Rochester is a unique city with a welcoming Midwest flavor, a small-town feel and an evergrowing sophistication. Nestled in the Zumbro River Valley, Rochester was discovered in 1854 by a government surveying party from Winona. Population at the time was 1,500 (30 times the original 50 settlers after an advertising campaign succeeded in extolling the land’s virtues). Rochester has been expanding and developing ever since, boasting a world-class medical center, expanding job market, cutting edge technology, excellent schools and a livable, safe environment. Money Magazine frequently votes Rochester “Best Place to Live in the U.S.” Since the first votes in the 1990’s, the city has grown 33 percent from a population of 86,000 to 114,011 plus (2016 U.S Census Bureau). The city is also considered a “Best Small City For Working Women.” Unemployment is low and salaries are higher than average, with women making 90 percent of men’s salaries.
RECESSION RESISTANT
As things change, some things stay the same, and it’s all good for Rochester. In 1961, Sales Management magazine listed Rochester as one of its “markets on the move,” pointing out
that the city was moving forward while much of the country was in a recession. Urban and economic theorist Richard Florida recently ranked Rochester among the top 20 metros with projected job growth in “creative class” jobs—health care, science, technology, law, education, the arts and media—through 2020 (The Atlantic). Rochester’s quality of life and prosperous business climate make it a desirable place to live and work. Cost of living is 7 percent lower than the U.S. average. Its commute is the shortest—average 14 minutes—of the nation’s 300 largest cities. There’s an excellent park system for walking, biking and outdoor family activities. “Historic Bluff Country” to the south, the Mississippi River to the east, rolling farmlands to the west, and the Twin Cities to the north border Rochester and neighboring communities.
MAYO CLINIC, IBM
A devastating tornado struck Rochester in 1883. William Worrall Mayo, the country doctor, sought help from the Sisters of St. Francis to care for over 100 injured patients. When the crisis passed, Mother Alfred Moes offered to raise money to build a hospital if Dr. Mayo and his sons, Will and Charlie, would serve as surgeons. Today, Mayo Clinic is the largest not-forprofit medical center in the world. The Clinic employs nearly 34,600 people at its
