The History of Rochester
Rochester’s beginnings date back 154 yrs when settlers first came to the area, though the region has a much longer history. First inhabited by the Sioux, Ojibwa and Winnebago tribes, the Sioux eventually ceded the land to Minnesota Territory in 1851. A few years later in 1854, George Head, generally considered the forefather of Rochester, built the town’s first structure: his home on the Zumbro River. Hailing from Rochester, NY, he named his new “home” after his old town! Several years later in 1858, Rochester’s population had grown to 1500. In 1863, Rochester would forever be changed with the arrival of Dr. William Mayo who served as the examining surgeon for the Civil War draft board in Rochester.
Today Rochester is home to the world renowned Mayo Clinic that boasts over 30,000 employees in Rochester alone with satellite campuses in Arizona and Florida. While the Mayo Clinic is certainly a large component of the town of Rochester, Rochester’s natural beauty and intimate community feel attracts many people from all over the nation and world. Regularly listed as a top contender on Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live” and Richard Florida’s “Brainiest Cities”, Rochester was recently named by Richard Florida as the city with the most projected job growth in the U.S. This projected job growth is very exciting for those who love and live in this community!
Money Magazine said it best, "One thing to remember about Rochester is that it has the sophistication of a larger metro area, but not the congestion or the complications." Named "Best Small City" in America by the nationally recognized magazine, "Rochester merges a cosmopolitan atmosphere with Midwestern hospitality..."
Here are just a few of the accolades Rochester has received in the past 3 yrs:
#1 Best Cities to Find Jobs and Most Projected Job Growth - Richard Florida 2010
#18 Brainiest Cities in the U.S. – Richard Florida 2010
#6 Best Cities for the Next Decade – Kiplinger’s Personal Finance 2010
Top Towns for Outdoorsmen and #1 Place to Live Like a King – Outdoor Life 2010
Bicycle Friendly Community – American League of Bicyclists
Top 10 Best Places to Grow Up – U.S. News & World Report 2009
#9 Top Town for Outdoorsmen – Outdoor Life 2009
Best Small Places for Business and Careers – Forbes.com 2009
#9 Best Cities for Job-Seeking Retirees – U.S News & World Report 2009
#14 Most Secure U.S. Places – Yahoo! Real Estate 2008
#8 Best Places for a Long Life – CNNMoney.com 2008
Best Places to do Business – Forbes 2008
Top 100 Places to Live and Launch- CNNMoney.com 2008
Top 100 Walking Cities in the U.S. – Prevention Magazine 2008
Copyright © Nordaune Real Estate LLC, 2012
