The city of Buffalo is located in Western New York, just a short drive from the Canadian border. The Greater Buffalo area, which encompasses the city along with the rest of Erie County, received a lifetime All America City and Community designation in 1996. Those in the market for Buffalo apartments for rent may be attracted to the city for its commercial and educational opportunities, cultural attractions and low cost of living.

Buffalo is strategically positioned at the western end of the 364-mile Erie Canal, which connected the eastern seaboard and the Old Northwest, flowing from Albany to Buffalo's Lake Erie. Today, tourists are able to cruise down 15 miles of the canal that was responsible for much of the city's growth in the 19th century.

There is far more to Buffalo's history than just the canal. For instance, the city was also one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad that allowed slaves to escape to the free states and Canada in the 1800s, and Theodore Roosevelt's presidential inauguration was held here.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Buffalo is home to more than 261,000 people and encompassed 40.38 square miles in 2010.

The Buffalo Public Schools district is comprised of 45 elementary schools, 11 high schools and two adult education centers. There is a number of further education institutions in the area, including Buffalo State College ("Buff State" to the locals), Canisius College, Erie Community College, Niagara University and the State University of New York at Buffalo. SUNY Buffalo is the largest and most comprehensive of the 64 campuses that make up the SUNY network. It was attended by 28,860 undergraduate and graduate students in fall 2011 and offers a full spectrum of programs that range from dental medicine and pharmaceutical sciences to architecture and law.

Buffalo's multifaceted economy provides employment opportunities in a variety of sectors. The largest employers in Western New York include Kaleida Health and Catholic Health System, supermarket retailers Wegmans Foods Markets and Tops Markets, the Seneca Gaming Corporation (which runs the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino) and the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

According to City-Data's March 2012 cost of living index, the cost of living in Buffalo is 102.2 - near the national average of 100. The median gross rent of apartments in Buffalo is $656, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Niagara Falls State Park is arguably the biggest attraction in the Buffalo area, drawing millions of visitors each year. Both out-of-towners and locals are enchanted by the Cave of the Winds tour, Maid of the Mist® boat rides to the base of the falls, Niagara Gorge Discovery Center and more. The Peace Bridge that links the United States and Canada is just a short walk from the falls on both the Canadian and American sides of the Niagara River.

There are numerous opportunities to experience arts and culture in Buffalo. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery and Burchfield Penney Art Center are located across the street from each other. The former showcases iconic works by world-renowned artists, while the latter features creations by artists in the region, including watercolorist Charles E. Burchfield.

Sports fans in the Buffalo area can choose between taking in a Bills football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, a Sabres hockey game at the First Niagara Center or a Bisons baseball game at Coca-Cola Field.

Event- and festival-goers have no shortage of options in this city. The Taste of Buffalo food festival, held in July, is the largest of its kind in the country, while the local Polish community's Dyngus Day celebration has garnered national acclaim. During the summer, residents can enjoy free concerts every Thursday at the Harbor, Gospelfest and the Music is Art Festival.

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