AN INTRODUCTION TO ROCHESTER

Nestled between Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes wine region in Upstate New York, Rochester is a well-kept secret. Visitors tell us we have the architecture, diversity, education, arts, culture, nightlife, restaurants, recreation and sports and of a much larger city, but the easiness, affordability, accessibility, community, and hospitality of a small town. (More on this stuff below!) We think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the richness of life in Rochester.

Rochester is in western New York, about mid-way between Buffalo and Syracuse. The City is on the southern shore of Lake Ontario (the world's fourteenth largest lake--click here for other "Did You Know?" tidbits like this!), and just northwest of the world renowned Finger Lakes Region. Rochester is in New York State, but definitely midwestern in many (good!) ways. We are closer to Detroit and Cleveland than we are to New York City! To get further oriented to Rochester's geography, click here.

And be sure to check out the excellent RocWiki People's Guide to Rochester site for all things Rochester!

Rochester is the third largest city in New York State. 

The city's population is truly diverse. About 39% of city residents are African American, and 13% are Hispanic/Latino. 

73% of city residents are high school graduates.  

Rochesterians' work commutes average only 19.3 minutes-- far less than the state's 32 minute average. 

From Rochester, New York City is 6 hours by car; Boston is 7 hours; Albany is 4 hours; Toronto is 3.5 hours; Montreal and Ottawa 5 hours; Buffalo is 75 minutes; Syracuse 90 minutes. Air, rail, and bus service are readily available to all these and many other destinations. 

Climate: Yes, it snows, about 100 inches per year. We don't apologize for it, because winter is real here, and it's fun! But we also have glorious cooler summers and enviable outdoor activities through all four seasons. Keep in mind that "lake effect" that we are known for actually makes for milder winters and cooler summers than places like Minneapolis!  Our climate has the reputation for being harsh, but the truth is that we are one of the best farming and gardening areas of the country! 

Rochester's History and Architecture
Yeah, it really is  impressive, illustrious, interesting! It deserves its own page, for sure. Click here to learn more!

Getting Down to Business
From the earliest days of its flour mills on the banks of the Genesee River, Rochester has always found a way to make things happen. Something about this place breeds innovation and an enterprising spirit. You could say our boat floats a little higher in the water. The "Big Three"—Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch & Lomb--rose to greatness here and once dominated local employment. They're still at it, but now smaller, more nimble firms, many of them Big 3 spinoffs, are launching a new era in Rochester's economy. Today, the University of Rochester and its Medical Center is the city and region's largest employer, highlighting the shift from an industrial to an "eds and meds" economy. In addition to our booming education and medical economy, the region is also leaping forward and ahead in biotech, telecom, photonics and optics, IT, and green technology. (For more on Rochester's economy and business, check out Click here

Locus of Learning
Like our history and architecture, our education institutions and programs' quantity and quality warrants its own page. Click here to learn more!

Yep, too much arts and culture here to not have its own page. Click here!

In Rochester, the dream of a balanced life is a reality for many.
Click here to learn about the ample recreation and sports here in Rochester. 

Rochesterians Are Involved
There is strong civic pride and spirit in Rochester. What else would you expect from the home of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony? Philanthropic giving is among the highest of any city in the country, and the city is chock full of neighborhood associations, block clubs, business associations, and more.