City of Buford history

Austin Gilliam Harris lived in the Sugar Hill area as early as 1860.

Robert H. Allen arrived in the area around 1867 and established the first leather industry in Buford, with a harness factory and leather tannery, a business taught to him by his father, Washington Allen.

In the early days it appears that the brothers were partners, but by the late 1870's they seem to have discontinued their partnership.

In this way Buford was established as a town in 1871.

The “Town of Buford” was incorporated by Act of legislature August 24, 1872.

William R. Chamblee was an early Buford merchant, opening a store in in 1873.

However, documents show that W. E. Haygood and J. E. Cloud served in the office of Mayor as early as 1874.

As early as 1900 Buford was the largest city in the county, and Sugar Hill Militia District listed more ad valorem taxpayers than any other district in the county.

The worst fire was on October 14, 1903, when a fire broke out in Seal's Meat Market . Before it was over, nine businesses had burned, those of George L. Brogdon, John T. Smith, J. B. McBrayer, Bank of Buford, R. H. Allen (store), Doctor W. J. Rowe, J. Martin, C. H. Smith, Sr, and E. V. W. Mahaffey.

It was absorbed into Buford proper with a merger in 1912.

In 1915, William R. Davis developed an independent soft drink formula, manufacturing and bottling the Buford favorite with his family at his home on Hill St.

In 1976 Buford native, Cindy Brogdon, earned a silver medal as a part of the United States Olympic basketball team, and played professionally for a short time after that.