Lafayette Avenue runs approximately 2 miles from west to east across the center of Buffalo, from Main Street to Niagara Street. Lafayette Avenue crosses both Gates Circle and Colonial Circle. The street was originally named Bouck Avenue. There was a Governor of New York, William Bouck, but don’t quote me on it being named after him. Before he was Governor, Bouck was involved in the building of the Erie Canal; his job was to bring the money to the workers in the western portion of the state.
Lafayette Square, located at Main Street between Broadway and Clinton, was originally laid out by Joseph Ellicott in 1804. Lafayette Square was known in those days as Courthouse Square. The Courthouse was located where the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library is currently located.
Discovering Buffalo, One Street at a Time 