Silas
King, an evangelical Baptist clergyman, was the first non-Indian to occupy the area now known as Buford. Originally from South Carolina, he purchased 250 acres on March 10, 1822. His cabin sat where 75 Shadburn Avenue is today. Mr. Garner and Larkin Smith bought the property from Silas King, had it surveyed, divided into lots, and gave it a name "Buford" in honor of "A. S. Buford, President of the Railroad".

In April 1871, the first train appeared in Buford, running along the newly constructed  railroad. The city sprang up along the tracks. By 1872, the town of Buford was incorporated.

The first known manufacturer was Robert H. Allen, with a harness shop in 1867.  Bona Allen, brother to Robert, established the tannery, and had workers that processed the leather for sale and manufactured a variety of products thereof.  Their specialty was horse-wear, collars,  harnesses and saddles.  The company stated it had made Roy Rogers a saddle.  They employed hundreds of people and were nationally known for their craftsmanship and quality.  During the depression they made shoes and repaired saddles for the war effort.  1941 came and the union interests gain rapid rapport with many, and a strike was called in August; October came and the shoe factory closed, ending shoe production.  The U. S. Army reopened the plant to repair
Army shoes six months later, and by mid 1942 was in full operation.  The collar factory remained open until 1943, when it was closed, and the shoe factory again closed for good after the war.  The Tannery which had been sold to Tandy Leather (circa 1940's), continued manufacturing leather until the Tannery Fire of 1981.  The fire was so intense that smoke hovered in the area for days, and put hundreds of people out of work. 

The Bona Allen mansion was occupied by the Senior Allen until his death and then the younger Bona Allen moved in.  It is now run by a group that offers it up for special events. 395 East Main Street Buford, Georgia

After World War II, the construction of Buford Dam was administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Construction began in March 1950. By 1954, cemeteries in the area destined to become Lake Lanier were relocated, and 1955 was the last year for farmers. Then, on February 1, 1956, the gates were closed, and the Chattahoochee River began to fill the lake. When the reservoir filled and power production peaked in 1958, the Army Corps opened the lake for public recreation. Today the lake, and the Chattahoochee, are in disputes with our Alabama, Florida and surrounding neighbors over water rights to the Chattahoochee and its offspring.  Our neighboring states feel we utilize too much water and the recreation is not a necessity for our use of the waters.  Apparently no one will be satisfied until this matter is settled in court, so it appears this will be an ongoing topic of discussion in these here parts. 

Rights to this article belong to the writer and contributor.  Contact the webmaster before utilizing this material.