Rochester, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rochester, Pennsylvania
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Downtown Rochester
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Location in Beaver County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Beaver |
| Settled | 1799 |
| Incorporated | 1849 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.73 sq mi (1.89 km2) |
| • Land | 0.59 sq mi (1.52 km2) |
| • Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2) |
| Elevation | 810 ft (250 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,472 |
| • Density | 5,904.76/sq mi (2,279.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip Code |
15074
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| Area code(s) | 724, 878 |
| FIPS code | 42-65392 |
Rochester is a small town, called a borough, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. It sits where the Beaver River meets the Ohio River. Rochester is about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Pittsburgh and is part of the larger Pittsburgh area. In 2020, about 3,472 people lived there.
Like many towns near Pittsburgh, Rochester used to be a busy industrial center. It was home to the H. C. Fry Glass Company. It was also a very important stop for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Rochester has even been a filming location for movies like Gung Ho (1986), Kingpin (1996), and Wonder Boys (2000).
Contents
History of Rochester
The area where Rochester is now was once a Lenape village called Sawcunk. White settlers first arrived in 1799. At that time, it was part of the American frontier. The area had a few different names, like East Bridgewater and Fairport.
The town got its name Rochester in 1834. A local businessman who often traveled to Pittsburgh wanted a special name for his goods. He chose Rochester, and the town officially became a borough with that name in 1849.
Street Names and Their Past
Many streets in Rochester today once had names based on wild animals. For example, Virginia Avenue was called Fox Lane. Adams Street was known as Tiger Lane. Deer Lane still exists today. It is the only street left with its original animal-themed name.
Glass Making in Rochester
After the American Civil War, Henry Clay Fry and his friends started a glass company in Rochester. It was first called the Rochester Tumbler Company. In 1897, it became the National Glass Company of Rochester.
This company was important because it helped bring pressed glass production to America. Before, glass was often blown by hand into shapes. With pressed glass, hot glass was pushed into a mold. At its busiest, the National Glass Company employed over 1,000 people. However, the company went bankrupt during the Great Depression. This led to a long decline in Rochester's population, which continues today.
Rochester and the Railroad
Rochester was a key railroad junction for the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was located along the main train line that connected the Eastern United States to Chicago.
Geography of Rochester
Rochester is located at coordinates 40°42′11″N 80°17′0″W / 40.70306°N 80.28333°W. The U.S. Census Bureau says the borough covers about 0.7 square miles (1.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.1 square miles (0.26 square kilometers) is water.
Population of Rochester
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 993 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,376 | 38.6% | |
| 1870 | 2,091 | 52.0% | |
| 1880 | 2,552 | 22.0% | |
| 1890 | 3,649 | 43.0% | |
| 1900 | 4,688 | 28.5% | |
| 1910 | 5,993 | 27.8% | |
| 1920 | 6,957 | 16.1% | |
| 1930 | 7,726 | 11.1% | |
| 1940 | 7,441 | −3.7% | |
| 1950 | 7,197 | −3.3% | |
| 1960 | 5,952 | −17.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,819 | −19.0% | |
| 1980 | 4,759 | −1.2% | |
| 1990 | 4,156 | −12.7% | |
| 2000 | 4,014 | −3.4% | |
| 2010 | 3,657 | −8.9% | |
| 2020 | 3,472 | −5.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 3,437 | −6.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 4,014 people living in Rochester. The population density was about 6,861.5 people per square mile (2,649.2 people per square kilometer). The median age was 39 years old.
Education in Rochester
Children in Rochester attend schools within the Rochester Area School District. The schools that serve Rochester are:
- Rochester Elementary School – for students in grades K–5
- Rochester Middle School – for students in grades 6–8
- Rochester Area High School – for students in grades 9–12
Famous People from Rochester
Many notable people have connections to Rochester, Pennsylvania:
- Christina Aguilera – a Grammy award-winning pop music singer.
- Barney Cable – an NBA basketball player from 1958 to 1964.
- Mickey Davis – a basketball player.
- Tony Dorsett – a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back.
- Mark Grater – a Major League Baseball player.
- Juliet Greer – an educator and college dean.
- Kirby Griffin – an American football player.
- Kris Griffin – a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns.
- Babe Parilli – Vito "Babe" Parilli, an All-Star quarterback for the Boston Patriots.
- Major General Joseph Henry Pendleton – a war veteran. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton was named after him.
- Oliver B. Shallenberger – an electrical engineer and inventor.
- Mark Vlasic – an American football quarterback.
- Lauryn Williams – a 2005 100m World champion sprinter and Olympic gold and silver medalist.
Images for kids
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Downtown Rochester
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Location in Beaver County and Pennsylvania
See also
In Spanish: Rochester (Pensilvania) para niños
