Buffalo Speedway

. [ [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=buffalo+speedway,+houston,+tx&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.891082,72.421875&ie=UTF8&ll=29.742134,-95.427418&spn=0.02694,0.035362&z=15 Google Maps] ] It ends at West Bellfort on the southwest side of Houston. [ [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=buffalo+speedway,+houston,+tx&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.891082,72.421875&ie=UTF8&ll=29.672691,-95.425186&spn=0.026959,0.035362&z=15 Google Maps] ]

The speedway part of the name comes from a section of the road that was long and straight where it was possible to attain high speeds. [http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4434201 Rad Sallee, "Why did the Buffalo cross the speedway?", Houston Chronicle, Oct. 1, 2007] ] The "buffalo" part is surmised to be due to 1. popularity of the word buffalo around the time of the road's naming and 2. replacement of Buffalo Drive by the Allen Parkway. However, old USGS maps suggest the existence of a race track where Buffalo Speedway would later be built. [ [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/moveit/5213385.html Rad Sallee, "Looking at overpasses, one at a time", Houston Chronicle, Oct. 15, 2007] ] Historian and retired land researcher Ann Quin Wilson says that a speedway existed near the site of today's Lamar High School, which would have been at the intersection of Buffalo Drive (now Allen Parkway) and where the Buffalo Speedway would later be built.

Some road signs refer to it as Buffalo Spdwy with speedway taking the place of other designations like road or street.

References