Rochester, once known as The Flour City, and more
recently as The Flower City or The World's Image Centre, is
a city in Monroe County, New
York, United States.
The City of Rochester is the county seat for Monroe County. It is at the center of a larger Metropolitan Area which encompasses and extends past Monroe
County and includes Genesee County, Livingston County, Ontario County,
Orleans County, and Wayne
County. The Rochester Metro area is part of the Western New York region.
This large metropolitan area had a population of 1,037,831 people as of the 2000
Census. As of July 1, 2005, this population rose slightly to
1,039,028, making Rochester the third largest city in New York State with around 216,000 residents.
Principal suburbs of the city include Brighton, Chili, East Rochester, Fairport, Gates, Greece, Henrietta, Irondequoit, Penfield, Pittsford, Spencerport, Victor and Webster.
Rochester was ranked #6 among 379 U.S. Metro areas in the 25th edition of the Places Rated
Almanac for Most Livable Cities.[2]
In 2007, Rochester was ranked the #1 city in the country by Expansion Management
Magazine for best quality of life.
The current Mayor of Rochester is Robert Duffy.
Founding and early history
-
Aqueduct of the
Erie Canal as it was built in 1842, replacing the original construction from
1823. In the 1920s, the Broad Street Bridge was erected on top of it.
On November 8, 1803, a one-hundred acre (ca. 40
ha) tract of land in Western New York along the Genesee
River was purchased by Colonel Nathaniel Rochester, Major Charles Carroll, and Colonel William Fitzhugh, all of
Hagerstown, Maryland. The site was chosen because of three cataracts on the Genesee, offering great potential for water power. Beginning in 1811, and with a population
of fifteen, the three founders surveyed the land and laid out streets and tracts. In 1817, the Brown brothers (of Brown's Race)
and other landowners joined their lands with the Hundred Acre Tract to form the Village of Rochesterville.
By 1821, Rochesterville was the seat of Monroe County. In 1823, Rochesterville consisted of acres ( km²) and 2,500
residents, and the Village of Rochesterville became known as Rochester. Also in 1823, the Erie
Canal aqueduct over the Genesee River was completed, and the Erie Canal east to the
Hudson River was opened. Later, after the advent of railroads, the presence of the canal in the center city became bothersome, and it was re-routed south of
Rochester. By 1830, Rochester's population was 9,200 and in 1834, it was re-chartered as a city.
Rochester was first known as "The Young Lion of the West", and then as the "Flour City". By 1838, Rochester was the largest
flour-producing city. Having doubled its population in only ten years, Rochester became known as America's first
"boomtown."
In 1847, Frederick Douglass founded the abolitonist newspaper The North Star in Rochester.
Douglass, a former slave and an antislavery speaker and writer, gained a circulation of over 4,000 readers in the United States,
Europe, and the Caribbean. The North Star served as an important forum for abolitionist views.
In the early 20th century, Rochester also became a center of the garment industry, particularly in men's fashions. It was the
home of such well-known enterprises as Fashion Park and Hickey-Freeman. In addition, it
was home to the pioneer automobile company Cunningnam,
produced by carriage maker James Cunningham and Sons.[3]
The population reached 62,386 in 1870, 162,608 in 1900, and 295,750 in 1920. By 1950, population of the city had reached an
all-time high of 332,488, and had declined to 219,773 by 2000.
Geography and climate
Rochester skyline from the Cobbs Hill water reservoir
Rochester is located at 43°9′56″N, 77°36′41″W (43.165496,
-77.611504).1 The city is east of
Buffalo, west of Syracuse and sits on the
southern shore of Lake Ontario. The Genesee River
bisects the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 96.1 km² (37.1 mi²). 92.8 km² (35.8 mi²) of it
is land and 3.3 km² (1.3 mi²) of it (3.42%) is water.
Rochester's geography comes from the glaciers during the Cenozoic era. The retreating glaciers created the Genesee Valley and left rolling hills (drumlin fields) around it, including (from west to east) Mt. Hope, the hills of Highland Park, Pinnacle
Hill, and Cobb's Hill. The glaciers also left behind Lake Ontario (one of the five
fresh-water Great Lakes), the Genesee
River with its waterfalls and gorges, Irondequoit Bay, Sodus Bay, Braddock's Bay, Mendon Ponds, numerous local streams and
ponds, the Ridge, and the nearby Finger Lakes.
According to the City of Rochester, the city has 537 miles (864 km) of public streets, 585 miles (941 km) of water mains,
44 vehicular and eight pedestrian bridges, 11 public libraries, two police stations (one for the east side, one for the west),
and 16 fire stations. The principal source of the city's water is Hemlock Lake, which, with
its watershed, is wholly owned by the city. Other water sources are Canadice Lake and
Lake Ontario. The 30-year annual average snowfall is 95.0 inches (2.4 m). The mean
July temperature is 71.3 °F (21.8 °C), and the
mean February temperature is 23.6 °F (−4.7 °C).
Rochester lies in the Humid continental climate zone, and has four distinct
seasons, although its often cold and snowy winters may garner the most attention. Autumn features brilliant foliage colors, and
summer sees warm comfortable temperatures that usually stay in the low to mid 80s. Precipitation is plentiful year round.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Rec High °F |
74 |
73 |
84 |
93 |
94 |
100 |
98 |
99 |
99 |
91 |
81 |
72 |
| Norm High °F |
31.2 |
33.2 |
42.7 |
55.2 |
67.9 |
76.6 |
81.4 |
79.1 |
71.1 |
59.7 |
47.2 |
36.1 |
| Norm Low °F |
16.6 |
17.3 |
25.2 |
35.3 |
46.1 |
55 |
60 |
58.7 |
51.3 |
41.1 |
32.6 |
22.7 |
| Rec Low °F |
-17 |
-19 |
-7 |
13 |
26 |
35 |
42 |
36 |
28 |
20 |
5 |
-16 |
| Precip (in) |
2.34 |
2.04 |
2.58 |
2.75 |
2.82 |
3.36 |
2.93 |
3.54 |
3.45 |
2.6 |
2.84 |
2.73 |
| Source: USTravelWeather.com [3] |
Demographics
Rochester
Population (1840-2004)[4] |
| 1840 |
20,191 |
| 1850 |
36,403 |
| 1860 |
48,204 |
| 1870 |
62,386 |
| 1880 |
89,366 |
| 1890 |
133,896 |
| 1900 |
162,608 |
| 1910 |
218,149 |
| 1920 |
295,750 |
| 1930 |
328,132 |
| 1940 |
324,975 |
| 1950 |
332,488 |
| 1960 |
318,611 |
| 1970 |
296,233 |
| 1980 |
241,741 |
| 1990 |
231,636 |
| 2000 |
219,773 |
| 2004 |
212,481 |
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 219,773 people, 88,999 households, and 47,169 families
residing in the city. The population density was 2,368.3/km² (6,132.9/mi²). There
were 99,789 housing units at an average density of 1,075.3/km² (2,784.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.30%
White, 38.55% African American, 0.47% Native American, 2.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.58% from other races, and 3.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.75% of the population.
Rochester has the largest deaf population per capita in the United States.[citation needed] Rochester is home to world-renowned programs for the deaf, at the
National Technical Institute for the Deaf (part of the
Rochester Institute of Technology) and at the University of Rochester.
There were 88,999 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.1% were married couples living together, 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.0% were
non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.19.
The city population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to
64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For
every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a city household was $27,123, and the median family income was $31,257. Males had a median income of
$30,521, versus $25,139 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,588.
About 23.4% of families and 25.9% of the population were below the poverty line,
including 37.5% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The Rochester area is home to a number of international businesses, including Fortune
1000 companies Eastman Kodak, Constellation
Brands, and Paychex, as well as several national and regional companies. Because of the
high prevalence of imaging and optical science among the industry and the universities, Rochester is known as the world capital
of imaging. The Institute of Optics of the University of Rochester is ranked number one in the country, and the Rochester Institute of Technology has one of the best imaging science departments in
the country. In 2005, the University of Rochester became the largest employer in the Rochester area, surpassing Kodak.
The Gannett newspaper company and Western
Union were both founded in the Rochester area by Frank Gannett and Hiram Sibley respectively.
Food and Beverage
Rochester's most famous and unique cuisine - the "
Garbage Plate".
One food product that Rochester is proud to call its own is the famous "white hot," made by
the local Zweigle's company, which can be found at numerous area restaurants and hot dog
stands. The white hot is essentially a German weisswurst.
Another local specialty is the "garbage plate," first served at Nick Tahou Hots.
Fitting with its impact on the world of hot dogs and burgers, Rochester is also home to French's Mustard, whose eponymous address is 1 Mustard Street. Boss Sauce,
another condiment is also manufactured in Rochester by American Specialty Manufacturing Company, Inc.Nance's mustard is produced by Baldwin-Richardson in nearby Macedon, NY.
Rochester is also home to Wet Planet Beverages, producer of Jolt Cola and other premium beverage products. High Falls Brewing
Company, maker of the Genesee brands of beers and JW Dundee's brand (Honey Brown) also calls Rochester home.
Arbor Mist wines are also produced in nearby Canandaigua, NY by owner Constellation Brands.
National frozen food manufacturer Birds Eye is headquartered in suburban Rochester.
Helluva Good Cheeses and Seneca Foods are headquartered in
nearby Wayne County. The Ragu brand of pasta sauce was originally produced in Rochester, and the
Francesco Rinaldi brand of pasta sauce is currently manufactured in Rochester.
Other local franchises include: Bill Gray's (a hamburger/hotdog joint that lays claim to
having "The World's Greatest Cheeseburger"), Country Sweet (known for their chicken wings and unique BBQ sauce), Tom Wahl's, Dibella's, Great Northern Pizza
Kitchen, Zebb's, Don's Original, and Abbott's Frozen Custard. Dinosaur Bar-b-que also
operates their second ever franchise downtown in an old Lehigh Valley Railroad
station on the Genesee River.
The Rochester area is the birthplace of the Wegmans Grocery store chain, which
now has locations throughout the Northeast and Northern Virginia. In 2005, they were rated the #1 best company in America to work
for by Fortune Magazine.
Major area shopping centers
Top Five employers
As of 2006, the top employers in the city are:
--Found on RochesterBiz.com
Companies
Several companies have their corporate headquarters in the Greater Rochester area.
'The digital camera was invented in Rochester'
The city once was the corporate HQ to Gannett, French's, Western Union, Champion (sportswear) and Xerox.
Many large companies also have a significant presence in Rochester.
Education
Education is one of Rochester's primary economic areas. The city and its suburbs are home to a number of colleges and universities:
Together with Alfred University, SUNY
Alfred,Empire State College, SUNY Geneseo, and Hobart and
William Smith Colleges, each within an hour of Rochester, these institutions comprise the Rochester Area Colleges consortium.
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester (U of R), consistently ranked among the top 35
universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and
deemed by Newsweek "one of the new Ivies,"[5] has some of the best undergraduate programs in the country when it comes to the arts, sciences, and
engineering, and the medical school has top ranked research programs and one of the best primary care curricula in the nation.
The business school is also at the top of its class in many categories.
The University of Rochester's Laboratory For Laser Energetics (LLE)
is home to the second highest energy laser in the world, the OMEGA laser. OMEGA is capable of
emitting light at a power 100 times the electrical power output of the country in less than one billionth of a second. The LLE is
currently constructing the OMEGA EP laser, which will be 50 times more powerful than OMEGA and will be the most powerful laser in
the world, able to manifest power densities high enough to examine hawking
radiation-like phenomena in the laboratory. The U of R's Laboratory for Laser Energetics is especially important now,
because it serves at the US's main laser fusion program while the Department
of Energy is building the National Ignition Facility. "The Laboratory
for Laser Energetics has played a leading, national role in efforts to develop nuclear fusion as a reliable energy source and in
the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship program," says University
President Joel Seligman.
The University of Rochester is also home to its Eastman School of Music,
which, according to U.S. News and World Report, is ranked the number one music school in America.[citation needed]
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is the tenth largest
private University in the country in terms of full-time students and is known for its science, computer, engineering, and art
programs. RIT is also home to the National Technical Institute for
the Deaf, with an outstanding program for the education of deaf people and a top ranked American Sign Language program.
Monroe Community College
Monroe Community College (MCC) is known as one of the best community college
systems in the nation, and has very highly ranked soccer and basketball teams. MCC is home to The Mercer Gallery where students
and artists from all over the country exhibit work on a regular basis, located on MCC's Brighton Campus.
Roberts Wesleyan College
Roberts Wesleyan was ranked as the 3rd Best Value Private College in the U.S. by the Princeton Review in 2007—the only school in New York State to be ranked in the top 10.[citation needed] It is also Rochester's only college
affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges &
Universities.[citation needed]
Culture and recreation
Rochester is home to a number of cultural institutions including the world renowned Garth
Fagan Dance, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, (a full
philharmonic orchestra being unusual for a city the size of Rochester) the George Eastman
House International Museum of Photography and Film, the Memorial Art Gallery, the Rochester Museum & Science Center,
the Strong - National Museum of Play, the A|V Room, the
Strasenburgh Planetarium, and numerous arts organizations. Rochester's
Geva Theatre Center is the city's largest professional theatre.
Park lands
The city's Victorian era Mt. Hope Cemetery includes the final resting
place of several famous Americans, including Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and George Baldwin Selden (inventor of
the automobile). Rochester is also known for its extensive park system, including the Highland Park, Cobb's Hill Park, Durand-Eastman Park, Genesee Valley Park, Maplewood Park, Edgerton Park, Seneca
Park and Ontario Beach Park.
The city also has 13 full-time recreation centers, 19 swimming programs, 3 artificial ice rinks, 66 softball/baseball fields,
47 tennis courts, 5 football fields, 7 soccer fields, and 43 outdoor basketball courts. Echoing its famous history as the Flower
City, Rochester has a yearly Lilac Festival for ten days in May, when nearly 400 named
varieties of lilacs bloom, and 100,000 visitors arrive from as far away as Europe and Japan.
Suburban Mumford is home to the Genesee Country Village and
Museum, a combination of: a model village, where numerous examples of local architecture are preserved; sporting art and
carriage museums; a nature center; and model gardens.
To Rochester's south is the scenic Letchworth State Park, the so-called "Grand
Canyon of the East", with its spectacular canyon and waterfalls. Also to the south and southeast is the glacially-formed
Finger Lakes Region, with its numerous lakes and waterfalls.
Festivals
Rochester has developed a number of festivals that celebrate the many aspects of Rochester life, and most of which occur
between late spring and all throughout summer. These include the Rochester International Jazz Festival, established in 2002; the Corn Hill Festival (arts, crafts, and food in this historic Third Ward neighborhood); the Rochester-High Falls International Film Festival (held at the
George Eastman House's Dryden Theatre and
the Little Theatre downtown); the Image Out/Gay & Lesbian
Film Festival (also held at the Little Theatre); the Clothesline Art Festival (artists
from the region display their works on the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery);
the Park Avenue Merchants Festival; the Lilac
Festival at Highland Park (world famous for its lilac bushes);
the Rose Festival at Historic Maplewood Park; two annual Greek festivals - one on East Avenue (in June) and one on South Avenue
(in September); the Puerto Rican Festival; the Rochester Music Festival; and the Cold Rush Winter Celebration (celebrating the wide variety of winter sports in the Rochester area).
During the summer, and especially on the 4th of July, downtown after dark is lit up with fireworks and a laser show at the
High Falls Entertainment venue.
Vernacular
In the Greater Rochester Area, a soft drink can be referred to as "pop" or "soda", while hotdogs can be called "red hots" or
"white hots" to distinguish the common (red) hotdog from its local hotdog variant which includes powdered milk in its
ingredients. A banquet facility is known as a "party-house".
The nearby town of Chili is not pronounced like the food, but with long "i"s:
"CHY-lye". The neighborhood of Charlotte is not pronounced like the North
Carolina city but rather with the accent on the second syllable: "shar-LOT". The suburb of Riga is pronounced "RYE-ga" rather than the "REE-ga" pronunciation of the Eastern European city. The
suburb of Bergen is pronounced "BER-jin" rather than "BER-gen" like the county in New
Jersey.
Accent
A "Rochester accent" can be described as a form of Inland Northern American
English, like a "Chicago accent" or a "Detroit accent". It has also been described as "nasally", most easily recognized by
the vocalization of the short "a" (æ) sound: "and" is delivered
as something closer to "ee-uhnd", with the first part pronounced more like the name "Ian" or the final diphthong in "idea".
It is often described as including the pronunciation of the city itself as "Rach'str" (two syllables, using a vowel closer to
that of the word "bad"). The younger generations have, for the most part, a weaker accent.
Media
Rochester has one daily newspaper, the Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle. There are four free weekly publications: City,
which is an alternative news weekly; Rochester Insider, a weekly extension of the
Democrat and Chronicle geared towards the under 35 crowd;, Rochester ConXion,
another weekly extension of the Democrat and Chronicle geared toward the Latin American population and Golf Week Rochester which covers local, national and international golf. Other publications include the
Rochester Business Journal, covering the local business community; The Jewish Ledger newspaper, one of the oldest weekly running publications on Jewish life locally and
worldwide; and the monthly Empty Closet, New York's oldest gay and lesbian community newspaper.
Rochester has seven broadcast television stations:
Rochester's cable television provider is Time
Warner Cable, which provides R News, a 24-hour local news channel.
Points of interest
