Several indigenous peoples such asDakota,Ojibway, andHo-Chunk inhabited the Rochester area.[9] The community was founded by George Head and his wife Henrietta, who built a log cabin named Head's Tavern in 1854. It was named for Head's hometown ofRochester, New York.[10] The city developed as astagecoach stop along the Zumbro River on a route betweenDubuque, Iowa, andSaint Paul, Minnesota. When theWinona and St. Peter Railroad initiated service in October 1864, it brought new residents and business opportunities and spurred growth.
In 1863,William W. Mayo arrived as the examining surgeon forUnion draftees in theCivil War. The1883 Rochester Tornado demolished much of Rochester, leaving 37 dead and approximately 200 injured. As there was no medical facility in the immediate area at the time, Mayo and histwo sons worked together to care for the wounded. Donations of US$60,000 (US$1,932,562 in 2022) were collected and theSisters of St. Francis, assisted by Mayo, opened a new facility namedSt. Marys Hospital in 1889.[11]
Rochester lies alongside the South Fork of the Zumbro River which is 57.6 miles (92.7 km) long[12] and is ringed by gentle hills and largely surrounded by farmland within adeciduous forestbiome. The Zumbro Watershed flows through 1,422 square miles (3,680 km2)[13] of agricultural and urban lands. Located in southeast Minnesota, the City of Rochester lies at the western edge of theDriftless Area, a region that was never glaciated and contains deeply-carved river valleys. The rugged terrain is due both to the lack of glacial deposits, or drift, and to the incision of the upper Mississippi River and its tributaries into bedrock. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 54.75 square miles (141.80 km2), of which 54.59 square miles (141.39 km2) of it is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) is water.[14] The city is located 85 miles (137 km) southeast ofMinneapolis–Saint Paul.[15]
Rochester is inOlmsted County, one of only four counties in Minnesota without a natural lake.Artificial lakes exist in the area, includingSilver Lake, a dammed portion of the South Fork Zumbro River just below the convergence with Silver Creek near the city center. Silver Lake was once used as acooling pond when the coal-burningpower plant was operated by Rochester Public Utilities at the lake. When operational, the RPU coal plant's heated water output prevented the lake from generally freezing over during the winter months, attracting large numbers ofmigratinggiant Canada geese. Large murders ofcrows are known to flock to Rochester during winter, including the Rochester cemetery downtown.[16]
Rochester has an extensive parks system, the largest of which are Silver Lake and Soldiers Field in the central part of the city. A major flood in 1978 led the city to embark on an expensive and successful flood-control project that involved altering many nearby rivers and streams. The Zumbro River flowing through the center of the city is presently being readdressed for increased development and use as part of city planning in conjunction with funding from the Destination Medical Center project.
With a slightly higher altitude and without the sameUrban heat island effect as theTwin Cities, the climate iswarm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen:Dfb), which is cooler than the Twin Cities, despite being further south, with warm summers and cold winters.[17] The city features four distinct seasons. Rochester sees on average 33.02 inches (839 mm) of rainfall and 51.9 inches (132 cm) of snowfall per year. Significant snow accumulation is common during the winter months. Spring and fall are transitional seasons, with a general warming trend during the spring and a general cooling trend during the fall. However, it is not uncommon to see some snowfall during the early month of spring and the later month of fall.[18] Rochester is the second windiest city in theUnited States, with wind speeds averaging 12.6 mph (20.3 km/h).[19] January to April are the windiest months on average, according to The Weather Channel. Rochester has been hit by twoF4 tornadoes since 1950 (the first on May 10, 1953, and the other on September 16, 1962).[20] The city has also been hit by two tornadoes in the past decade. On June 17, 2010, a tornado hit the city's northwest side, damaging or destroying several homes and businesses around the Lincolnshire neighborhood.[21] Another tornado struck the city on June 4, 2019, causing damage to parts of Southwest Rochester.[22]
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
In terms of ancestry, the 2005–2007 American Community Survey foundGerman Americans to be the largest single ethnic group in Rochester, making up 35.5% of the city's population.Norwegian Americans made up 15.9%, whileIrish Americans contributed to 11.6% of the city's populace.English Americans made up 8.2% of the population andSwedish Americans were 5.0% of the city's population. In the mid-1980s Rochester had fewer than 40 Hmong persons.[15] The1990 United States census counted 200 Hmong persons in Rochester. This increased to 300 by 1998. Cathleen Jo Faruque, author of "Migration of Hmong to Rochester, Minnesota: Life in the Midwest," wrote in 2003 that there was "every indication that this trend will continue".[27]
There were[when?] 43,025 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% weremarried couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.6% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.04.
The median age in the city was 35 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 12.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
As of the 2011–2015 American Community Survey, the median household income was $68,023.[28]
Rochester, Minnesota – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Mayo Clinic forms the core of Rochester's economy. As of 2016, it employs 51,000[32] people and draws more than 2 million visitors annually.[33] The clinic's many facilities, along with hotels, restaurants and retail stores, comprise nearly all of the city's downtown. Excluding the state government, Mayo Clinic is the largest employer in Minnesota.[34] Other care providers, including theRochester Federal Medical Center, are significant employers.
TheRochester Technology Campus is a sprawling 2.56 million sq. ft. leasable facility with uses ranging from office space, manufacturing, warehousing, data centers, and laboratories. It has been home to several technology companies. This is where IBM designed and produced itsmidrange computer series.[35] It was also the home of the firstBlue Gene prototype and contributed the servers forRoadrunner.[36]
The economy of Rochester is also influenced by the agricultural nature of the region. There are multiple dairy producers that are active in the area. In addition, Kerry Flavours and Ingredients, a subsidiary of the global Irish company calledKerry Group, maintains a production plant in Rochester that specializes in fermented ingredients, found in breads, meats and other processed foods.
DowntownHilton, completed in 2019, is one of the first major DMC projects.
In 2013, GovernorMark Dayton signed a bill known as Destination Medical Center (DMC). It intends to increase Minnesota's tax base, and promote business and economic growth throughout the state.[38] Because of this legislation, The Mayo Clinic will invest in $3.5 billion to upgrade patient rooms, add additional workspace, and build research and administrative buildings.[39]
The main developments of this plan will be in the DMC sub-districts. TheDowntown Waterfront district will cover The Government Center, The Civic Center, and most areas near theZumbro River. TheCentral Station district includes Central Park and most of Civic Center Drive, aimed to become a transportation hub of the city.St. Marys Place will cover St. Marys hospital and St. Marys Park, as well as most of 2nd Street. TheHeart of the City will feature the Mayo Clinic campus and major residential, commercial, and retail companies. TheDiscovery Square area will include scientific and technology research facilities. Lastly, TheUMR and Recreation district will feature Soldiers Field and theUniversity of Minnesota Rochester campus.[40]
Founded in 1946, the Rochester Art Center is located downtown, just south of the Mayo Civic Center. In 2017, the Rochester Art Center's financial troubles[43] brought a renewed focus on the need for both formal and informal arts spaces in the city.[44]
In the summer from June to the end of August, every Thursday the city puts on Thursdays Downtown[45] where local restaurants and artists can set up booths all along First Avenue downtown Rochester. There are two stages where bands perform and provide entertainment. There are also a number of street musicians sitting on walls or standing on the sidewalks.
The oldest cultural arts institution in the community, Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale was founded in 1919 as a professional performing arts organization called the Rochester Orchestra. Its earliest ensemble, the Lawler-Dodge Orchestra, was founded in 1912 as a volunteer orchestra, driven by Daisy Plummer, wife of Mayo Clinic physician,Dr. Henry Plummer, and directed by Harold Cooke. In the early years, the Orchestra appeared in the formerChateau Theatre where they performed background music for silent movies.
Pop's Art Theater, anindependent movie theater, opened in 2023, following the closure of Grey Duck Theater in the same space.[46][47]
Rochester has an extensive network of bike and pedestrian paths.
Rochester's city park system has more than 100 sites covering 5 square miles (13 km2), including parks located alongBear Creek andSouth Fork Zumbro rivers. The city also maintains 85 miles (137 km) of paved trails.[51]
The city also maintains four public golf courses: Northern Hills, Eastwood Golf Club, Hadley Creek, and Soldiers Field Golf Course located downtown.[52] In addition, a number of private courses are located in the Rochester area, including Willow Creek Golf Club, Oak Summit Golf Club, and the Rochester Golf and Country Club along with a number of courses in smaller surrounding communities. The city of Rochester has also started the bike share program for its community members where the registered members and visitors can rent a bike for free through one of its bike share locations atRochester Public Library, Peace Plaza or Rochester City Hall.[53]
The foundation of Rochester State Hospital began in 1875 as the Minnesota Inebriate Asylum funded by a tax on liquor dealers. Land was purchased in 1876 and construction began in 1877, including the building of a hospital and the park nearby which was used by the patients and their families. In 1965, the park was transferred from the hospital to the state for the use of general public and since then there have been various developments in the park including the laying of paved trails. The 329-acre (133 ha) park contains over 8 mi (13 km) of paved and hiking trails, a pond, and a historical sandstone cave carved in 1882. This soft St. Peter sand stone cave was dug in the late 1800's to store food for the patients of the state hospital. The cave was later abandoned with the invention of modern refrigerators, and is now a historic site.
Quarry Hill Nature Center is the center stone of the Quarry Hill Park in Rochester. The Nature Center opened in 1973, and was expanded in 1990. In 2017, the facility added additionalnordic skiing. These facilities include modern educational facilities, and a 19th-century prairie style home where skis and snow shoes could be rented.[54]
Rochester is governed by amayor-council government with a seven-membercity council.[55] The current mayor isKim Norton.[56] As of July 2025, the city council comprises: Randy Schubring, City Council President; Patrick Keane, 1st Ward; Nick Miller, 2nd Ward; Norman Wahl, 3rd Ward; Andy Friederichs, 4th Ward; Shaun Palmer, 5th Ward; and Dan Doering, 6th Ward.[57]
All municipal elected offices in Rochester are non-partisan, as stated in the city'scharter.[58]
Rochester is the seat ofOlmsted County, run by a seven-member elected county board, each representing district residents.[59] The County Board of Commissioners oversee county operations and address citizen concerns. When a commissioner is elected, they are elected to serve a 4-year term. When that term ends, the commissioner can run for re-election if they so desire. The County Attorney and the County Sheriff are also elected to 4-year terms and can run for re-election when the term expires if they choose. Each of these elected officials acts as the director for his/her office, and are accountable to the residents of Olmsted County.[60]
Rochester falls under the Olmsted County District Court within the Third Judicial District of the State of Minnesota.[61]
Rochester continues to trend Democratic in local and federal elections which has resulted in Olmsted County also seeing a shifting electorate.[64] In the2020 presidential election PresidentJoe Biden obtained nearly 60% of the vote in the city, the highest vote total for a Democratic candidate in history.
Courtyard and greenhouse of John Marshall Senior High SchoolMayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Rochester Public Schools enroll 16,300 students in 23 publicprimary andsecondary schools.[66] The city is divided into three public high school attendance zones:John Marshall,Mayo andCentury. Private schools in the city includeLourdes, Schaeffer Academy, and Rochester Central Lutheran School amongst various smaller private religious schools. Studio Academy, a fine arts-focusedcharter school operated for 10 years in Rochester and closed its doors in 2011 upon losing its charter.[67][68] The Rochester STEM Academy opened in 2011, occupying the former Studio Academy building.
According to the United States Census Bureau 2011–2015, the number of high school graduates or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+ was 94.1%. The number of bachelor's degree or higher percent of persons age 25+ was 41.3%.[28]
The city newspaper is thePost-Bulletin, an afternoon paper which publishes Monday through Saturday. The Post-Bulletin company also publishesRochester Magazine, a monthly features periodical.[71][72]
There are four television stations based in Rochester:KTTC channel 10.1 (NBC),KTTC-(CW) channel 10.2, andKXLT-TV channel 47 (Fox) are a virtual duopoly. The stations share studios as part of a special agreement betweenGray Television andSagamoreHill Broadcasting.ABC affiliateKAAL (channel 6) andCBS affiliateKIMT (channel 3) are also based in Rochester. Channel 15KSMQ (PBS) in Austin and channel 24KYIN (PBS) inMason City are among the stations that serve the market. KAAL islicensed to Austin and KIMT is licensed to Mason City, but have a studios in Rochester. KIMT opened a studio in Rochester in late 2017, which now serves as the main setting for their newscasts.
The Rochester area is provided cable service byCharter Communications, which holds a monopoly in the area. Indiana-based Metronet is currently in the process of developing thefiber-optic network to provide cable service to Rochester.[73]
Rochester is served by threeU.S. highways (U.S. 14,U.S. 52, andU.S. 63), and the southern edge of Rochester is skirted byInterstate 90 andState Highway 30. Olmsted County Highway 22 is also a main highway in the city. A combination ofskyways and subterranean walkways link most downtown buildings, which residents often use to avoid harsh winter weather conditions. Public bus transit is run byRochester Public Transit. Its operations are carried out byFirst Transit. The City of Rochester encourages biking through its numerous trails and to facilitate the biking program all the city buses have bike carriers for easy transportation of bikes.
Rochester International Airport is located seven miles (11 km) south of downtown. The airport is the second busiest commercial airport in Minnesota.[74] It has direct flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, and Minneapolis, with occasional charter flights servicing Riverside Resort inLaughlin,Nevada.[75] Nonstop flights to Phoenix and Fort Myers were scheduled to begin in early 2022.[76]
Rochester has a shuttle service connecting to the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport by Rochester Shuttle Service and Groome Transportation (formerly Go Rochester Direct).
Rochester is planning a 2.6 mi (4.2 km)bus rapid transit line known asLink. The route will have seven stations along 2nd Street SW and is expected to open in 2025. It will be the first bus rapid transit line in Minnesota outside theTwin Cities.[78]
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