Rochester
Rochester, MI
The ambiance of this downtown community offers vintage suburban lifestyles, with many of the older homes still in existence. Many are attracted to live here because of the convenience of walking to downtown, parks, dining and shopping. Rochester is known as a safe, friendly and upscale suburb. Rochester has its own downtown area well established with fine dining and shopping. Many new homes are being built on older pre-existing homesites. Exquisite, unique and custom-built homes in the downtown area are highly desirable offering one of the hottest locations in town, steps away from the city park, Paint Creek Trail and blocks from bustling Main Street. Smith Building Company has been known as the leader in re-building the downtown area with exquisite estates. Other highly sought-after developments in the outskirts of Rochester and still within the City proper are Stony Creek Ridge, Stony Pointe, Deer Ridge and Cumberland Pines. There are plenty of fantastic public services like parks, the library, as well as high-quality public schools. Rochester is known as being a trendy, chic, eclectic community.
Established in 1817, Rochester was one of Oakland County's first settlements. the Village of Rochester was formed on April 12, 1869, within the boundaries of Avon Township. By 1895, Rochester's population was 900. The village became the city of Rochester in 1967, breaking away from Avon Township. Avon Township became the City of Rochester Hills in 1984.
Early on, the area became an industrial center with abundant water power from the Clinton River and Paint Creek. Now, 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. The oldest commercial building downtown is the Rollin Sprague building, built on 1849 of coursed cobblestone. Since 1930 it has housed "The Home Bakery". Other historical buildings include the Opera House, Rochester Grain Elevator, Western Knitting Mills and RCS Administration Center (former Rochester High School).
Kruse and Muir Restaurant on Main, The Rochester Chop House on Main and the famous Knapps Dairy Bar with its 1950’s nostalgia are all must-visit stops. The Paint Creek Trail and the Clinton River Trails welcome riders, walkers, joggers, bikers and an occasional horseback rider.
Paint Creek Center for the Arts, RARA (Rochester Area Recreational Authority) and the downtown Rochester Municipal Park are just of few of the attractions that call this area and the surrounding Rochester Hills, a commuter bedroom community. Rochester is the perfect destination to call “home”. Great Oaks Country Club offers membership and a private golf course. The Royal Park Hotel attracts visitors from around the world during the annual spectacular Big Bright Lights Show every Christmas holiday.
