The Beginnings of Society…
The Agricultural Society was established in 1819, then called the Niagara County Horticultural Society. It held its first fair in 1820 on what is now the site of the Donovan Office Building in Buffalo. One year later, Niagara County split into Erie and Niagara Counties, and so did the agricultural society. The Erie County Agricultural Society is the oldest civic, community member organization in Erie County.
The Society’s first president, Dr. Cyrenius Chapin, was also the first physician to ever come to Western New York.
After the 1821 Fair, the Society foundered due to the poor economy in the area and the difficulty of transporting livestock over nearly impassable roads. The Society was reborn in 1841 and again started holding its annual Fair. The Erie County Fair has been held every year since 1841 with the exception of 1943, which was canceled because of World War II.
After many years of being held in Buffalo, the Fair was moved throughout different locations in Aurora, Lancaster, East Hamburgh, (now Orchard Park) West Seneca, and Springville from 1851-1867. In 1868, the Society moved the Fair to its Hamburg location and has remained there ever-since.
Originally, the Hamburg location for the Fair was 12 acres. Over the years, The Fairgrounds have grown to cover 275 acres. Likewise, the Fair began as a one-day event held in the fall. It too has grown to become an 11-day event held each August.
- These and many other interesting facts about the Erie County Fair can be found in the limited collector’s edition, Reflections of America’s County Fair, a 200+ page chronicle of over 60 years of the Erie County Agricultural Fair. Click here to learn more.
