Rochester is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The city was estimated to have
population of 94,950 as of April 1, 2005, making it Minnesota's
third-largest city and the largest outside the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington
Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is perhaps best known as the home of the Mayo
Clinic. The city is also home to one of IBM's largest facilities. The city has long been a
fixture on Money magazine's "Best Places to Live" index, and is ranked number 67
on the 2006 list.[1]
History
The area was once occupied by nomadic Sioux, Ojibwa and Winnebago tribes of Native Americans. In 1851, the Sioux ceded the land to Minnesota Territory in the treaties of Traverse des
Sioux and Mendota. In 1853, the treaties were concluded, opening the land for
settlement. Rochester was founded by George Head in 1854, his claim part of what is now the city's business district.[1] Originally from Rochester, New York, Head had settled in Waukesha,
Wisconsin before moving west to Minnesota. He named the village on the South Fork of the Zumbro River after his New York hometown, and built a log cabin his family operated as Head's Tavern. By
1856, the population had grown to 50; and by 1858, it was 1,500. The Territorial Legislature created Olmstead County on
February 20, 1855, with Rochester named county seat in 1857. In addition to farming, Rochester developed as a
stagecoach stop between Saint Paul, Minnesota,
and Dubuque, Iowa. When the railroad arrived in the 1860s, it brought new residents and business opportunities. In 1863, Dr.
William W. Mayo arrived as the examining surgeon for draftees in the
Civil War.
On August 21, 1883, the Great Tornado demolished much of Rochester, leaving thirty-seven dead and several thousand
wounded. There was no medical facility at the time, so Dr. Mayo and his two sons worked together to care for the wounded. $60,000
in donations were collected and the Sisters of St. Francis, assisted by Dr. Mayo,
opened a new facility named St. Marys Hospital in 1889.[2] The Mayo practice grew and is today among the largest and most
well-respected medical facilities in the world. Many famous people from around the world, including former Presidents George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and King Hussein of Jordan, have visited Rochester as patients of the
Mayo Clinic.
Notable residents
- Harry Blackmun, justice
- Michael C. Burgess, congressman
- Henry Cluney, musician
- Gil Gutknecht, congressman
- Frank B. Kellogg, secretary of state
- Bryce Lampman, hockey player
- Charles Horace Mayo, physician
- William James Mayo, physician
- William Worrall Mayo, physician
- Matt Meyer, baseball player
- Shjon Podein, hockey player
- Michael Restovich, baseball player
- Eric Strobel, hockey player
- Alec Tackmann, XFL running back
- Darrell Thompson, football player
- Lea Thompson, actress
- Sheree J. Wilson, actress
- Doug Zmolek, hockey player
Geography
Skyline along South Fork of the Zumbro River
Rochester lies along the South Fork of the Zumbro River. According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 103.0
km² (39.8 mi²) - 102.6 km² (39.6 mi²) of it is
land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.35%) is water.
Rochester is in Olmsted County, one of only four counties in Minnesota
without a natural lake. Artificial lakes exist in the area, including Silver Lake, a
dammed portion of the South Fork Zumbro River just below the convergence with Silver Creek near the
city center. The lake was used as a cooling pond for the nearby electrical power plant for many years, although the amount of water
used for this purpose has been significantly reduced. Heated water in the lake generally prevents it from freezing over even
during Minnesota winters, attracting migrating giant
Canada geese, which have become symbols of the city.
A major flood in 1978 led the city to embark on an expensive flood-control project that
involved altering many nearby rivers and streams.
Minnesota is in the Central Standard Time (CST -6:00 GMT) zone and central daylight time.
Climate
Below is a table of average high and low temperatures throughout the year in Rochester.
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Avg high °F (°C) |
20 (-7) |
26 (-3) |
39 (4) |
55 (13) |
68 (20) |
77 (25) |
80 (27) |
78 (26) |
69 (21) |
57 (14) |
39 (4) |
24 (-4) |
| Avg low temperature °F (°C) |
4 (-16) |
11 (-12) |
23 (-5) |
35 (2) |
46 (8) |
56 (13) |
60 (16) |
58 (14) |
49 (9) |
37 (3) |
24 (-4) |
10 (-12) |
Demographics
Rochester was estimated to have a population of 94,950[2] as of April 1, 2005. The 2000 census²
counted 85,806 people, 34,116 households, and 21,493 families in the city. The population
density was 836.4/km² (2,166.3/mi²). There were 35,346 housing units at an average density of 344.5/km² (892.4/mi²).
Racial Makeup
80.12% White
10.26% African American
4.50% Asian
1.93% Hispanic of the population.
1.74% from two or more races.
1.13% from other races
0.29% Native American
0.03% Pacific Islander
Of the 34,116 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18, 51.8% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were
made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43
and the average family size was 3.06.
Population is spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and
11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100
females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,090, and the median income for a family was $60,754. Males had a median
income of $40,380 versus $30,136 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$24,811. About 4.7% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Flocks of geese feeding in a
cornfield on the edge of Rochester.
Commerce and industry
The primary industries in Rochester are medical services, computer design and
programming, light manufacturing (mostly
computers and electronics), and substantial hotel and
restaurant trades serving visitors from around the world.
The largest enclosed shopping space in Rochester is Apache Mall.
The tallest building is the Oakwood Broadway Plaza.
The U.S. Federal Medical Center, Rochester, a health care facility
for federal prisoners, is on the campus of the former state hospital at the edge of the city.
Transportation
Rochester offers a skyway system, subterranean walkways (called the “subway” system), bus, car rental, and airport
shuttles.
Subway/Skyway - Rochester has climate controlled skyway and underground walkways known as subways. Downtown businesses,
hotels, shops and dining are all accessible without having to step outdoors in the winter. A variety of shops and businesses are
also located along the underground subways and skyways. The skyway and subway wheelchair accessibility is useful for patients of
the Mayo Clinic.
Bus Line - Rochester’s city-owned bus line connects many attractions, hotels, meeting facilities and major
industries. It also provides commuter services for a number of surrounding communities.
Taxi Service - There is one taxi company in Rochester.
Airport - Rochester International Airport is located eight
miles south of downtown Rochester and is accessible via Highway 63 or Interstate 90. Taxis and airport shuttles provide service
between the airport and the city’s business centers. The airport features two runways and service terminals operated by
American Airlines and Northwest Airlines.
A large FedEx terminal, small DHL station and general aviation
terminal are also on-site. The airport services flights from all over the world connected through American Eagle (American
Airlines) and Northwest Airlines. The Rochester Airport Company (RAC) operates the airport, and is currently under an operating
agreement with the City of Rochester. While RAC is a private company, the Mayo Clinic of Rochester oversees it, and has heavy
influence at the airport (as noticed by the similarity of signs throughout the airport compared to the signs throughout the Mayo
complex).
As in most American cities, the primary mode of transportation in Rochester and the
surrounding area is the automobile. The city is served by three U.S. highways (U.S. 14, U.S. 52, and U.S. 63), and the southern edge of Rochester is
skirted by Interstate 90 and Minnesota State
Highway 30.
Freight railroad service to and through the city is
provided by the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad.
Government
Politics
Rochester is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional
district, represented by Mankato educator Tim
Walz, a Democrat.
Education
The city is home to University Center Rochester (UCR), a grouping of
Rochester Community and Technical College, Winona State University's Rochester Center, and the University of Minnesota's Rochester campus and Cardinal Stritch University also has a
branch in Rochester. Crossroads College, a four-year nondenominational Christian
college, also is located in the city. The Minnesota School of Business opened a new campus in Rochester in 2006.
Graduate education is available through The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, the
research and education component of Mayo Clinic. The College of Medicine is comprised of
Mayo Medical School, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo School of Continuing Medical
Education, Mayo School of Health Sciences, and the Mayo Clinic Residency and Fellowship programs.
High Schools
There are seven high schools in Rochester:
Sites of Interest
- Rochester may also be home to the largest "ear of corn" in the world. Actually a
water tower, it is next to the Seneca Foods plant in
the city.
- Many of the tallest buildings in Rochester are owned by Mayo. The Gonda Building is
the tallest building owned by the clinic, and it is attached to the cross-shaped Mayo
Building. Mayo's Plummer Building is considered to be among the most
architecturally significant in the city. The tallest building in Rochester is the newly
constructed Oakwood Broadway Plaza, a residential dwelling catering to the many
extended-stay visitors who frequent Mayo. Broadway Plaza is also the tallest residential building in a US Metropolitan Area of
fewer than 200,000 people.[citation needed]
- IBM Rochester is a 3.6 million square feet (330,000 m²) structure on a business campus
in the northwest part of the city. It was initially designed by noted architect Eero
Saarinen.
Sports and recreation
Sports
- The Med-City Aquatics Swim Club offers
competitive youth and masters swimming. Swimmers from Med-City have competed at Division 1 Universities and at state and national
competitions.
- The Rochester A’s are a part of the American Legion Division I Baseball. In 2003, the A's
became only the fourth team from Minnesota to win the National American League World Series in its 77-year history.
- The Rochester Active Sports Club is a
multi-sport club for enthusiasts of sports such as cycling (MTB and road) and Nordic skiing in South East Minnesota.
- The Rochester Fire are a
semi-professional basketball team slated to begin play in 2007.[1]
- The Rochester Honkers is a summer collegiate baseball league. Top college players
from the Midwest and across the country participate. Home games are played at Mayo Field.
- The Rochester Ice Hawks hockey team made
Rochester their home in 2002 – 2003, moving from nearby Mankato, Minnesota. The Ice Hawks recruit players locally and nationally.
They are a Junior B United States Hockey League team.
- The Rochester Red Hawks baseball team is another American Legion club.
- The Rochester Royals
are an amateur baseball team that has called Mayo Field home since 1924. They won the state tournament in 2006.
- The Rochester Swim Club is a private swim
club founded over 40 years ago, and is the largest swim team outside of the Twin Cities. Knows as the Orcas, the club has
won the Division AAA State Meet for several years.
- The Rochester Athletic Club
is a source of recreation for many Rochester citizens, providing two swimming pools, a large exercise area, and eighteen tennis
courts. The Club is extremely well known for its junior tennis program, which is one of the premier tennis programs in the
Northern United States.
Parks and recreation
Rochester has a network of bike and pedestrian paths.
Biking/Hiking Trails - There are many opportunities to enjoy running, hiking, inline skating, biking or walking
throughout the city of Rochester. The city offers more than 60 miles of city trails, all paved.
The Root River and Douglas State Trails combine for nearly 55 miles in the near Rochester area. Developed on historic railroad
passages, the trails provide rural scenery, with a combination of paved and unpaved surfaces for wheels, hooves and shoes. The
Douglas Trail gently travels through a mix of forest and rolling fields, while the Root River Trail gives views of the soaring
limestone bluffs of the Root River Valley. The latter was newly paved in 1999 and features a choice of less and more challenging
areas. The Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail contributes 18 additional miles of trail, connecting with the Root River system.
All state trails have convenient parking lots with rest facilities.
Quarry Hill Nature Center offers more than five miles of trails covering 270 acres. Like the state trails, Quarry Hill’s
system links with the City Trail System.
There is a large park system in Rochester, with more than 100 sites covering 5 square miles (13
km²). There are several golf courses, including 2 disc golf
courses, among many other athletic facilities.
Arts & entertainment
Downtown as seen from the Rochester Art Center.
- Rochester Art Center - Opened in May 2004, the Rochester Art Center is a small art center with no permanent collection but a variety of temporary travelling
collections. The outdoor Zumbro Gardens is a terraced park and sculpture lawn stepping down to the edge of the Zumbro River.
- History Center of Olmsted County - The History Center of Olmsted County is located at 1195 West Circle Drive SW in Rochester. The History Center Museum also
includes a History Library and Genealogy Center at that location. Mayowood Mansion is also nearby and is owned and operated by
the History Center of Olmsted County.
- SEMVA Art Gallery - The South East Minnesota
Visual Artists Gallery is located in the Peace Plaza in downtown Rochester, offering a variety of works from southeastern
Minnesota artists ranging from pottery, woods, clothing, fabrics and canvas.
Mayowood Mansion in c. 1914
- Mayowood Galleries - Fine 18th and 19th Century English antiques and garden accents can be found at Mayowood
Galleries’ two locations, downtown and at the Mayowood Mansion.
- Chorale Arts Ensemble - This 40-voice auditioned choir performs choral and orchestral masterworks and vocal jazz. The
Choral Arts Ensembleis dedicated to the
creation and performance of new music, as well as the presentation of masterworks from the Renaissance to the 20th Century.
- Masque Youth Theatre - With a mission to involve young people in the theater arts, the Masque Youth Theater presents a variety of children’s plays
performed from October to June.
- Rochester Civic Theatre - Offering nine performances a year, including dramas, comedies and musicals, the Rochester Civic Theatre has presented Fiddler
on the Roof, It’s A Wonderful Life and The Adventures of Stuart Little.
- Rochester Community Band - The Rochester Community Band offers quarterly performances with additional summer festivals. It is open to all, without
an audition. It meets every Thursday from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the Lourdes High School Band Room (621 West Center Street).
- Rochester Repertory Theatre - The Rochester Repertory Theatre offers classical and contemporary works by a variety of artists. Past performances have
included Three Tall Women, The Foreigner and FoxFire.
- Southeast Minnesota Youth Orchestra - The Southeast Minnesota Youth Orchestra brings middle and high school students together to study music, learn to work
together, and contribute to the cultural life of the community.
- Swing Street - A group of musicians with a love of jazz. It plays at community events and private functions. The Swing
Street repertoire extends from the early days of jazz to modern arrangements.
Rochester Civic Music, presented by the City of Rochester, features free live music in their “Down By the Riverside” outdoor
summer concert series. Artists have included Joan Baez, Three Dog Night, Peter Fischer, The Marshall Tucker Band, and local acts.
Concerts are held Sunday evenings at Mayo Park behind Mayo Civic Center along the Zumbro River. RiversideLive! and Cabaret
Riverside are also presented by the City as a ticketed indoor concert series held from September to May. Additional publicly
funded music entertainment includes the annual Youth Concert featuring the Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestra and Honors
Choir of Southeastern Minnesota.
Each August, the Olmsted County Fair features a variety of musical entertainment, and the 1st Avenue Street Market &
Concert Series highlights local musicians throughout the summer season. Among other seasonal entertainment options, four gardens
in the Hawthorn Hills Neighborhood host the Rochester Orchestra and Chorale’s Annual Musical Garden Tour presented by the Eden
Garden Club, featuring local music ensembles.
A variety of Rochester nightspots, restaurants and other venues provide free music and entertainment. Dunn Bros Coffee, the
Redwood Room historic lounge, Shar’s Country Palace & Bar, CJ’s Midtown Lounge, and Whistle Binkies Old World Pub regularly
feature musicians and DJs with no cover charge. The Plummer Building in downtown Rochester, Michelson Franchising, Leo’s Pizza
Palace, the Calvary Episcopal Church, the Chateau Theatre, the Rochester Public Library, and the VFW hall are also venues for
free concerts, including bands, carillon bells, movies, magicians, and other performances.
Media
The city newspaper is the Post-Bulletin [3], an afternoon paper which publishes six days a week (no Sundays). Papers from the Twin Cities area are available
as well. The city magazine is the monthly Rochester Magazine [4]. There are two television stations based
in Rochester, KTTC channel 10 (NBC) and KXLT channel 47 (FOX). Both TV stations share studios as part
of a special agreement between Quincy Newspapers and Shockley Broadcasting. KAAL channel 6 (ABC) in Austin, Minnesota and KIMT [5] channel 3 (CBS) in Mason City, Iowa are among the stations that serve the market.
Rochester is on the fringe of the broadcast area of many Twin Cities radio and television stations, and signals from Iowa and Wisconsin reach the area as well. Radio broadcasters in the local market include:
Radio
- FM radio
- AM radio
TV stations
People Who Died in Rochester
Old Central Fire Station in c. 1910
- Richard S. Arnold, judge
- Amos W. Barber, surgeon & politician
- Joseph T. Bayly, author & publisher
- Franklin W. Fort, congressman
- Charles Eugene Fuller, congressman
- Robert K. Goodwin, congressman
- Daniel W. Hamilton, congressman
- James F. Hughes, congressman
- Bernhard M. Jacobsen, congressman
- John Albert Johnson, politician
- Abraham A. Low, psychiatrist
- Walter O'Malley, sports executive
- William James Mayo, physician
- William Worrall Mayo, physician
- Agnes Moorehead, actress
- Elmer A. Morse, congressman
- James William Murphy, politician
- Floyd B. Olson, politician
- Henry Stanley Plummer, physician
- Francis A. Schaeffer, theologian
- John R. Tyson, congressman
References
External links
Coordinates:
44.0234° N 92.46295°
W
