If you're moving to Rochester, New York, don't forget to take pictures! One of the top companies based in the city is Eastman Kodak. Rochester is known as the Flour City and also the Flower City for its historical roots; in the early 1800s, it used to be the largest producer of flour in the U.S., and later, the first seed company was founded. Today, it is the third largest city in the state. It is located in the western part of New York.
Economy:
Rochester has a major port whose economy is primarily composed of technical manufacturing industries, as well as an increasing number of technology-related fields. Commonly produced products include photographic, optic, and dental equipment, as well as electronics, metals, and plastics. Major companies centered in Rochester include Xerox, Eastman Kodak, Bausch and Lomb, and Paychex. Eastman Kodak is the largest employer in the city.
Tourism:
Greater Rochester International Airport is located six miles from the city. No major professional sports teams are from Rochester, although smaller professional and collegiate teams are located in the city. Musical highlights of the city include Rochester Philharmonic and the Eastman School of Music. Additional destinations within Rochester include the Rochester Museum of Art and Sciences, the Memorial Art Gallery, the Rundell Memorial Building, and the city zoo.
History:
A 100-acre tract was transferred between several different men before Col. Rochester developed the area into the Village of Rochesterville in the early 19th century. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1823 helped promote significant growth in the area. The Rochester Athenaeum was opened in 1829, which attracted some of the country's best orators. Around the same time, the flour industry of the area was exploding and by 1838, the city was the largest flour producer in the world. In the middle of the century, several seed companies, most notably Ellwanger & Barry Nursery Co., were formed and they soon became some of the world's largest. During the Civil War, the city was a stop on the Underground Railroad. In the later part of the 19th century, the population of Rochester increased four-fold and many new industries came to the city, which mostly were focused around manufacturing. The city continued to grow until World War II when the Rochester population reached its peak and started to decline. A major race riot occurred in the city in 1964.