Rochester Hills, Michigan
Encyclopedia
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. Rochester Hills is a suburb
/exurb on the northern outskirts of Metro Detroit
.
Rochester College
is located in Rochester Hills, and Oakland University
is located partly in Rochester Hills and partly in neighboring Auburn Hills, although it uses a Rochester mailing address. The Dodge-Wilson estate Meadow Brook Hall
is open to the public for guided tours. Avondale School District
and Rochester Community Schools are the public school districts in Rochester Hills. Other institutions located within the city limits include Leader Dogs for the Blind and Crittenton Hospital.
The unincorporated village of Stony Creek is located within the city boundaries.
Much of the area in the northernmost mile (48306) is wooded, making it appealing for those looking for privacy and upscale housing. The area is also home to local athletes, celebrities, upper class residents and business executives from Detroit and Flint metro areas. This is evidenced by the demographics listed below.
Major airports around the area include Bishop International Airport
in Flint
and Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus
.
incorporated as a village within the township in 1869. The township adopted a charter in 1948 under the Home Rule Act. In 1966, Rochester residents voted to become a city, effective in February 1967. As a result, Rochester residents no longer had to pay property taxes to the township.
In 1967, the township filed a petition to become a city. In January 1968, township voters approved the petition to move forward with seeking city status. Three proposed city charters were voted down by residents, the first in March 1969, the second in May 1970, and the third in September 1971. The city of Rochester then sought to annex all of the township, which was unanimously denied by the Michigan Boundary Commission. In 1972, petitions were filed to consolidate Avon Township and Rochester. In April 1974, the consolidation petition lost by 350 votes in the township, while passing by four votes in Rochester. In May 1974, Rochester's petition to annex 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of Avon Township was approved by the Michigan Boundaries Commission. The township became Avon Charter Township in August 1978. Court challenges to the 1974 annexation continued until November 1981, when the township was ordered to surrender the annexed property.
In May 1984, township voters approved a city charter. On November 20, 1984, the township became the City of Rochester Hills. The name of the new city was put to a vote, with the other choice being "Avon Hills". The name "Rochester Hills" won with voters based on the area's historical ties to Rochester, and the rolling hills that exist in the area. Township Supervisor Earl E. Borden became Rochester Hills' first mayor.
Rochester Hills, Rochester, and Oakland Township, make up the "Rochester Area" as they all share the same downtown, some services (Library, Post Office, Zip Codes), and Chamber of Commerce.
Rochester Hills is bordered on the north by Oakland Charter Township
, on the east by the city of Rochester
and Shelby Township
and that border with Macomb County, on the south by the city of Troy
, and on the west by the city of Auburn Hills
. Rochester Hills partly surrounds the city of Rochester, on the north, west, and south. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 32.9 square miles (85.2 km²), of which 32.8 square miles (85 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 0.24%, is water. Elevations in the city range from 690 feet (210.3 m) above sea level in the southeastern portion of the city to 1010 feet (307.8 m) in the northwestern portion of the city.
of 2000, there were 68,825 people, 26,315 households, and 18,973 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,095.2 per square mile (808.9/km²). There were 27,263 housing units at an average density of 830.0 per square mile (320.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.75% White, 6.76% Asian, 2.42% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races
, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.29% of the population.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $80,882, and the median income for a family was around $101,000.http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-context=st&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S1901&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-CONTEXT=st&-tree_id=307&-redoLog=false&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=16000US2669035&-format=&-_lang=en Males had a median income of $69,280 versus $40,405 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $35,070. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
is operated by the Detroit metroparks authority. The city operates the following parks:
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...
of 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"....
. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 70,995. The city of Rochester
Rochester, Michigan
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...
is bounded on the north, south, and west by Rochester Hills. Rochester Hills is a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
/exurb on the northern outskirts of Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
.
Rochester College
Rochester College
Rochester College is a four-year, liberal arts college located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The college was founded by members of Churches of Christ in 1959. Total enrollment for the fall 2011 semester is 1,084 students....
is located in Rochester Hills, and Oakland University
Oakland 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 partly in Rochester Hills and partly in neighboring Auburn Hills, although it uses a Rochester mailing address. The Dodge-Wilson estate Meadow Brook Hall
Meadow Brook Hall
Meadow Brook Hall is a Tudor revival style mansion located at 480 South Adams Rd. in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It was built between 1926 and 1929 by Matilda Dodge Wilson and her second husband, lumber broker Alfred G. Wilson...
is open to the public for guided tours. Avondale School District
Avondale School District
The Avondale School District is a public school district located in Auburn Hills, Michigan.The district educates about 3800 students and covers portions of Auburn Hills, northwest Bloomfield Hills, very southern Rochester Hills and northern Troy, Michigan...
and Rochester Community Schools are the public school districts in Rochester Hills. Other institutions located within the city limits include Leader Dogs for the Blind and Crittenton Hospital.
The unincorporated village of Stony Creek is located within the city boundaries.
Much of the area in the northernmost mile (48306) is wooded, making it appealing for those looking for privacy and upscale housing. The area is also home to local athletes, celebrities, upper class residents and business executives from Detroit and Flint metro areas. This is evidenced by the demographics listed below.
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
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
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
The first European settler was James Graham who arrived in 1817. Avon Township was organized in 1835. RochesterRochester, Michigan
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...
incorporated as a village within the township in 1869. The township adopted a charter in 1948 under the Home Rule Act. In 1966, Rochester residents voted to become a city, effective in February 1967. As a result, Rochester residents no longer had to pay property taxes to the township.
In 1967, the township filed a petition to become a city. In January 1968, township voters approved the petition to move forward with seeking city status. Three proposed city charters were voted down by residents, the first in March 1969, the second in May 1970, and the third in September 1971. The city of Rochester then sought to annex all of the township, which was unanimously denied by the Michigan Boundary Commission. In 1972, petitions were filed to consolidate Avon Township and Rochester. In April 1974, the consolidation petition lost by 350 votes in the township, while passing by four votes in Rochester. In May 1974, Rochester's petition to annex 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of Avon Township was approved by the Michigan Boundaries Commission. The township became Avon Charter Township in August 1978. Court challenges to the 1974 annexation continued until November 1981, when the township was ordered to surrender the annexed property.
In May 1984, township voters approved a city charter. On November 20, 1984, the township became the City of Rochester Hills. The name of the new city was put to a vote, with the other choice being "Avon Hills". The name "Rochester Hills" won with voters based on the area's historical ties to Rochester, and the rolling hills that exist in the area. Township Supervisor Earl E. Borden became Rochester Hills' first mayor.
Communities
Stoney Creek is an unincorporated village on the northeast end of the city. It holds no official designation, both locally or statewide, and shares space in both Rochester and Rochester Hills.Rochester Hills, Rochester, and Oakland Township, make up the "Rochester Area" as they all share the same downtown, some services (Library, Post Office, Zip Codes), and Chamber of Commerce.
Geography
Oakland Charter Township, Michigan
Oakland 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...
, on the east by the city of Rochester
Rochester, Michigan
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...
and Shelby Township
Shelby Charter Township, Michigan
-Demographics:The U.S. Census Bureau has also defined Shelby Township as a census-designated place in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places as well on the list of county subdivisions...
and that border with Macomb County, on the south by the city of Troy
Troy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
, and on the west by the city of Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills, Michigan
Auburn Hills is a city in Metro Detroit, Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,412 at the 2010 census. The city was formed in 1983 when Pontiac Township became the City of Auburn Hills.-Economy:...
. Rochester Hills partly surrounds the city of Rochester, on the north, west, and south. According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 32.9 square miles (85.2 km²), of which 32.8 square miles (85 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 0.24%, is water. Elevations in the city range from 690 feet (210.3 m) above sea level in the southeastern portion of the city to 1010 feet (307.8 m) in the northwestern portion of the city.
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 68,825 people, 26,315 households, and 18,973 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 2,095.2 per square mile (808.9/km²). There were 27,263 housing units at an average density of 830.0 per square mile (320.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.75% White, 6.76% Asian, 2.42% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.47% 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 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.29% of the population.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $80,882, and the median income for a family was around $101,000.http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-context=st&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S1901&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-CONTEXT=st&-tree_id=307&-redoLog=false&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=16000US2669035&-format=&-_lang=en Males had a median income of $69,280 versus $40,405 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 $35,070. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester Community Schools | 1,691 |
| 2 | Crittenton Hospital | 1,670 |
| 3 | Oakland University Oakland 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... |
1,480 |
| 4 | FANUC Robotics FANUC Robotics FANUC or is a Japanese electromechanical manufacturer specializing in robotics. It is one of the largest maker of industrial robots in the world. It is part of the Furukawa Group. FANUC had its beginnings as part of Fujitsu developing numerical control and servo systems... |
550 |
| 5 | Wright & Filippis | 421 |
| 6 | Webasto Roof Systems | 383 |
| 7 | Volkswagen Volkswagen Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is... |
380 |
| 8 | Dura Automotive Systems Dura Automotive Systems Dura Automotive Systems, headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA was ranked in the 2006 Fortune 1000. It is engaged in the business of manufacturing and distribution of automotive components.... |
280 |
| 9 | Henry Ford Health System Henry Ford Health System The Henry Ford Health System is a comprehensive, integrated, non-profit, managed care, health care organization located in Southeast Michigan. The corporate office is in Detroit, Michigan... |
280 |
| 10 | Computer and Engineering Services | 250 |
Parks
Stony Creek MetroparkStony Creek Metropark
Stony Creek Metropark is a Huron-Clinton Metropark located in northern southeast Michigan . The park covers with a large lake at its center....
is operated by the Detroit metroparks authority. The city operates the following parks:
- Allen Park
- Avon Nature Area
- Avondale Park
- Bloomer Park
- Borden Park
- Clinton River Trail
- Nowicki Park
- Paint Creek TrailPaint Creek TrailPaint Creek Trail is a 8.9 mile rail trail linear park in northern Oakland County, Michigan. The course of the park generally follows Paint Creek, a stream that flows southeast towards the Clinton River....
- Pine Trace Golf Club
- Riverbend Park
- Spencer Park
- Veterans Memorial Pointe
- Wabash Park
- Yates Park
See also
- Oakland Township, Michigan
- Rochester, MichiganRochester, MichiganRochester 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...
- Lake Orion, MichiganLake Orion, MichiganLake Orion is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,973 at the 2010 census. "Lake Orion" is often used to describe both the village and the much larger Orion Township, of which the village is a part....