Rochester, Michigan
Rochester is a city of 12,934 people in Oakland County, Michigan, founded in 1817.
Why visit Rochester
Townapedia lists 13 museums and landmarks, 26 parks and trails, 63 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Avon Players, Eli and Sidney Teeter Albertson House, Milo Prentice Newberry House and Rochester Municipal Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 17°F, and about 36 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Rochester
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Rochester
Rochester is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, Rochester had a population of 13,035. It is a northern suburb in Metro Detroit located 20 miles north of the city of Detroit.
From the Wikipedia article Rochester, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks13
Eli and Sidney Teeter Albertson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
United States historic place
Milo Prentice Newberry House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Single-family house located at 705 Bloomer Road in Rochester, Michigan
Rollin Sprague Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Rochester, Michigan, listed on the NRHP in Oakland County, Michigan
Stony Creek Village Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in Michigan, United States
Western Knitting Mills
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic building in Rochester, Michigan, USA
Rochester Grain Elevator
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm
Museum · 0.7 mi
1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills
Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00
1 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds26
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Stony Creek Metropark
Park · 3.3 mi
Park in Macomb County, Michigan, United States of America
Bloomer Park
Park · 0.8 mi
Was a state park until 1994 when the City of Rochester Hills took over
345 John R Road, Rochester Hills
14 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes63
Guido's Premium Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.5 mi
1935 25 Mile Road, Shelby Charter Twp
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-22:00
Kerby's Koney Island
Restaurant · Diner, Hot Dog, Chili, Pancake · 1.5 mi
1968 25 Mile Road, Shelby Charter Twp
Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa 08:00-21:00; Su 08:00-20:00
Lipuma's Coney Island
Diner · American · 0.8 mi
621 North Main Street, Rochester
Mo-Sa 10:30-20:30; Su 11:00-19:00
Wing On Restaurant
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.5 mi
1921 25 Mile Road, Shelby Charter Twp
Su 12:00-21:00; Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00
Kung Fu Tea + TKK Fried Chicken
Restaurant · Chicken, Sandwich, Alcohol, Bubble Tea · 1.6 mi
1256 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills
Paul's on Main
Restaurant · American, Greek, Italian · 0.7 mi
630 North Main Street, Rochester
Mo-Su 07:00-22:00
51 more on the map.
History
Rochester had been settled since the prehistoric era, prior to about 3000 B.C. There appears to have been a village around the junction of Third and Main and at least three burial sites have been buried under city buildings. [1]
The Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Wyandot peoples all resided in the Rochester area. All of them ceded land claims by the early 19th century. The first settlers in what would become Rochester, the Graham family, built a log cabin in 1817. The cabin was located on present-day 3rd St., just west of Main. The city was named for Rochester, New York, just like Rochester, Minnesota, as many early settlers to the area were formerly from the state of New York.
The city became an industrial center with abundant water power from the Clinton River and Paint Creek. The interconnected waterways are no longer used for travel or local industry, but provide natural beauty, some fishing, and a healthy portion of the Clinton Watershed. Historically, past industries formerly located in Rochester included a refinery for sugar beets, a paper products company, and the Western Knitting Mills factory, which was later adapted and utilized during World War II for incendiary production—businesses that no longer exist in the area. Rochester was served by two railroads as well as the Detroit United Railway, an interurban to Royal Oak and Detroit.
From the History section of Rochester, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship8
First Congregational Church
Church · United Church Of Christ · 1.0 mi
1315 North Pine Street, Rochester
Korean First Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.5 mi
127 East Avon Road, Rochester Hills
Shopping12
Papa Joe's Gourmet Market
Grocery · 1.1 mi
6900 North Rochester Road, Rochester Hills
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries49
Avondale Gifted And Talented Education
School · 4.1 mi
1435 W Auburn Rd, Rochester Hls
Healthcare8
Pro-Health Urgent Care of Rochester Hills
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
1268 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills
CVS Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.7 mi
295 South Livernois Road, Rochester Hills
Map of Rochester
189 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 17°F | 2.2 in | 12.1 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 1.9 in | 9.0 in |
| Mar | 44°F | 26°F | 2.2 in | 4.1 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 36°F | 2.9 in | 0.9 in |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 59°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 62°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 54°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 42°F | 2.9 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 32°F | 3.1 in | 1.7 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 24°F | 2.2 in | 8.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Pontiac Wwtp (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Oakland County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-02-08: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-07-15: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-09-25: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Oakland County International Airport (PTK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Rochester Hills 3 mi southwest, about 4 min by car
- Auburn Hills 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
- Sterling Heights 9 mi southeast, about 14 min by car
- Pontiac 9 mi west, about 14 min by car
- Clawson 10 mi south, about 17 min by car
- Birmingham 11 mi southwest, about 18 min by car
- Madison Heights 12 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Beverly Hills 13 mi southwest, about 21 min by car
- Berkley 13 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Warren 14 mi south, about 23 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Rochester Elevator front view, Kayura Mendonza, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rochester Elevator, Kayura Mendonza, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rochester Mills Beer Co., Kayura Mendonza, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Downtown Rochester, Michigan (Christmas), Lrgjr72, CC BY-SA 4.0
- DowntownRochesterMiChristmas, Lrgjr72, CC BY-SA 4.0
- DowntownRochesterMI, Lrgjr72, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ProvidenceHospRochester, Lrgjr72, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Van Hoosen House Stony Creek Village MI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rochester Michigan Rollin Sprague Building, Cjunker1 at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- Eli Albertson House Oakland County MI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rochester Michigan Western Knitting Mills, Cjunker1 at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- Griggs Brothers Grain Elevator Rochester MI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- FountainDetroitZoo1, MJCdetroit at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ligated Furrow Bee (Halictus ligatus) on milkweed, Tlee6552, CC BY 4.0
- Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) on finger, Tlee6552, CC BY 4.0
- Brown-belted Bumble Bee (Bombus griseocollis) on milkweed, Tlee6552, CC BY 4.0
- Chickweed Geometer Moth (Haematopis grataria) on grass, Tlee6552, CC BY 4.0
- Dr Bertha Van Hoosen and puppies, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Eastern Boxelder Bug (Boisea trivittata) on a wall, Tlee6552, CC BY 4.0
- Common Pillbug (Armadillidium vulgare) on wall, Tlee6552, CC BY 4.0
- Katie and Kaiser, Dave Hogg from Royal Oak, MI, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Cheryl and Plenette (633882629), Dave Hogg from Royal Oak, MI, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 20160604- Z0A3379 - Copy, Nicolinomorana, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ISS030-E-183700 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS060-E-45 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-252260 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-255729 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS030-E-193174 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Dd 214b, Davidb525, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dd 214a, Davidb525, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dd 214, Davidb525, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2021-07-08 Phallus rugulosus (E. Fisch.) Lloyd 1348233, This image was created by user Huafang at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
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