Welcome to Buford
A flourishing small-town minutes from Lake Lanier’s plentiful recreation
Resting just minutes from the sparkling waters of Lake Lanier and Lake Lanier Islands, the city of Buford lies within both Gwinnett and Hall counties in northeastern Georgia. In Buford, there’s a pervasive small-town friendliness that isn’t dampened at all by the city’s growth and expansion. Located next to abundant recreational facilities and nature preserves, Buford is a dream for outdoor enthusiasts.
The city was founded in 1872 following the establishment of a railroad line connecting Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta. Modern Buford has a population of around 16,000 residents who enjoy the conveniences of living just an hour from Atlanta, as well as all of the ample employment opportunities in the northeastern area of Georgia. Due in part to easy access to major highways and its location within Gwinnett County, Buford is a rising force in the fields of technology, healthcare, and industry and was even named on CNN Money Magazine’s list of top places to live and start a business.
Buford is replete with single-family executive-style homes that make the perfect location to live out your own personal American dream. Most of the housing in Buford is fairly modern, built in the late 20th and early 21st century. As a city on the rise, Buford is also rapidly expanding and developing new neighborhoods that give residents the opportunity to purchase customizable new builds. Your dollar gets you a lot in Buford, and it’s not difficult to find amenity-filled, luxuriously finished contemporary homes for a couple thousand dollars.
What to Love
- Small-town charm with a growing economy
- Well-priced new builds and executive style homes
- Next to some of the most premier recreation in Georgia
People & Lifestyle
From the beginning, Buford’s founders and residents were interested in business, growth, and looking forward to the future. This spirit still permeates Buford today, and the ever-growing city has expanded on its industrial roots to become a leader in innovation in Gwinnett County. Its population is younger, mostly composed of family units and couples. It’s a great city for up-and-coming entrepreneurs and young professionals looking for affordably priced homes and access to a booming economy.
Dining, Shopping, & Entertainment
Thanks to its ideal location and booming commercial scene, Buford gets the joys of being a small town while having an abundance of choices when it comes to retail, restaurants, and exciting entertainment. Though Buford is full of locally owned shops like
Georgia Threads, the gem of Buford’s commercial developments is
The Mall of Georgia. This vast location is the go-to place for all shopaholics in the state, features over 200 stores and restaurants, and carries designer name brands and national brands alike. With its wide array of choices, shoppers have a high chance of discovering their favorite store in the mall, including brands like
Sephora,
Coach,
Bath & Body,
Apple,
Lush, and
Michael Kors.
While there are plenty of chain restaurants to enjoy around the mall, Buford is also home to several of its own one-of-a-kind must-try restaurants. At
Rico’s World Kitchen, the atmosphere is industrial-chic, the menu is packed with globally-inspired comfort dishes, and the service is always superb. For an intimate, relaxed experience with a fine-dining menu, you’ll want to visit
Aqua Terra Bistro. Their new American cuisine features inventive twists inspired by international fare, and the dinner menu has mouth-watering options like bacon-wrapped dates, chargrilled prime ribeye, and vanilla-infused crème-brûlée.
Up near Lake Lanier, a remarkable dining experience awaits.
Fish Tales Lakeside Grille is located in the Hideaway Bay Marina, and it’s the kind of restaurant where diners can even pull up from the lake itself and park at the courtesy dock. Featuring the freshest catches and friendly-family atmosphere, Fish Tales is a paradise for seafood lovers.
Things to Do
Buford is fully equipped to keep you and your family busy with a wide range of activities, events, and natural features. Around and within The Mall of Georgia, you can find everything from an
IMAX Theater, an
escape room, and plenty of family entertainment complexes. One of the most popular choices,
The Complex, has an adventure arena for activities like rock climbing, zip-lining; a sports arena for baseball, basketball, football, cycling, shooting practice, and more; as well as a digital arena with VR games and an arcade.
If you’re keen to explore the outdoors, Buford has you covered there, too.
Lake Lanier itself is a cornucopia for campers and has opportunities for swimming, boating, picnicking, hiking, and fishing, in addition to its more than 600 miles of shoreline and gorgeous aqua waters. The Margaritaville Resort is another highly frequented site that includes a spectacular waterpark, beach restaurants, and live entertainment, as well as a winter-only snow zone with tubing, rides, and more. And yet, even with all of this to enjoy, Buford also puts on annual community events right in town, like the
Buford Corn Maze at the May Fair, which has long been a favorite of kids and families.
Schools
Buford is home to several excellent schools. Top educational opportunities include:
- Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, & Technology, 9-12, No. 1 public high school in the state of Georgia and the county’s first STEM
- Buford High School, 9-12, No. 15 best public high school in Georgia
- All of Buford City Schools, ranges from PK & K-12, No. 1 ranked school district in Georgia
The Regan Maki Team's Favorite Places to Dine & Shop in Buford
- Aqua Terra Bistro
- Bare Bones Steakhouse
- Coastal Breeze
- Rico's World Kitchen
- Tanery Row Ale House
- Mall of Georgia
