One would think that a city like Chicago or Pittsburgh would have been the first American boomtown, but in reality the title is held by none other than Rochester NY.Colonel Nathaniel Rochester, from whom Rochester ny gets its name, Major Charles Carroll, and Colonel William Fitzhugh, Jr. purchased this tract in 1803 because the Genesee River had the potential to generate a great deal of water power. The flour mills from which the city would earn its first nickname were eventually to take full advantage of this water power. After surveying began in 1811, streets and roads were laid out, and in 1817 other area landowners joined their holdings with the Hundred Acre Tract to form the Village of Rochesterville. Rochesterville, its name shortened to Rochester by 1823, soon became the seat of Monroe County, New York and was rechartered as a city in 1834.
By 1823, the Erie Canal had made its way westward, and an aqueduct was constructed over the Genesee River at the site of the present day Broad Street Bridge in downtown Rochester, NY. The Erie Canal now connected Rochester to all points east and west. Originally dubbed The Young Lion of the West, Rochester NY became known as the Flour City, reflecting its status by 1838 as the largest flour producing city in the United States. Its population had also doubled by that time, making Rochester the first boomtown of the United States. As the wheat producing industry moved further west during the nineteenth century, Rochester NY soon was referred to as the Flower City in reference to the numerous nurseries that grew up around the city.The region saw its own Industrial Revolution after the Civil War. It was during this era that the Eastman Kodak Company and Bausch and Lomb were founded.The Gannett newspaper conglomerate and Western Union also had their start in Rochester NY. In response to the regional decline in manufacturing during the latter part of the twentieth century, imaging and optical science is now prominent among local universities and companies, giving Rochester its latest nickname as The Worlds Image Centre.
With its rich history of entrepreneurship and adaptation to change, Rochester NY is poised to weather any economic storm. Why not consider it as a place to hang your hat. Rochester NY will not disappoint.
Ask anyone who has lived in Rochester NY, moved, and come back, and they will tell you this: it is a great place to live! So you have decided to give the city a try, but Rochester NY neighborhoods are the best to live in? That is a good question. Each neighborhood contains within itself its own unique characteristics, demography, and hot spots for shopping and entertainment. If you are looking to move here, then you should take all these factors into account when choosing a neighborhood. In general, though, these are some of the best Rochester NY neighborhoods to live in: Park Ave, South Wedge, Corn Hill, NOTA, and the St. Paul Quarter.
For college students and young professionals, Park Ave is a favorite. Despite its popularity, inexpensive apartments can be found at about $500 to $650 a month for one bedrooms, even less for studios. There are plenty of shops, delis, and bars in the area, and many of the buildings are, like many places in Rochester NY, history and eye candy all at once. You may already have your heart set on Park Ave, but consider a less hyped, still great place like NOTA (Neighborhood of the Arts). You could live within walking distance to museums, the ARTWalk, and all at inexpensive rents. Live closer to downtown for around the same price, maybe lower, as Park Ave. A previously blue collar neighborhood, South Wedge has become another student favorite as of late. Rents are cheaper there, with a typical one bedroom rent running at about $500 a month, studios at $400. Visit the Lux Loung, Godiva’s, India House, or even Highland Park and you will see why residents love it there.
Looking for something a little less geared towards the college crowd? Families and young professionals both love living in the Corn Hill neighborhood. It is its own village oasis right by downtown. Although cheaper rents can be found there, luxury town houses offer quality family living in a close knit urban setting. The Corn Hill Arts Festival is held there each year, a favorite of Rochester NY locals and visitors alike. If you are looking for real downtown living, there is nothing like the St. Paul Quarter. There, you can even find a great loft apartment, with trendy bars and restaurants all close by. Live it up in style with exposed brick walls and studio style spaces, and spend your nights partying. Any place you go, you are sure to love Rochester NY living!
Rochester, NY is also known as the All American City. You will find a world of art, music, photography, history, theater, and music in Rochester, NY. There is always something going on in Rochester, NY and you will never be bored there. Listed below are just a few of the exciting events you can find in Rochester, NY.
From eight to eleven in the evening on Thursdays, you will find live music in Rochester, NY. Admission is free at 125 N. Water Street.
Every week on Saturday, you can join a downtown historical walking tour in Rochester, NY. The two hour walk costs ten dollars and lasts approximately two hours.
From October to March, you can see Dinosaurs Alive on a giant film screen at the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium in Rochester, NY. You can watch a forty minute film that includes live action and animation and the discovery of the possibly oldest dinosaur ever found in America.
Every week on Mondays, from January to March, you can visit the Toddler Book Club at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY. For a small charge, your children will enjoy the reading of classical children’s tales.
From January to April, the George Eastman House in Orchard Park in Rochester, NY, offers the Photographs by Andy Lock for photography lovers. For only ten dollars, you can see twelve large format contemporary images by Andy Lock.
For one weekend in Marhc, Rochester NY offers the Sap Syrup and Sugar weekend for food lovers. For the cost of seven dollars, you can take a hike in the woods, visit the maple sugar camps, taste freshly made maple syrup, and join in the all you can eat pancake breakfast.
Daily, from March to May, you can visit the ocean at the Rochester Museum and Science Center in Rochester, NY. This exhibit, called the A Mazing Sea lets you climb into a turtle shell, crawl through a whale’s mouth, and reach into octopus cave.
As you can see, Rochester, NY has something to offer for everyone. Food lover, photography lovers, book lovers, and nature lovers will never run out of things to do in Rochester, NY. Only a few exciting things you can do in Rochester, NY were included in this article.
