Buford Real Estate

Buford, Georgia

Buford sits mostly within Gwinnett County, with a small slice of the city reaching north into Hall County along the shoreline of Lake Lanier. It is one of the northernmost communities in Gwinnett, positioned along Interstate 85 and Interstate 985, roughly 35 to 40 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta and about a 45 minute drive under normal conditions, according to the city's own estimate. From SRA Signature Realty's office on Hugh Howell Road in Tucker, Buford is a straightforward trip north on I-85, making it a familiar destination for buyers exploring the northern edge of the metro area.

A Railroad Town That Became "The Leather City"

Buford traces its start to 1872, when the Town of Buford was incorporated by an act of the Georgia legislature along the route of the Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway. The settlement took its name from Algernon Sidney Buford, the railroad's president, and became the City of Buford in 1896. For much of the following century, the city was known as "the Leather City" thanks to Bona Allen, Inc., a manufacturer of shoes, saddles, harnesses, and horse collars that made Buford the largest city in Gwinnett County for decades. Two reminders of that era still stand: the Bona Allen Mansion, built in 1912 and 1913, which serves as an event venue, and the 1905 Bona Allen factory building on West Main Street, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A former 1919 shoe factory nearby has been reborn as Tannery Row, home to a colony of working artist studios and galleries.

Life on the Water

Buford's southern shoreline along Lake Lanier gives residents ready access to boating, fishing, and swimming without leaving the city. Buford Dam Park sits along the lake and connects to the wider Lake Lanier Islands recreation area, a longtime destination for day trips and weekend outings. Closer to downtown, the 25 acre Buford City Park offers tennis and basketball courts along with baseball, softball, and soccer fields. The Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center, which opened in 2006 near the lake, combines walking trails with exhibits on water resources and the area's Cherokee and Creek heritage, including a relocated log cabin believed to predate the 1850s.

Downtown, Dining, and the Mall of Georgia

Buford's historic Main Street has kept its small town storefronts while filling them with locally owned shops selling woodworking, pottery, stained glass, and antiques, plus restaurants that spill onto the sidewalk during periodic concerts and festivals. Just outside the city limits, in unincorporated Gwinnett County, the Mall of Georgia adds more than two million square feet of shopping, dining, and entertainment to the immediate area, making Buford a convenient home base for both a downtown stroll and a full day of retail.

Homes Around the Old Mill Town

Housing near Buford's historic core reflects its early 20th century roots as a railroad and manufacturing town, with modest houses built during the Bona Allen years still lining streets close to downtown. Moving outward, the city and its surrounding unincorporated area include a broad range of subdivisions built from the later 20th century into more recent years, along with homes closer to Lake Lanier that take advantage of the shoreline. Together they give Buford a mix of older, walkable streets and newer residential development spreading toward the lake.

• Buford Dam Park and Lake Lanier Islands for boating, fishing, and lake days


• Tannery Row Artist Colony in a former 1919 shoe factory


• Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center and its Cherokee and Creek history exhibits


• The Bona Allen Mansion, a National Register of Historic Places event venue


• Locally owned shops and restaurants along historic Main Street


• The Mall of Georgia, just outside city limits

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Buford, Georgia in?

Buford is located primarily in Gwinnett County. A small portion of the city extends north into Hall County along Lake Lanier.

How far is Buford from downtown Atlanta?

Buford is roughly 35 to 40 miles from downtown Atlanta, with Interstate 85 and Interstate 985 providing the most direct routes. The city's own estimate puts the drive at about 45 minutes.

What is Buford known for historically?

Buford grew up around the railroad in the 1870s and later became known as "the Leather City" for the Bona Allen company's shoe, saddle, and harness manufacturing, which made it the largest city in Gwinnett County for decades.

What kind of outdoor recreation is available near Buford?

Buford's southern shoreline sits directly on Lake Lanier, giving residents access to boating, fishing, and swimming at spots like Buford Dam Park and the broader Lake Lanier Islands area, in addition to city parks closer to downtown.

Is the Mall of Georgia located in Buford?

The Mall of Georgia sits just outside Buford's city limits, in unincorporated Gwinnett County, but it is close enough that it functions as a shopping hub for Buford residents and the surrounding area.