Rochester, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Rochester is an affluent city in north Oakland County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
on the northern outskirts of metro Detroit
. The population was 12,711 at the 2010 census
. The city is bordered on the north, south, and west by the city of Rochester Hills
, and to the east by Shelby Township in Macomb 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.
Major airports around the area include Bishop International Airport
in Flint, Michigan
, and Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus, Michigan
.
The first settlers in what would become Rochester, the Graham family, built a log cabin in 1817. The cabin was located where the Quik Pik and Penn Station stores today exist at the intersection of Main and Second Street. The city was named for Rochester, New York
, just like Rochester, Minnesota
, as many early settlers to the area were formerly from the state of New York.
The city became an industrial center with abundant water power from the Clinton River
and Paint Creek
. The interconnected waterways are no longer used for travel or local industry, but provide natural beauty, some fishing, and a healthy portion of the Clinton Watershed. Historically, past industries formerly located in Rochester included a refinery for sugar beets, a paper products company, and the Western Knitting Mills factory, which was later adapted and utilized during World War II for incendiary production—businesses that no longer exist in the area. 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 Towne Road. Water Street, formerly situated at the edge of the large pond, remains by its name a reminder of the pond's former existence.
Michigan became the 26th state in 1837, and the Village of Rochester was formed on April 12, 1869, within the boundaries of Avon Township. The Village of Rochester became a city in 1966, breaking away from Avon Township. Avon Township became the City of Rochester Hills in 1984, after the city of Rochester annexed 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of Avon Township's land, more than doubling its size.
Source: Rochester-Avon Historical Society. Rochester: Preserving History, a Pictorial Journey. Rochester, MI. By 1895, Rochester's population was 900.
, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²), all land. Since an annexation of a section of Avon Township (now Rochester Hills), the city has an Eastern boundary that extends to the border with Macomb County.
. The television station website claims it to now be Michigan's largest Christmas parade.
In 2006, the city had its first "Big Bright Light Show" for the Christmas season. The downtown businesses were covered in 500,000 individual lights. An expansion of the program after its initial inception expanded that coverage to a reported one million lights. Also aired by WXYZ-TV
.
Established in 1817, Rochester was one of Oakland County’s first settlements. Twenty-two buildings on Main Street are more than 50 years old, and several are on the State Register of Historic Places.
Campus.
On Oakland University's campus - just 4 miles west of the center of Rochester - is the Meadowbrook Music Festival, offering a variety of entertainment ranging from classical music to stand-up comedians.
Several city festivals take place in downtown: Dancing in the Streets (August), Music in the Park (Thursdays in summer), Art & Apples Festival (weekend after Labor Day in September), and the Heritage Festival (Memorial Day Weekend), which includes two classic automobile shows. Other scheduled, traditional civic celebrations and activities include Girls' Night Out, the Gallery Walk, Lagniappe, the Sidewalk Sales, Movies In The Moonlight, and the two-day Fire And Ice Festival. The popular Rockin' Rods classic car show each August features hundreds of rare and unusual automobiles, both domestic and imported.
The Older Persons Commission provides social and educational activities, nutritional meals, senior resource services, as well as health and wellness programs to community members 60+ years of age, in a new state-of-the-art facility built in 2002.
of 2000, there were 10,467 people, 4,667 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,710.6 per square mile (1,047.0/km²). There were 5,056 housing units at an average density of 1,309.3 per square mile (505.7/km²). 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 the city was $65,179, and the median income for a family was $92,078. Males had a median income of $62,486 versus $37,107 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $36,989. About 0.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
is located in the nearby cities of Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills, though it maintains a Rochester mailing address. Rochester Community Schools is the public school district encompassing Rochester and surrounding areas. As of 2007, a total of 14,500 students receive instruction in the district, which has four high schools, all located in Rochester Hills: Rochester High School, Rochester Adams High School
, Stoney Creek High School
and A.C.E. High School.
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
on the northern outskirts of metro Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. The population was 12,711 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. The city is bordered on the north, south, and west by the city of Rochester Hills
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Rochester Hills is an affluent city in northeast Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 70,995. The city of Rochester is bounded on the north, south, and west by Rochester Hills...
, and to the east by Shelby Township in Macomb 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.
Major airports around the area include Bishop International Airport
Bishop International Airport
Bishop International Airport is an airport located in the city of Flint, Michigan. The third busiest airport in Michigan, it surpassed competitor MBS International Airport in terms of airline operations in 2002. In 2007, 1,072,420 passengers used Bishop Airport, followed by a slight drop to...
in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, and Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus, Michigan
Romulus, Michigan
Romulus is a suburban city of Metro Detroit, located in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 23,989 at the 2010 census, an increase from 22,979 in 2000. Romulus is home to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and a General Motors plant that opened in 1976...
.
History
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, just like Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Olmsted County. Located on both banks of the Zumbro River, The city has a population of 106,769 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it Minnesota's third-largest city and the largest outside of the...
, as many early settlers to the area were formerly from the state of New York.
The city became an industrial center with abundant water power from the Clinton River
Clinton River
The Clinton River is a river in southeastern Michigan in the United States.The main branch of the river rises from wetlands in Springfield Township, Oakland County, northwest of Pontiac. A series of dams create a number of small lakes west of Pontiac, the last of which is Dawson's Millpond. The...
and Paint Creek
Paint Creek (Michigan)
Paint Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Michigan, located in northern Oakland County and rising in Brandon Township in the northern part of the county. The creek drains through a series of lakes that lead into Lake Orion. Paint Creek continues as the outflow from the east end of Lake Orion in...
. The interconnected waterways are no longer used for travel or local industry, but provide natural beauty, some fishing, and a healthy portion of the Clinton Watershed. Historically, past industries formerly located in Rochester included a refinery for sugar beets, a paper products company, and the Western Knitting Mills factory, which was later adapted and utilized during World War II for incendiary production—businesses that no longer exist in the area. Rochester was served by two railroads as well as the Detroit United Railway
Detroit United Railway
The Detroit United Railway was a transport company which operated numerous streetcar and interurban lines in southeast Michigan. Although many of the lines were originally built by different companies, they were consolidated under the control of the Everett-Moore syndicate, a Cleveland-based group...
, a passenger trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
to Royal Oak
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
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 Towne Road. Water Street, formerly situated at the edge of the large pond, remains by its name a reminder of the pond's former existence.
Michigan became the 26th state in 1837, and the Village of Rochester was formed on April 12, 1869, within the boundaries of Avon Township. The Village of Rochester became a city in 1966, breaking away from Avon Township. Avon Township became the City of Rochester Hills in 1984, after the city of Rochester annexed 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of Avon Township's land, more than doubling its size.
Source: Rochester-Avon Historical Society. Rochester: Preserving History, a Pictorial Journey. Rochester, MI. By 1895, Rochester's population was 900.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²), all land. Since an annexation of a section of Avon Township (now Rochester Hills), the city has an Eastern boundary that extends to the border with Macomb County.
Culture
The city has held the annual "Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade" since 1951. It features over 100 units, and since 2003 has been broadcast live on local Detroit television station WXYZ-TVWXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV, channel 7, is an ABC-affiliated television station in Detroit, Michigan, USA. WXYZ-TV is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, and is the media company's largest-market TV station property...
. The television station website claims it to now be Michigan's largest Christmas parade.
In 2006, the city had its first "Big Bright Light Show" for the Christmas season. The downtown businesses were covered in 500,000 individual lights. An expansion of the program after its initial inception expanded that coverage to a reported one million lights. Also aired by WXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV, channel 7, is an ABC-affiliated television station in Detroit, Michigan, USA. WXYZ-TV is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, and is the media company's largest-market TV station property...
.
Architecture
Established in 1817, Rochester was one of Oakland County’s first settlements. Twenty-two buildings on Main Street are more than 50 years old, and several are on the State Register of Historic Places.
- Rollin Sprague Building - The oldest commercial building in the downtown is the Rollin Sprague building, built in 1849 of coursed cobblestone. Since 1930 it has housed "The Home Bakery".
- Opera House - The Opera House Building opened on November 8, 1890, as the social and cultural center of town. It featured movies, lectures, dances, commencements and other events until 1933. Ironically, an opera was never performed in the Opera House. Refurbished in 1987, it currently houses the Lytle Pharmacy.
- Rochester Grain Elevator - Located at the corner of University Drive and Water Street is the Rochester Grain Elevator (originally named Griggs Grain Elevator), in the form of a red barn, and built in 1880. Until the 1970s, farmers brought their grain to the elevator to be shipped to Detroit. After that time, its primary use has been as a supply store. An external restoration in the summer of 2009 worked toward returning the building to its former appearance.
- Royal Park Hotel - In September, 2004, the Royal Park Hotel, a four-diamond luxury boutique hotel, designed by Victor Saroki opened in downtown Rochester. It cost $43 million to build. Several celebrities have stayed there, including Paul McCartney, Hugh Hefner, and former President George W. Bush (while seeking re-election).
- Western Knitting Mills - The Western Knitting Mills, a large brick building on Water Street, was built in 1896. At one time, its annual output of 100,000 dozen pairs of gloves made it one of the largest glove producers in the world. Today the mill is fully restored, and home to The Rochester Mills brewery restaurant, as well as several other businesses.
- RCS Administration Center is the former Rochester High School, at one point in its past serving kindergarten through graduating senior students. Built in 1889 but renovated at different times in its history, it opened as Rochester School (Avon #5), replacing an earlier school on that same site that had burned down in 1888. The property has been used for school purposes since 1847. Since the mid-1970s, the building has housed the Rochester Community Schools Board of Education offices and occasional related events, and is certainly one of the largest and noteworthy structures in the city.
Parks and recreation
- Paint Creek and Clinton River Trails - City is at the cross section of two major "Rails-to-Trails" projects: the Paint Creek Trail and Clinton River trail. These trails are used for recreational activities, like biking and walking. They connect to several major parks, including Bloomer Park, Rochester Municipal Park, Stoney Creek Metropark and the Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve. The majority of the area used for the trails and pathways include former railroad and interurban rail lines, long since converted to non-vehicular recreational use.
- Paint Creek Center for the Arts - Paint Creek Center for the Arts is a regional non-profit art center dedicated to promoting the arts and artistic excellence through a full range of cultural programming including studio art classes for children and adults, exhibitions of emerging and established Michigan artists, outreach programs, community involvement and the annual Art & Apples Festival.
- Rochester Avon Recreation Authority - The Rochester Avon Recreation Authority (RARA) has been a recreation provider to Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township since 1946. It provides recreation programs from 12 months to adults in a variety of areas, such as dance, sports classes, sport leagues, pre-school classes, special events, fitness, skiing, etc.
- Rochester Municipal Park, formerly called Avon Park, is the largest park area in the city, comprising a large portion of the downtown area. Linked with the Paint Creek trail system (and including a significant portion of the creek itself), it offers a quiet, naturalized setting, easily enjoyed from its own trail system, as well as two playground areas, lighted tennis courts, an outdoor music-stage amphitheater, the Rochester Community House, and the Kiwanis Pavilion. The 'duck pond' has been used in past winters for skating. The public park is home to free annual events such as the Art & Apples Festival, the Heritage Festival, and the summer concert series (Music In The Park).
Tourism
There aren't many tourist attractions in Rochester, but there are a few sights and a lot of shopping. Downtown Rochester consists of many shops and holds the oldest building in the downtown area, the Rolin Sprague Building. This building was built in 1849 and is now known as the The Home Bakery. In addition to downtown Rochester, shopping is available at The Village of Rochester Hills. This is an outdoor, pedestrian-friendly mall, consisting of many shops and restaurants. The Van Hoosen Farm also contains a lot of Rochester's rich history. Along with the Van Hoosen Farm, one can visit the Meadowbrook Hall, which is located on Oakland University'sOakland University
Oakland University is a public university co-founded by Matilda Dodge Wilson and John A. Hannah whose campus is located in central Oakland County, Michigan, United States in the cities of Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills. It is the only major research university in Oakland County, from which OU...
Campus.
On Oakland University's campus - just 4 miles west of the center of Rochester - is the Meadowbrook Music Festival, offering a variety of entertainment ranging from classical music to stand-up comedians.
Economy
Rochester has a vibrant downtown shopping district. The Farmer's Market takes place every Saturday, May through October. It features fresh produce, flowers, handmade goods and other products from Michigan.Several city festivals take place in downtown: Dancing in the Streets (August), Music in the Park (Thursdays in summer), Art & Apples Festival (weekend after Labor Day in September), and the Heritage Festival (Memorial Day Weekend), which includes two classic automobile shows. Other scheduled, traditional civic celebrations and activities include Girls' Night Out, the Gallery Walk, Lagniappe, the Sidewalk Sales, Movies In The Moonlight, and the two-day Fire And Ice Festival. The popular Rockin' Rods classic car show each August features hundreds of rare and unusual automobiles, both domestic and imported.
The Older Persons Commission provides social and educational activities, nutritional meals, senior resource services, as well as health and wellness programs to community members 60+ years of age, in a new state-of-the-art facility built in 2002.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 10,467 people, 4,667 households, and 2,636 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,710.6 per square mile (1,047.0/km²). There were 5,056 housing units at an average density of 1,309.3 per square mile (505.7/km²). 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 the city was $65,179, and the median income for a family was $92,078. Males had a median income of $62,486 versus $37,107 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $36,989. About 0.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The City of Rochester is governed by a seven-member city council and its mayor. City policy is then administered by a full-time city manager. The government provides full city services, including police, fire and water/sewer services, similar to many other communities in north Oakland County.Education
Oakland UniversityOakland University
Oakland University is a public university co-founded by Matilda Dodge Wilson and John A. Hannah whose campus is located in central Oakland County, Michigan, United States in the cities of Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills. It is the only major research university in Oakland County, from which OU...
is located in the nearby cities of Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills, though it maintains a Rochester mailing address. Rochester Community Schools is the public school district encompassing Rochester and surrounding areas. As of 2007, a total of 14,500 students receive instruction in the district, which has four high schools, all located in Rochester Hills: Rochester High School, Rochester Adams High School
Rochester Adams High School
For schools with similar names, see Adams High School.Rochester Adams High School is a high school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and is part of the Rochester Community Schools district...
, Stoney Creek High School
Stoney Creek High School
Stoney Creek High School is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and is part of the Rochester Community Schools.The school mascot is Cosmo the cougar. The school colors are Vegas Gold and Millennium Blue...
and A.C.E. High School.
Public library
The Rochester Hills Public Library, located in the City of Rochester, is the largest public library in Oakland County. The City of Rochester and Oakland Township contract with the City of Rochester Hills for residents' use of the library. The extensive, well-designed two-story structure offers patrons an array of choices from its holdings, including sizable sub-collections of DVDs, CDs, video games, and other materials, in addition to its expansive book collections. As a virtual community center, the Library also hosts a number of live music concerts, annual visits by noted authors, and educational and recreational services, and offers wireless internet access to the public.Notable people
This list includes people from the Rochester area (Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township) (48306, 48307, 48309, 48363)- Peter VanderkaayPeter VanderkaayPeter Vanderkaay is an American middle-distance freestyle swimmer. He is a three-time Olympic medalist.-Personal life:...
, Olympic swimmer graduated from Rochester Adams High SchoolRochester Adams High SchoolFor schools with similar names, see Adams High School.Rochester Adams High School is a high school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and is part of the Rochester Community Schools district...
in 2002. He won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in the 4x200 free style relaySwimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 x 200 metre freestyle relayThe men's 4×200 metre freestyle relay was a swimming event held as part of the Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics programme. The competition was held on August 17, 2004...
. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Vanderkaay won the bronze medal in the 200m freestyle and the gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay. - Tommy ClufetosTommy ClufetosTommy Clufetos Currently plays drums for Ozzy Osbourne, and previously played for famous rock artists Ted Nugent and Alice Cooper. He also played drums for Rob Zombie, and was featured on the 2006 album Educated Horses, Zombie's first live release, 2007's Zombie Live and 2010's Hellbilly Deluxe 2...
drummer for Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper,Ted Nugent graduated from Rochester Adams High SchoolRochester Adams High SchoolFor schools with similar names, see Adams High School.Rochester Adams High School is a high school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and is part of the Rochester Community Schools district... - Roxy PetrucciRoxy PetrucciRoxy Petrucci is a former drummer for Madam X and Vixen.-Biography:...
, drummer of all-female rock/metal band VixenVixenA vixen is a female fox.Vixen may also refer to:-In the military:*HMS Vixen, various British Royal Navy ships*USS Vixen, various ships in the US Navy*Vickers Vixen, a biplane produced in small numbers in the 1920s...
in the 1980s. - Paul DavisPaul Davis (basketball)Paul Davis is an American professional basketball player. Davis started his career at Reuther Middle School where his number has been retired. Davis played for Rochester High School, earning Mr. Basketball of Michigan honors in 2002. As a center for the Michigan State Spartans, he finished the...
, professional basketball player graduated from Rochester High School and earned Mr. Basketball of MichiganMr. Basketball of MichiganEach year the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen as the best high school boys basketball player in the U.S. state of Michigan...
honors in 2002. He played for Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and was drafted by the Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles ClippersThe Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in 2006. - Robert Simpson WoodwardRobert Simpson WoodwardRobert Simpson Woodward was an American physicist and mathematician, born at Rochester, Michigan. He graduated C.E. at the University of Michigan in 1872 and was appointed assistant engineer on the United States Lake Survey. In 1882 he became assistant astronomer for the United States Transit of...
, physicist and mathematician was born in Rochester, Michigan in 1849. Among many achievements, he was a professor at Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, president of the American Mathematical SocietyAmerican Mathematical SocietyThe American Mathematical Society is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, which it does with various publications and conferences as well as annual monetary awards and prizes to mathematicians.The society is one of the...
, and Dean of Carnegie InstituteCarnegie Institution for ScienceThe Carnegie Institution for Science is an organization in the United States established to support scientific research....
in Washington. - Dita Von TeeseDita Von TeeseDita Von Teese is an American burlesque dancer, model, costume designer, author and actress.-Early life:...
, burlesque artist, model and actress. - Jason VaritekJason VaritekJason Andrew Varitek is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Boston Red Sox...
, catcher for the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, was born in Rochester, Michigan on April 11, 1972. In 2005 he was named the captain of the Red Sox, the third player given the honor. - Bob KeselowskiBob KeselowskiRobert "Bob" Keselowski is a former U.S. race car driver. He owns K Automotive Racing and was a competitor in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, now called the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Racing career:In the ARCA series he had 24 wins, 26 poles, and a...
, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, and his sons Brad and Brian. - Megan Goethals, 31st Footlocker National Cross Country Champion
- Aileen WuornosAileen WuornosAileen Carol Wuornos was an American serial killer who killed seven men in Florida in 1989 and 1990, claiming they raped or attempted to rape her while she was working as a prostitute...
(born as Aileen Pittman), infamous American serial killer, born in Rochester, Michigan. - Rude JudeRude JudeJude Anthony Angelini also known as Rude Jude is a DJ and co-host on The All Out Show with DJ Lord Sear on Sirius Satellite Radio's Shade 45 channel from 4pm-8pm EST. He is actually only on from 4-7pm M,T,W and on Thursday he plays his own mix from 7-8pm EST...
, television and radio personality, graduated from Rochester High School. - Amy FrazierAmy FrazierAmy Frazier is a now inactive professional female tennis player from the United States.She debuted in 1987 and was active player until the 2006 US Open in which she made her 20th consecutive appearance...
, Rochester Adams High SchoolRochester Adams High SchoolFor schools with similar names, see Adams High School.Rochester Adams High School is a high school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and is part of the Rochester Community Schools district...
graduate, is known for her professional tennis career that included twenty consecutive US Open appearances. - Shawn HareShawn HareShawn Robert Hare is a retired American professional baseball outfielder. Hare played four seasons in the MLB, appearing in 64 games from 1991 to 1995 with the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets and Texas Rangers....
, former baseball player with the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, and Texas Rangers, attended Rochester Community Schools. - Jay GibbonsJay GibbonsJay Jonathan Gibbons is an American professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball. Gibbons was a graduate of Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California...
, baseball player with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, and Baltimore Orioles, was born in Rochester. - Hal Foster (1892–1982), award-winning artist and writer of the comic strip Prince Valiant. Though born in Canada, Foster quietly lived in Rochester for a period during his work on that comic strip.
- Christopher HoweChristopher HoweChristopher Carl Howe is an American actor best known for his co-starring role in the 1983 film Going Back. In the film, set in 1964, Howe co-stars with a young Bruce Campbell...
, American actor - Brian SellBrian SellBrian Sell is a retired American marathoner and distance runner who trained with the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. He attended Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, where he ran on the Saint Francis University cross country team...
, a retired American marathoner, resides in Rochester Hills - Brad KeselowskiBrad KeselowskiBradley Robert Keselowski is an American auto racing driver currently competing in the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger in the Sprint Cup Series and the #22 Discount Tire Company/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger in the Nationwide Series for Penske Racing...
, NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver - Walt KowalczykWalt KowalczykWalter Joseph Kowalczyk is a former American football defensive back and fullback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. He also played in the American Football League for the Oakland Raiders...
, professional American football player - MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, singer/entertainer, lived in Rochester Hills. - Karen NewmanKaren NewmanKaren Newman is a professional singer based in Detroit, Michigan. Newman was raised in the Michigan towns of Rochester and Grand Blanc, and studied music at Oakland University. She is best known for being "the voice" of the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings, regularly performing the...
, Detroit Red Wings singer/actress - Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen (born 1863) was a pioneering obstetrician, gynecologist, and surgeon who achieved great success at a time when women were rare in the field of medicine. Born in the Stoney Creek village, she later founded the American Medical Women's AssociationAmerican Medical Women's AssociationThe American Medical Women's Association is a professional advocacy and educational organization of women physicians and medical students. Founded in 1915 by Bertha VanHoosen, the AMWA works to advance women in medicine and to serve as a voice for women's health...
, serving as its first president. In addition to authoring a famous autobiography (Petticoat Surgeon), Van Hoosen achieved a number of other accolades in her career. - Craig Owens (musician)Craig Owens (musician)Craigery Michael "Craig" Owens is an American musician from Davison, Michigan. He is best known as the former lead vocalist of Chiodos and has had an involvement in various side projects such as Cinematic Sunrise, and the supergroup Isles & Glaciers...
, former lead singer of ChiodosChiodosChiodos is an American post hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to filmmakers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo, responsible for the film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Chiodos released their...
and Cinematic Sunrise - Ron TeachworthRon TeachworthRonald S. Teachworth is a notable artist, writer and film director from Rochester Hills, MI.-Personal:Ron received his B.A. in Fine Art from Central Michigan University , and an M.A. from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI...
, educator, artist, writer and filmmaker - Matthew Baehr, Gold Medalist US Men's Hockey Team
- Greg and Tim Hildebrandt, fantasy artists and painters of the original Star Wars movie poster.
- Gregg Malicke, professional hockey player and two time NCAA Division I, men's hockey National Champion (1996 & 1998) with the University of Michigan.
- Alec MartinezAlec MartinezAlec Martinez is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, Professional Hockey Player (Los Angeles Kings) - Elmore LeonardElmore LeonardElmore John Leonard Jr. , better known as Elmore Leonard, is an American novelist and screenwriter. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.Among his...
, American novelist and screenwriter - Carl Scott Fornell, Awarded Commercial Roofer of the Year in 2011 and 2012, resides in Rochester Hills, MI
See also
- Images of Rochester, Michigan
- List of Registered Historic Places in Oakland County, Michigan
- Oakland TownshipOakland Charter Township, MichiganOakland Charter Township is a charter township on the north Oakland County outskirts of Metro Detroit, in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is usually referred to as "Oakland Township". The population was 16,779 at the 2010 census...
- Rochester HillsRochester Hills, MichiganRochester Hills is an affluent city in northeast Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 70,995. The city of Rochester is bounded on the north, south, and west by Rochester Hills...