Rochester, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rochester, Michigan
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| City of Rochester | |||
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Top-to-bottom, left-to-right: Downtown Rochester, Ascension Providence Hospital, Rochester's welcome sign, Downtown Rochester's Christmas Lights
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Location within Oakland County
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 Rochester, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Michigan | ||
| County | Oakland | ||
| Settled | 1817 | ||
| As village | 1869 | ||
| Incorporated (city) | 1967 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor–council | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 3.83 sq mi (9.92 km2) | ||
| • Land | 3.83 sq mi (9.92 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 751 ft (229 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 13,035 | ||
| • Density | 3,402.51/sq mi (1,313.75/km2) | ||
| • Metro | 4,296,250 (Metro Detroit) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code(s) |
48306–48308
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| Area code(s) | 248 and 947 | ||
| FIPS code | 26-69020 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0636069 | ||
Rochester is a city in Oakland County, Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Metro Detroit, about 20 miles (32 km) north of the city of Detroit. In 2020, about 13,035 people lived there.
Rochester was the first European settlement in Oakland County, started in 1818. It became a village in 1869 and then a city in 1967. The city is mostly surrounded by Rochester Hills. It also shares a border with Shelby Township to the east.
Contents
Exploring Rochester's Neighborhoods
The city of Rochester has a few different neighborhoods:
- Stony Creek is a neighborhood on the northeast side of the city. It is right on the border with Rochester Hills.
- The Bluffs is a neighborhood in the southeast part of the city. It also borders Rochester Hills.
- Yates is a neighborhood shared with Shelby Charter Township and Rochester Hills.
A Look Back at Rochester's History
Long ago, the Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Wyandot peoples lived in the Rochester area. The first European settlers arrived in 1817. The Graham family built a log cabin where 3rd Street is today. The city was named after Rochester, New York, because many early settlers came from New York.
Rochester became a busy industrial town. It used the strong water power from the Clinton River and Paint Creek. These waterways are now used for nature, fishing, and beauty. In the past, Rochester had factories that made sugar, paper, and even gloves. The Western Knitting Mills factory was one of the biggest glove makers in the world. Rochester also had two railroads and an electric train line connecting it to Royal Oak and Detroit.
A large pond called Chapman Mill Pond used to be east of downtown. It disappeared in 1946 when its dam broke during a flood. Today, the land where the pond was is home to the post office and library.
Michigan became a state in 1837. The Village of Rochester was officially formed on April 12, 1869. By 1895, about 900 people lived there. In 1967, the village became the City of Rochester. Later, in 1984, the city grew much larger by adding about 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) of land from Avon Township. Avon Township then became the City of Rochester Hills.
Rochester's Location and Size
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers a total area of about 3.82 square miles (9.90 km2). All of this area is land.
After adding land from Avon Township, Rochester's eastern border now reaches the border of Macomb County.
Fun Things to Do in Rochester
Rochester is known for its fun events and beautiful lights.
Holiday Celebrations
- The city has held the "Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade" every year since 1951. It takes place on the first Sunday in December and has over 100 groups participating. People say it is Michigan's biggest Christmas parade.
- In 2006, Rochester started the "Big Bright Light Show" for Christmas. Downtown businesses were covered in 500,000 lights. Later, this grew to over one million lights! It was even shown on TV.
Historic Buildings and Modern Marvels
Rochester was one of the first settlements in Oakland County, started in 1817. Many buildings on Main Street are over 50 years old. Some are even listed on the State Register of Historic Places.
- The Rollin Sprague Building is the oldest business building downtown. It was built in 1849 from cobblestone. Since 1930, it has been home to "The Home Bakery."
- The Opera House Building opened in 1890. It was the main place for social and cultural events. It showed movies, hosted talks, and held dances until 1933. Fun fact: an opera was never actually performed there! Today, it houses a pharmacy.
- The Rochester Grain Elevator looks like a red barn. It was built in 1880. Farmers used to bring their grain here to be sent to Detroit. Now, it is mostly a supply store. It was restored in 2009 to look like it did in the past.
- The Royal Park Hotel is a fancy, four-diamond hotel that opened in 2004. It cost $43 million to build. Many famous people have stayed there, including Paul McCartney and former President George W. Bush.
- The Western Knitting Mills is a large brick building from 1896. It used to be one of the biggest glove makers in the world. Now, it is restored and home to The Rochester Mills brewery restaurant and other businesses.
- The RCS Administration Center used to be Rochester High School. It was built in 1889. The building has been used for schools since 1847. Today, it holds the offices for Rochester Community Schools.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
- Paint Creek and Clinton River Trails are great for outdoor activities. They are old railroad lines turned into trails for biking and walking. They connect to parks like Bloomer Park and Stoney Creek Metropark.
- Paint Creek Center for the Arts is a place where you can learn about art. It offers art classes for kids and adults. It also shows art by Michigan artists and helps with community events.
- Rochester Avon Recreation Authority (RARA) offers many fun programs. They have dance, sports, fitness, and special events for people of all ages, from babies to adults.
- Rochester Municipal Park is the biggest park in the city. It has trails, two playgrounds, tennis courts, and an outdoor stage. You can also find the Rochester Community House here. The park hosts free events like the Art & Apples Festival and summer concerts.
Rochester's Economy and Events
Rochester has a lively downtown area with many shops. A Farmer's Market takes place every Saturday from May to October. You can find fresh produce, flowers, and handmade items from Michigan there.
Downtown Rochester hosts several city festivals:
- The MI Earthday Festival happens on Earth Day weekend.
- Dancing in the Streets is in August.
- Music in the Park is held on Thursdays during the summer.
- The Art & Apples Festival is the weekend after Labor Day.
- The Heritage Festival is on Memorial Day Weekend and includes classic car shows.
Other events include Girls' Night Out, the Gallery Walk, and the Fire And Ice Festival. The Rockin' Rods classic car show in August features hundreds of cool cars.
The Older Persons Commission helps people aged 50 and older. They offer social activities, educational programs, meals, and health services.
Who Lives in Rochester?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 996 | — | |
| 1890 | 900 | −9.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,535 | 70.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,516 | −1.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,549 | 68.1% | |
| 1930 | 3,554 | 39.4% | |
| 1940 | 3,759 | 5.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,279 | 13.8% | |
| 1960 | 5,431 | 26.9% | |
| 1970 | 7,054 | 29.9% | |
| 1980 | 7,203 | 2.1% | |
| 1990 | 7,130 | −1.0% | |
| 2000 | 10,467 | 46.8% | |
| 2010 | 12,711 | 21.4% | |
| 2020 | 13,035 | 2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, the average income for a family in Rochester was about $92,078. The average income for one person was about $36,989. Very few families (0.6%) and people (2.7%) lived below the poverty line.
Rochester's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 12,711 people living in Rochester. There were 5,514 households, and 3,195 families. The city had about 3,319 people per square mile (1,281 per km2).
Most people (88.6%) were White. Other groups included African American (3.7%), Asian (5.5%), and people of two or more races (1.5%). About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 30.9% of households had children under 18. About 47.3% were married couples. The average household had 2.31 people, and the average family had 3.09 people.
The average age in the city was 38.3 years. About 25.1% of residents were under 18. About 11.5% were 65 or older. There were slightly more females (52.0%) than males (48.0%).
Learning in Rochester
Rochester is part of the Rochester Community Schools district. Most students in Rochester go to Stoney Creek High School. A small part of the city's west side goes to Rochester High School. Both high schools are in Rochester Hills.
Oakland University is a large university nearby. Even though it is in Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills, it has a Rochester mailing address.
Famous People from the Rochester Area
Many notable people have lived in or are from the Rochester area (including Rochester Hills and Oakland Township):
- Madonna Ciccone: A famous artist and entertainer who grew up in Rochester Hills.
- Jimmy Carson: A former professional hockey player in the NHL.
- Maxx Crosby: A defensive lineman for the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.
- Tommy Clufetos: A drummer for famous musicians like Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper.
- Paul Davis: A professional basketball player who played for Michigan State University.
- Marshall Bruce Mathers III (Eminem): A Grammy-winning rapper, actor, and producer.
- Eric Fisher: A lineman for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.
- Hal Foster: An award-winning artist and writer of the comic strip Prince Valiant.
- Amy Frazier: A professional tennis player who played in 20 consecutive US Open tournaments.
- Jay Gibbons: A Major League Baseball player.
- Andrew Good: A Major League Baseball player.
- Shawn Hare: A Major League Baseball player.
- Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: Fantasy artists known for the original Star Wars movie poster.
- Max Jones: A hockey player for the Anaheim Ducks.
- Brad Keselowski: A NASCAR driver and 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion.
- Bob Keselowski: A NASCAR driver, and father of Brad and Brian.
- Walt Kowalczyk: A professional football player.
- Jana Kramer: A country music artist.
- Tim Lelito: A guard for the Detroit Lions.
- Elmore Leonard: A famous novelist and screenwriter.
- Alec Martinez: A professional hockey player for the Los Angeles Kings.
- Karen Newman: A singer for the Detroit Red Wings.
- Craig Owens: The lead singer of the band Chiodos.
- Kevin Pereira: A game show host.
- Roxy Petrucci: The drummer for the rock band Vixen.
- Zach Putnam: A baseball pitcher.
- Brian Sell: A retired marathon runner.
- Joey Sturgis: A record producer.
- Rude Jude: A television and radio personality.
- Ron Teachworth: An educator, artist, writer, and filmmaker.
- Jacob Trouba: An ice hockey player for the New York Rangers.
- Peter Vanderkaay: A swimmer who won gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
- Jason Varitek: A catcher for the Boston Red Sox and a two-time World Series champion.
- Dita Von Teese: A burlesque artist, model, and actress.
- Christian Wolanin: A hockey player for the Ottawa Senators.
- Robert Simpson Woodward: A physicist and mathematician.
See also
In Spanish: Rochester (Míchigan) para niños
