Fredonia village named best urban center

By Colin Herzog, ‘07 (Senior, English/Journalism)

It has been found that the Village of Fredonia is the best location for urban life this side of the Finger Lakes.

In a recent study conducted by Business First, a Buffalo business newspaper, the quaint, southern tier village was ranked the most favorable urban center in which to live in Western New York. Within the region’s eight counties, every village, town, and city meeting the population criteria was considered in the periodical’s search for exceptional communities.

Compared to local cities such as Buffalo and Jamestown, the relatively small Fredonia, closely surrounded by vineyards and accommodating the twisting, trout-filled Canadaway Creek, is often overlooked when thinking of urban life. However, with 11,000 residents, a number of positive economic qualities, and various thriving businesses, the home of SUNY Fredonia not only made the list, it came out on top—with Central Buffalo right behind.

SUNY Fredonia is situated minutes from the village’s bustling downtown strip, lined with gourmet coffee shops, restaurants, and local businesses.

Business First said that its rankings were determined by collective high income, low poverty rate, racial diversity, short commuting times and the availability of affordable housing.

Local officials, who greeted the news with a small celebration in the Village Commons, noted that agricultural production, namely on grape and dairy farms, is an important asset to Fredonia’s economy and low poverty rate.

Though aesthetics were not specifically mentioned in the study, large homes and decent housing were considered. Lining the main roads of Fredonia are elaborate Queen Anne, Victorian Gothic and Colonial Revival style homes that date back to the 19th century. The state university campus also boasts a dozen buildings designed by world-renowned architect, I.M. Pei.

The study also took into account the number of residents with college degrees and the educational level of the workforce, and here again, Fredonia scored well. That’s not surprising when one considers that SUNY Fredonia is ranked in the top tier of northern universities by U.S. News & World Report.

Other than being the site of a well attended and widely respected college, Fredonia may not be widely considered in popular opinion as an urban center.

But its dash of small-town atmosphere just adds charm to the economically-active and historically-appreciated village. Clearly, it’s an ideal place to be.