There are many characteristics about Rochester, MN that make it unique. A number of different factors add to this uniqueness, including the city flag, the number and type of people that make up the city, and the city's economy. Each piece adds to the overall whole that is Rochester.
The city flag for Rochester was designed in 1980. A competition was held with nearly 200 entries to be judged by the citizen flag selection committee. Laurie A. Muir, a student of fine arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, submitted the winning design. The Rochester City Council selected the design for the official city flag at a meeting on June 16, 1980. The original Minnesota flag had a blue background, and as a reference to that, Muir gave Rochester's design a royal blue background. The main design exists in a white circle in the center of the background. The flag includes a city landscape, representing the main industry of Rochester by showing the main building of the Mayo Clinic as well as the Plummer Building. The computer-styled font on the flag represents another major employer, IBM. A blue lake is shown in the foreground to represent Silver Lake, an artificial lake in Rochester used to cool the power plant. Silver Lake does not freeze during the winter because of the power plant, which causes numerous Canada geese to stay in Rochester year round. The geese have become such a part of the city that they are included on the flag as well. Three Canada geese appear flying over the city in the image. The image from the flag is used in a number of different logos in various renditions throughout the city.
In the 2000 census, the population of Rochester included 85,806 people, 34,116 households, and 21,493 families. The population today is recognized to be well over 100,000 however. The racial makeup of the city includes 88.7% white, 4.3% African American, 6.3% Asian, 3.0% Hispanic, and 4.4% from a variety of other races. The average household size in town was 2.43 and the average family was slightly higher at 3.06. The number of residents in each age category was spread out among the different groups, with no more than 30% in each of the 5 categories. The median age of the population was 34 years of age. Median income for a household was $49,090, and $60,754 for a family. The per capita income for the city was $24,811.
The economy of Rochester is formed mainly by the Mayo Clinic. The Clinic employs almost a third of the city's population and draws over 2 million visitors each year. The Clinic's facilities, along with hotels, restaurants, and stores, make up most of the downtown area. Other care providers are also significant employers of the population. Another major employer is IBM. Rochester is one of IBM's most important manufacturing centers. Technology and medicine are not the only influences on the economy. The agriculture nature of the region also plays a large role, with a Seneca Foods processing plant and multiple dairy producers being active in the area.
These three characteristics of Rochester are just a small part of what makes the city unique. There are countless other items that one could discuss, but experience is worth much more than words. The only way to truly get a taste of the uniqueness and charm of Rochester, MN is to plan a visit and experience the city in person.
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Rochester411 provides information about the city of Rochester Minnesota, including Motel and Hotel information, restaurants and fine dining guides, movie theaters and live theatre, and a complete Rochester MN business directory.
