Fredonia, NY 4 Apartments for Rent

In the early nineteenth century, New York-born physician and politician Samuel L. Mitchill wanted to rename the good old US of A to Fredonia; although that idea fell flat, the name did end up attached to numerous places all over the country, one of which is Fredonia, New York.

Officially Fredonia is a village, one of a dozen remaining in New York that is still incorporated according to its original charter, rather than being reincorporated under statewide village law. As of the 2010 census the population was at 11,230, up by around 10% over the 2000 census figures. Fredonia is located in Chautauqua County, and it's part of the town of Pomfret, right next door to the city of Dunkirk, and approximately two stone-throws from Lake Erie.

Moving to Fredonia

If you're moving here, the time of year can have a big influence on how easy it is to find a place to live, especially if you're looking to find apartment accommodation. A little under half of the households in Fredonia are rentals, and most of those rentals are apartments, with a few condos and townhouses in the mix.

Fredonia does have several large apartment and condo complexes, but there are small buildings and individual detached houses available too, giving you plenty of choice for rental houses. Again, however, the amount of choice you have depends a lot on whether it's the start or the end of the school year. If you're looking for an apartment, allow yourself anywhere from two to six weeks to find a place, depending on the time of year. Larger detached rental houses aren't as easy to find here, so it may be useful to start your search earlier.

Aim to have all the usual documentation ready before you sign a rental contract -- your rental history, proof of income, and maybe some references are the usual things that landlords want to see. One month in advance, plus your deposit, and you'll be set.

Neighborhoods in Fredonia

Fredonia is a pretty small place, at just 5.2 square miles, and so it isn't really divided into different neighborhoods like you'd find in a larger town or city. The village does have a busy downtown commercial area, distinctive for its historic architecture, where the ambience of the place is so thick you can almost breathe it in. It's variously described as picturesque, vibrant, historic, and as the best of both worlds, and while some smaller towns and villages might embellish on their descriptions a bit, it's actually a pretty accurate portrayal of Fredonia.

One of the great things about the apartment complexes is that a lot of them come with utilities included in the price, which is a pretty convenient way to pay the bills.

Fredonia Apartment Communities

Green Acres: This area could be the place for you; with apartment home rentals of one to four bedrooms, and a convenient location near the Rockefeller Arts Center and the NY State thruway. Via the thruway you can get to Dunkirk and other nearby cities easily, and Main Street is just a few blocks away. Eating at the Upper Crust Bakehouse on Main Street is something that people remember fondly years later, and if you try the tomato soup here you'll be thinking of it for the rest of your life.

New Liberty and James Place: This complex is a bit of a mouthful when you're telling people where you live, but since it refers to two different rental apartments buildings in the same location, you're probably okay. It's only a few minutes away from the University, and downtown Fredonia, so no matter what your village destination might be, you won't spend much time in transit. Head down to Main Street to eat and drink at BJ's, one of the oldest bars in this part of the state, which features amazing wings and burgers.

The Campus Edge Townhomes at Brigham: These units are, not surprisingly, located right next to the SUNY campus, which is hugely convenient whether or not you're going to school there. You're close to downtown Fredonia, as well as the fantastic El Azteca Cantina in Dunkirk, which boasts great Mexican food and margaritas. There are actually three different complexes, all of which provide a good range of amenities, with some utility costs included. There are both two and one-bedroom apartments here, so you have plenty of options, and while these apartments were designed for students to live in, you don't have to be a student to live here. If you're looking for condo rentals in Fredonia, this might be one to look at.

Living in Fredonia

As a combination college town and historic village district, Fredonia has a lot to offer its residents, despite its small size. There's a good range of retail stores, restaurants, and caf̩s, and any time you're stuck for something to do it's always worth having a wander round the historic downtown commercial district, to "ooh!" and "aah!" at what is admittedly a very pretty-looking area. It's also an advantage having the Rockefeller Arts Center located right on your doorstep, especially if you've moved to Fredonia from out of town, as it's something you can use to make your friends back home jealous. Throughout the year, you can attend all kinds of events at SUNY including performances at the arts center, as well as sporting events, lectures, and exhibitions elsewhere on campus.

Fredonia itself has plenty to do but it's also well-situated on the outskirts of Dunkirk, providing you with even more opportunities for entertainment. It's close enough to Buffalo that you can drive there without resorting to playing spot-the-license-plate to quell your boredom. Lake Erie is also right there; in fact it's pretty hard to miss, because it's a giant lake.