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Rochester, Michigan

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City of Rochester
City
"First Settlement in Oakland County. City of Rochester. Settled in 1817."
"First Settlement in Oakland County. City of Rochester. Settled in 1817."
Location of Rochester, Michigan
Location of Rochester, Michigan
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyOakland
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorStuart Bikson
 • City ManagerKenneth A. Johnson
Area
 • Total
3.9 sq mi (10 km2)
 • Land3.9 sq mi (10 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
751 ft (229 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
10,467
 • Density2,710.6/sq mi (1,047/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
48307
Area code248
FIPS code26-69020Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0636069Template:GR
Websitewww.ci.rochester.mi.us

Rochester is a suburb of Detroit, Michigan in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,467 at the 2000 census. The City of Rochester is bordered on the north, south, and west by the City of Rochester Hills.

While most of Rochester is residential in nature, it is considered to be one of the communities which make up Automation Alley, a high-tech company corridor located along Interstate 75 in Oakland County.

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.

In 2005, Rochester was named in the top 100 of "Best Places to Live" in the CNN/Money survey of Great American towns.

History

The Western Knitting Mills, built in 1896, was owned by the Chapman brothers.
First settlement in Oakland County, settled in 1817

The first settlers in what would become Rochester, the Graham family, built a log cabin in 1817. It 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 Town Road.

Michigan was declared the 37th state in 1837, and the Village of Rochester was formed on April 12, 1869. The village of Rochester became a city in 1966.

Source: Rochester-Avon Historical Society. Rochester: Preserving History, a Pictorial Journey. Rochester, Mich.

Demographics

Water Tower, City of Rochester, Michigan.

As of the census2 of 2000, there were 10,467 people, 4,667 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,047.0/km² (2,710.6/mi²). There were 5,056 housing units at an average density of 505.7/km² (1,309.3/mi²). 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 city manager and has a mayor and a seven-member city council. The government provides full city services, including police, fire and water/sewer services.

Education

Stoney Creek High School, Rochester, Michigan, established in 2001.

Oakland University, established in 1957, is located in Rochester. It was created by the donation of the 1,500-acre estate of Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of automobile magnate John Francis Dodge. The University has more than 90 professional certificate and graduate degree programs, as well as a campus of Thomas M. Cooley Law School. It is the only major university in Oakland County.

Rochester College, established in 1959, also brings young academia to the city. Primarily undergraduate, the college offers a developed continuing education and degree completion program for adult students.

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 three high schools: Rochester High School, Rochester Adams High School and Stoney Creek High School.

Arts and Recreation

The 8.5 mile Paint Creek Trail connects the cities of Rochester and Lake Orion, Michigan.
  • 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.

Buildings of Note

Rollin Sprague Building, built in 1849.

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 a 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.
The Royal Park Hotel opened in September 2004.
  • 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 U2'S Bono, usually when performing at the nearby Palace of Auburn Hills.
  • Western Knitting Mills - The Western Knitting Mills, a large brick building on Water Street, was built in 1896. At one time, it's 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 a brewery restaurant and several businesses.
  • Leader Dogs for the Blind - Founded in 1939, the city is home to a relatively large guide dog training school, Leader Dogs for the Blind. It is not uncommon to see guide dog teams walking around downtown and in the residential neighborhoods nearby.

People of Note

  • Madonna, entertainer - Singer and entertainer Madonna graduated from Rochester Adams High School in 1976. She also attended West Middle School.
  • Peter Vanderkaay, Olympic swimmer - Swimmer Peter Vanderkaay graduated from Rochester Adams High School in 2002. He won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 4x200 free style relay.
  • Robert Simpson Woodward, physicist/mathematician - Physicist and mathematician Robert Simpson Woodward 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.
  • Jason Varitek, professional baseball - Catcher for the Boston Red Sox. Jason Varitek 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.

See also

References

Rochester Public Library, downtown Rochester, Michigan.

City:

Education:

Older Persons' Commission, Rochester, Michigan.

Community:

History:

Rotary Gateway Park in Rochester, Michigan.

Recreation:

Arts:

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