Rochester is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan on the northern outskirts of metro Detroit. The population was 10,467 at the 2000 census. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 11,002. The City of Rochester is bordered on the north, south, and west by the City of Rochester Hills.

Rochester has great natural beauty due to the three waterways that surround the city, abundant green space of three parks, and two winding nature trails. Residents can enjoy fishing in the Clinton River or biking along the Paint Creek Trail.

"Rochester", or the "Rochester Area", are often used to describe Rochester, Oakland Township, and Rochester Hills.

History

The first settlers in what would become Rochester, the Graham family, built a log cabin in 1817. The cabin was located where the "Quik-Pik & Penn Station" store is at the intersection of Main and Second Street.

One of the founding families, the VanHoosen family, are the most famous settlers of Rochester, MI. Their house, located in VanHoosen park, is still standing today. Many tourists come to take a tour inside the house and around to their barn.

The city was named for Rochester, New York.

By 1895, Rochester's population was 900.

The city became an industrial center with abundant waterpower from the Clinton River and Paint Creek. Rochester was served by two railroads as well as the Detroit United Railway, a passenger trolley to Royal Oak and Detroit.

Chapman Mill Pond, east of downtown, disappeared into the Paint Creek when the dam broke during the flood of 1946. The reclaimed land is the site of the current post office, library, and Olde Towne Road.

Michigan was declared the 26th state in 1837, and the Village of Rochester was formed on April 12, 1869, within the boundaries of Avon Township. The Village of Rochester became a city in 1966, breaking away from Avon Township. Avon Township became the City of Rochester Hills in 1984.Source: Rochester-Avon Historical Society. Rochester: Preserving History, a Pictorial Journey. Rochester, Mich.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 mi² (10.0 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,467 people, 4,667 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,710.6 per square mile (1,047.0/km²). There were 5,056 housing units at an average density of 1,309.3/sq mi (505.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.39% White, 2.24% African American, 0.25% Native American, 3.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.68% of the population.

There were 4,667 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 37.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $65,179, and the median income for a family was $92,078. Males had a median income of $62,486 versus $37,107 for females. The per capita income for the city was $36,989. About 0.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The City of Rochester is governed by a seven-member city council and its mayor. City policy is then administered by a full-time city manager. The government provides full city services, including police, fire and water/sewer services, although newer developments in the eastern part of the city utilize the Detroit city water system.

Education

Rochester Community Schools is the public school district encompassing Rochester and surrounding areas. As of 2007, a total of 14,500 students receive instruction in the district, which has four high schools: Rochester High School, Rochester Adams High School, Stoney Creek High School and A.C.E. High School.

Oakland University, a public university with more than 18,000 students, officially maintains a hometown relationship with the city of Rochester (as well as a Rochester mailing address) despite being located in neighboring Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills. University and city officials signed a partnership agreement in 2003 to formally recognize the relationship between Rochester and OU.

Arts and recreation

• Paint Creek and Clinton River Trails - City is at the cross section of two major "Rails-to-Trails" projects: the Paint Creek Trail and Clinton River trail. These trails are used for recreational activities, like biking and walking. They connect to several major parks, including Bloomer Park, Rochester Municipal Park, Stoney Creek Metropark and the Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve.
• Paint Creek Center for the Arts - The Paint Creek Center for the Arts is a community non-profit art center providing studio art classes for children and adults, and a year-round exhibition of fine art.
• Rochester Avon Recreation Authority - The Rochester Avon Recreation Authority (RARA) has been a recreation provider to Rochester and Rochester Hills since 1946. It provides recreation programs from 12 months to adults in a variety of areas, such as dance, sports classes, sport leagues, pre-school classes, special events, fitness, skiing, etc.
• Older Persons Commission - The Older Persons Commission provides social and educational activities, nutritional meals, senior resource services, as well as health and wellness programs to community members 60+ years of age, in a new state-of-the art facility built in 2002.
• Farmer's Market - The Farmer's Market takes place every Saturday, May through October, in downtown. It features fresh produce, flowers, handmade goods and other products from Michigan.
• City Festivals - Several festivals take place in downtown: Dancing in the Streets (August), Music in the Park (Thursdays in summer), Arts and Apples Festival (Fall), and the Heritage Festival (Memorial Day Weekend).
• Hometown Christmas Parade - The city has held the annual "Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade" since 1951. It features over 100 units, and since 2003 has been broadcast on local Detroit television station WXYZ-TV.
• Big, Bright Light Show - In 2006, the city had its first "Big, Bright Light Show" for the Christmas season. The downtown businesses were covered in 500,000 individual lights. A panoramic view can be seen here: http://www.greatlakesap.com/recent/panos/rls.html. Also aired by WXYZ-TV.
• Avon Players Theatre - Avon Players is a nonprofit community theater group located only two miles from the heart of downtown Rochester. Avon Players performances included award-winning dramas, British farces, Broadway musicals, and spine-tingling mysteries.

Buildings of note

Established in 1817, Rochester was one of Oakland County’s first settlements. Twenty two buildings on Main Street are more than 50 years old, and several are on the State Register of Historic Places.

• Rollin Sprague Building - The oldest building in the downtown is the Rollin Sprague building, built in 1849 of coursed cobblestone. Since 1930 it houses "The Home Bakery".
• Opera House - The Opera House Building opened on November 8, 1890 as the social and cultural center of town. It featured movies, lectures, dances, commencements, etc, until 1933. Refurbished in 1987, it houses Lytle Pharmacy today.
• Rochester Grain Elevator - Located at the corner of University Drive and Water Street, is the Rochester Grain Elevator (originally named Griggs Grain Elevator), a red barn built in 1880. Until the 1970s, farmers brought their grain to the elevator to be shipped to Detroit. After that time, its primary use has been as a supply store.

• Royal Park Hotel - In September 2004, the Royal Park Hotel, a four-star, four-diamond luxury hotel, opened in downtown Rochester. It cost $43 million to build. Several celebrities have stayed there, including President George W. Bush while seeking reelection.
• Western Knitting Mills - The Western Knitting Mills, a large brick building on Water Street, was built in 1896. At one time, its output of 100,000 dozen pairs of gloves annually made it one of the largest glove producers in the world. Today the mill is fully restored, and home to The Rochester Mills brewery restaurant and several businesses.

People of note

• Madonna, singer and entertainer graduated from Rochester Adams High School in 1976. She was chosen for induction in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for 2008. She also attended Holy Family Regional School and West Middle School.
• Peter Vanderkaay, Olympic swimmer graduated from Rochester Adams High School in 2002. He won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 4x200 free style relay. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Vanderkaay won the bronze medal in the 200m freestyle and the gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
• Tommy Clufetos drummer for Rob Zombie,Alice Cooper,Ted Nugent graduated from Rochester Adams High School
• Roxy Petrucci, drummer of all-female rock/metal band Vixen in the 1980s.
• Paul Davis, professional basketball player graduated from Rochester High School and earned Mr. Basketball of Michigan honors in 2002. He played for Michigan State University and was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2006.
• Robert Simpson Woodward, physicist and mathematician was born in Rochester, Michigan in 1849. Among many achievements, he was a professor at Columbia University, president of the American Mathematical Society, and Dean of Carnegie Institute in Washington.
• Dita Von Teese, burlesque artist, model and actress.
• Jason Varitek, catcher for the Boston Red Sox, was born in Rochester, Michigan on April 11, 1972. In 2005 he was named the captain of the Red Sox, the third player given the honor.
• Bob Keselowski, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, and his sons Brad and Brian.
• Michael Suhy, Local wildlife photographer, awarded by national geographic in 2006.
• Aileen Wuornos (born as Aileen Pittman), infamous American serial killer, born in Rochester, Michigan.
• Craig Owens, lead singer of the band Chiodos and various other side projects lives in Rochester,Michigan

Ed Colini Smith, One of the best teenage magicians in the country in the 1960s. Graduated from RHS in 1968. Later an inventor with several dozen patents in Power Electronics.

See also

• Images of Rochester, Michigan
• List of Registered Historic Places in Oakland County, Michigan

References

External links

• City of Rochester
• Downtown Rochester