Rochester, Minnesota
City of Rochester | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Rochester and the south fork of the Zumbro River | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Olmsted |
| Founded | 1854 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ardell Brede |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 97,191 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Website | http://www.rochestermn.gov |
Rochester is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The city was estimated to have population of 97,191 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
Rochester was founded by George Head in 1854.[1] Originally from Rochester, New York, Head had settled in Waukesha, Wisconsin before moving west to Minnesota. He named his new settlement after his New York hometown. In 1857 Rochester was named the Olmsted County seat. Rochester was a stagecoach stop for travelers who journeyed between Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Dubuque, Iowa. When the railroad came to town in the 1860s, it brought new residents and business opportunities.
On August 21, 1883, a tornado demolished much of Rochester, leaving thirty-seven dead and several thousand wounded. There was no medical facility at the time, so Dr. William W. 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 immensely and today is one of 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 to be patients at the Mayo Clinic.
Geography
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.
Demographics
Rochester was estimated to have a population of 97,191[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
82.51% White
10.57% African American
0.30% Native American
4.63% Asian
0.04% Pacific Islander
1.16% from other races
1.79% from two or more races.
1.99% Hispanic of the population.
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
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 ($22.00) 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. 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
On a more local level, Rochester is home to five schools at the high school age range. These are Mayo High School, Century High School, Chaiffer Acadamy, John Marshall, and Lourdes High School. Among these, Chaiffer claims the lowest attendance followed closely by Lourdes but easily dwarfed by the other three main public high schools in town. Lourdes is a private, catholic school located downtown just a few blocks from the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. While Century is out on the Northeastern edge of town with Chaiffer being almost due south about three miles. John Marshall is also centrally located just barely in the northern half of town and a mere stone's throw from Assisi Hieghts. Mayo High School is the only one on the southern side of town and can be found by trecking briefly off of Highway 14 East. As far as athletics go, Century, J.M., and Mayo are all sectioned as A while Lourdes is the lone AA school in town with Chaiffer being a lowly AAA member. Although in a lower class, Lourdes is very competitive in almost every sport with all the schools in town. Countering that is Chaiffer, who scrapes together meager teams year after year.
Sites of Interest
A number of buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the former Chateau Theatre, which now houses a Barnes & Noble Bookstore and Cafe.
The city has three homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: the A. H. Bulbulian Residence, the James McBean Residence, and the Thomas Keys Residence.
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 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.
The brick motherhouse of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota on the wooded hill of Assisi Heights, can be seen from many parts of the city.
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.[3]
The Rochester Giants are a semi-professional football team formed in 2003.
The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club 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 Patriots is an amateur American Legion baseball 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 Track Club is an all-ages, all-seasons running club.
The Rochester Fire is a new professional basketball
Parks and recreation
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
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 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.
Rochester Orchestra & Chorale - The Rochester Orchestra & Chorale performs a variety of works under music director and conductor Jere Lantz.
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 - An elite 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, 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, 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. 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 [4] 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
- 88.7 KMSE Adult Album Alternative "The Current" (Minnesota Public Radio)
- 89.9 KRPR "Classic Rock Without The Talk"Classic rock (Rochester Public Radio,Inc.)
- 90.7 KZSE News & Talk (Minnesota Public Radio)
- 91.7 KLSE Classical music (Minnesota Public Radio)
- 92.9 KFSI[5] Christian
- 96.5 KWWK[6] "Quck 96.5" Classic country
- 97.5 KNXR Easy Listening
- 101.7 KRCH[7] "Laser 101.7" Classic rock
- 102.5 KMFX[8] "102.5 The FOX" Country
- 105.3/104.9 KYBA[9] "Y105" Adult Contemporary
- 106.9/106.3 KROC[10] Top 40
- 107.7/103.9 KLCX[11] Classic Hits
- AM radio
TV stations
- 3 KIMT (CBS) digital Ch. 42 - based in Mason City, Iowa
- 6 KAAL (ABC) digital Ch. 33 - based in Austin, Minnesota
- 12 KTTC (NBC) digital Ch. 36
- 15 KSMQ (PBS) digital Ch. 20 - based in Austin, Minnesota
- 47 KXLT (Fox) digital Ch. 46
- 56 K56HW (TBN) - Christian programming
- 58 K58GC (3ABN) - Christian programming
Notable residents
Frank B. Kellogg, who became U.S. Secretary of State, had a law office in the city in the 19th century. Harry Blackmun served as resident counsel for the Mayo Clinic from 1950 to 1959; he went on to become a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. United States Congressman Michael C. Burgess was born in the city and former Congressman Gil Gutknecht had made Rochester his home.
Shjon Podein, who played 699 games in the National Hockey League, was the first native of Rochester to be part of a major professional sport championship team,[citation needed] when the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in the 2001 season. Bryce Lampman, is an NHL player with the New York Rangers. Eric Strobel was a member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice Olympic Hockey Team. Michael Restovich is a Major League Baseball player. [citation needed]
Actresses Lea Thompson and Sheree J. Wilson were born in the city.
Retired NFL running back Darrell Thompson was born November 23, 1967 in Rochester, Minnesota. He attended John Marshall High School.
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) |
References
- ^ "History of Rochester". City of Rochester, MN.
- ^ "Tornado Strikes Rochester". Mayo Foundation for Medical and Educational Research.
- ^ "Rochester gets another shot at pro basketball". Rochester Post-Bulletin.
External links
- Rochester, Minn. Convention & Visitors Bureau
- City of Rochester, Minnesota
- Rochester Public Library, Minnesota
- Rochester, Minn. Crime Statistics, Maps, and Reports
