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is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Detroit. 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.
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.
"Rochester", or the "Rochester Area", are often used to describe Rochester, Oakland Township, and Rochester Hills.
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 & Penn Station" store is at the intersection of Main and Second Street.
One of the founding families, the VanHoosen family, are the most famous settlers of Rochester, MI. Their house, located in VanHoosen park, is still standing today. Many tourists come to take a tour inside the house and around to their barn.
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 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.
Source: Rochester-Avon Historical Society.