Overview

Named after Rochester, NY, this city in southeastern Minnesota's Zumbro River Valley had rather humble beginnings, starting out as a mid-19th century stopping point for westward-heading wagons. In 1857, Rochester vied with nearby Marion to become the county seat and, in the end, lost by a questionably slim margin (both sides are said to have cheated). Nevertheless, the town was incorporated a year later, and in subsequent years surpassed Marion in both size and importance, eventually taking over the role of county seat. In August of 1883, a tornado ravaged Rochester, leaving doctors and nurses overwhelmed with injuries and casualties. Dr. William Mayo and his sons were called in to help treat patients; thus began the city's long association with the Mayo Clinic, whose concept of multi-specialty group practice forever changed the medical profession. However, the town is not just an overgrown medical community. It has also attracted a wide range of professionals in various fields and annually ranks among the top five most livable cities in the United States. Most notably, IBM maintains a strategic center in Rochester that's responsible for the design, development, and manufacture of (among other products) the company's e-Server iSeries. Indeed, for a city its size, Rochester offers a wealth of leisure and cultural opportunities for the entire family. A highlight is mid-summer's RochesterFest, a terrific celebration that includes live music, street dances, a lumberjack competition, and a bike race.

Recent User Activity in Rochester