Even though energy is a vital part of its economy, agriculture, tourism, and recreation are three other major components.

The city is located almost equidistant between Yellowstone Park and Mount Rushmore.

[citation needed] As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 3,900 people, 1,718 households, and 1,042 families living in the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.46 square miles (11.55 km2), all land.

[12][13] The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.

Public education in the city of Buffalo is provided by Johnson County School District #1.

Buffalo High School was in the national news spotlight after the (former) head football coach, distributed an offensive "hurt feelings report" in November 2011.

This attention brought several heated school board meetings and eventually lead to the resignation of Lynch as the head football coach.

The city is served by a general aviation airfield, the Johnson County Airport (Wyoming), which does not have scheduled passenger air service.

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Express Arrow and Jefferson Lines.