Buford Community Website Links City of Buford Buford City Schools Back to Communities Historic Buford was incorporated in 1872 and was named for the president of a railroad which ran from Atlanta to Charlotte.  Modern-day Buford in Gwinnett County is home to the Buford Artists Colony, where more than 30 artists sell art, pottery, jewelry and furniture in the shops of Main Street Buford.  The suburban town itself is relatively small, with the 2000 census figuring a population of 10,668, yet its proximity to Lake Lanier and to Atlanta area makes it a desirable area to live.