Historic Buford downtown through the years

Metro Atlanta

Historic Buford downtown through the years

Photos gallery: Welcome to the city of Buford, founded in 1872. Like many of Gwinnett's towns, Buford's historic business district has been getting some improvements in recent years.

Welcome to the city of Buford, founded in 1872. Like many of Gwinnett's towns, Buford's historic business district has been getting some improvements in recent years. This photo is from 2001. (KENT D. JOHNSON/staff)

Buford began as a stop on the rail line between Atlanta and Charlotte on the Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway. A year after the town's incorporation, a new company would be founded that would put Buford on the map for years to come. This is Main Street in 1999. (LOUIE FAVORITE/STAFF)

Bona Allen Tanners & Manufacturers was founded in Buford in 1873. It became internationally famous for making saddles and harnesses, making Buford known as "The Leather City." Decades later, Dona Allen began manufacturing shoes as well. At its peak in 1932, the company employed 2,200 people. This photo is from 2003. (CHARLOTTE B. TEAGLE/AJC staff)

Another view of the Bona Allen Tanners & Manufacturers building in 2004. Today the building is used as space for artists' studios. (Parker C. Smith/Special)

The Allen family cast a long shadow across the city. Among the family's mansions is the Bona Allen Mansion, built in 1913 and one of Buford's top attractions. Today it's used for hosting special events. It's seen here in 2004. (JANNELLE MIMMS/SPECIAL)

Long before there was a Mall of Georgia, Buford's Main Street was the economic heart of the city. This photo is from 1999. (LOUIE FAVORITE/STAFF)

Feel free to stroll Main Street while we give you a few more facts about Buford. (Photo is from 2002.) (BARRY WILLIAMS/SPECIAL)

Buford was incorporated as a town in 1872 but became a city in 1896. Here's Main Street in 2003. (CHARLOTTE B. TEAGLE/AJC staff)

The city was named for Algernon Sidney Buford, who was the president of the Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railroad. This is Main Street in 2004. (Parker C. Smith/Special)

The Bona Allen Company wasn't the only factory in town. In its heyday, Buford could claim to be a real manufacturing center. In fact, it was Gwinnett County's largest city until the 1960s. Here's Main Street in 2005. (Jason Getz/ AJC staff)

Among the city's other claims to fame: It had the first two banks in the county, which gives you an idea of the city's economic importance as Gwinnett emerged. For more information, check out “Historic Buford" by Handsel Grady Morgan, or watch this video. (Here's Buford's Main Street in 2005.) (JEAN SHIFRIN/AJC staff)

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Welcome to the city of Buford, founded in 1872. Like many of Gwinnett's towns, Buford's historic business district has been getting some improvements in recent years. This photo is from 2001. (KENT D. JOHNSON/staff)

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