Rochester is a suburb of Detroit, Michigan in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,467 at the 2000 census. The City of Rochester is bordered on the north, south, and west by the City of Rochester Hills.

While most of Rochester is residential in nature, it is considered to be one of the communities which make up Automation Alley, a high-tech company corridor located along Interstate 75 in Oakland County.

Rochester has great natural beauty due to the three waterways that surround the city, abundant green space of three parks, and two winding nature trails. Residents can enjoy fishing in the Clinton River or biking along the Paint Creek Trail.

In 2005, Rochester was named in the top 100 of "Best Places to Live" in the CNN/Money survey of Great American towns.

History

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The first settlers in what would become Rochester, the Graham family, built a log cabin in 1817. It was named for Rochester, New York. By 1895, Rochester's population was 900.

The city became an industrial center with abundant waterpower from the Clinton River and Paint Creek. Rochester was served by two railroads as well as the Detroit United Railway, a passenger trolley to Royal Oak and Detroit.

Chapman Mill Pond, east of downtown, disappeared into the Paint Creek when the dam broke during the flood of 1946. The reclaimed land is the site of the current post office, library, and Olde Town Road.

Michigan was declared the 37th state in 1837, and the Village of Rochester was formed on April 12, 1869. The village of Rochester became a city in 1966.

Source: Rochester-Avon Historical Society. Rochester: Preserving History, a Pictorial Journey. Rochester, Mich.

Demographics

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As of the census² of 2000, there were 10,467 people, 4,667 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,047.0/km² (2,710.6/mi²). There were 5,056 housing units at an average density of 505.7/km² (1,309.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.39% White, 2.24% African American, 0.25% Native American, 3.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.68% of the population.

There were 4,667 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 37.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in...