Rochester, New York

Rochester is a city located in Monroe County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 219,773. East of Buffalo and west of Syracuse on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in western New York State, Rochester straddles the Genesee River as it flows northward, draining into Lake Ontario. Rochester is the county seat of Monroe County, New York. It is the third largest city in New York State, after New York City and Buffalo. The city is served by Greater Rochester International Airport, Amtrack, and Trailways Bus Lines, and is a major exit for the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90). It also is served by the New York State Barge Canal, successor to the famous Erie Canal.

History and Culture

Western New York after the American Revolution was opened up for development after New York and Massachusetts settled their competing claims for the area in 1783. The Indian titles to the area were extinguished by the Treaty of Buffalo Creek (1788) and the Treaty of Geneseo (1791). The area from Lake Ontario to the Pennsylvania border and from Senaca Lake west to Lake Erie and the Niagara River was then subdivided and sold in three large tracts: the Phelps & Gorham Purchase (2.5 million acres east of the Genesee River, 1788); the Holland Land Co. Purchase (3.3 million acres west of the Genesee, 1791), and the Connecticut Tract (100,000 acres from the Genesee River 35 miles to the west and south from Lake Ontario 30 miles south, 1793).

In 1789, Ebenezer "Indian" Allen built a grist mill in exchange for a 100-acre tract at the west end of the Upper Falls of the Genesee, which was eastern boundry of the Connecticut Tract, and across the river from the western side of the Phelps & Gorham Purchase. The location, however, was so deep in the wilderness that only 12 men were in the area to assist in the mill's construction. The area was a dense forest and swamp, and infested with rattlesnakes and mosquitoes that spread 'Swamp Fever' or what we now call malaria. With no settlers, and no demand for mills, Indian Allen sold the 100-acre tract and mill in 1792 to Benjamin Barton, Sr., and abandoned area for Canada. This property was re-sold several more times.

The first permanent settlement in the Rochester area was in 1803, when Col. Nathaniel Rochester (1752-1831) and two partners purchased the 100 acre- tract and began development. Originally informally called "Falls City," the settlement was re-named Rochesterville and incorporated as a village in 1812 and re-incorporated as a city in 1834, and re-named "Rochester," in honor of its leading citizen. Col. Rochester was born in Westmoreland Co. Virginia in 1752, but raised in North Carolina. He was in business in Hagerstown, Maryland from 1783 to 1810. He first visited "Genesee Country" in about 1800 In 1810 he moved from Hagerstown to Dansville, New York, and in 1818 to Rochesterville. The city was originally known as the Flour City, based on its early industrial history as a site for grain mills, located along waterfalls on the Genesee in what is now the Brown's Race area of downtown Rochester. Once the Erie Canal opened in 1823, 40,000 barrels of Rochester flour were shipped to Albany and New York City the first ten days, and local millers ground 25,000 bushels of wheat to flour daily. By 1834, 20 flour mills produced 500,000 barrels annually, and by 1838 Rochester was the largest flour producing city in the world. But after the Panic of 1837, many mills moved west to be closer the the newer wheat producing areas.

Later Rochester became known as the Flower City due to the large number of nursery and horticultural establisments in the late 19th Century, especially cultivating lilacs. The city still has a yearly lilac festival for two weeks in May when nearly 400 named varieties of lilacs bloom, with 100,000 visitors coming from as far away as Europe and Japan.

In the 20th Century, Rochester's industrial base broadened to include Eastman Kodak Co., Bausch and Lomb, and Xerox Corporation.

Rochester is home to a number of colleges and universities, including the the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Saint John Fisher College, Roberts Wesleyan, Nazareth College, and the Eastman School of Music. The city is also host to a number of international businesses, including Eastman Kodak, which makes Rochester its world headquarters, as well as Xerox and Bausch and Lomb. Rochester is also home to Wegmans, Paychex, Papa John's Pizza, and Helluva Good Cheese.

Rochester is also home to a number of cultural institutions including the Rochester Phiharmonic Orchestra, the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, the Memorial Art Gallery, the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Strong Museum, and the Strasenburg Planetarium.

The city's Victorian era Mt. Hope Cemetery includes the final resting place of several famous Americans, including Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. See List of Rochesterians Rochester is also known for its extensive park system, including Highland Park, Cobb's Hill Park, Durand-Eastman Park, Genesee Valley Park, Maplewood Park, Seneca Park and Ontario Beach Park. The city also has 13 full time recreation centers, 1 full time center for older adults, 6 part time programs for older adults, 14 part time recreation programs, 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.

South of Rochester is the scenic Letchworth State Park with its spectacular canyon and waterfalls. Also to the south and southeast is the glacially-formed Finger Lakes Region, with its numerous lakes and summer cottages.

According to the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, Rochester's population was:

• 89,366 in 1880
• 133,896 in 1890
• 162,608 in 1900, of whom 40,748 were foreign-born (including 15,685 Germans; 7746 English-Canadians; 5599 Irish; 3909 English; 1777 Russians; and 1278 Italians) and 601 were African-American.

Geography

Rochester is located at 43°9'56" North, 77°36'41" West (43.165496, -77.611504)¹.

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 is water. The total area is 3.42% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 219,773 people, 88,999 households, and 47,169 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,368.3/km² (6,132.9/mi²). There are 99,789 housing units at an average density of 1,075.3/km² (2,784.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 12.75% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 88,999 households out of which 30.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.1% are married couples living together, 23.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 47.0% are non-families. 37.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.36 and the average family size is 3.19.

In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $27,123, and the median income for a family is $31,257. Males have a median income of $30,521 versus $25,139 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,588. 25.9% of the population and 23.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 37.5% are under the age of 18 and 15.4% are 65 or older.

Sports

Rochester has two professional sports teams: Rochester Red Wings (International League) baseball club and Rochester Americans (AHL) hockey club. Both franchises are minor league level teams.

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Rochester is also a place in Rochester, Ulster County, New York and in Minnesota.