SEARCH
headerimage

Meet Rochester, N.Y.

Rochester, N.Y.

Rochester is a great place to live, with something for everybody. The greater metropolitan Rochester area is home to more than a million people with an eclectic mix of ethnic backgrounds and religions. And it seems that no matter how far away you get, you're still just 20 minutes away from any place else.

Map of Rochester
  • Located: Western New York state, on Lake Ontario in Monroe County.
  • Population : 212,481 (2004 U.S. Census)
  • City Area: 36.44 Square miles
  • Suburbs: 19, with more than 800, 000 residents
  • Mayor: Robert Duffy, the city's former chief of police
  • Newspaper: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
  • Known nationally as the "Flower City" and the "Flour City"
  • Home to 537 miles of streets, 52 bridges, 11 libraries, and 7 police stations
  • World headquarters of Kodak, Bausch and Lomb, Paychex and others

Area Weather

  • Four seasons, with average temperatures in July: 81 degrees F.; January: 31 degrees F.
  • Average snowfall: 91.0 inches (Good thing Nazareth has tunnels)

Food

Rochester has great food, with restaurants covering all manner of ethnic and continental tastes. The city is also home to some of its very own culinary inventions!

  • The "Garbage Plate," first served at Nick Tahou Hots, combines macaroni salad, home fries, cheeseburgers or hot dogs, mustard and onions, all topped by a meaty hot sauce. Trust us, it tastes a LOT better than it sounds!

  • The famous "White Hot" hot dog, made by the local Zweigle's company
Photo of George Eastman House

Arts and Culture

There's no lack of fun things to do in Rochester. Listen to some jazz at a local coffee house or watch a new movie on one of the city's IMAX screens. Rock out to a concert at the Blue Cross Arena or enjoying a peaceful walk down a lilac-lined park walkway.

  • Museums: George Eastman House, Strong: National Museum of Play, Rochester Museum & Science Center, the Susan B. Anthony House and Memorial Art Gallery.
  • Music Venues: Eastman Theatre (home of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra), Blue Cross Arena, Auditorium Theatre, Milestones, Water Street Music Hall
  • Major Shopping Malls/Areas: Eight, including Pittsford Plaza, Eastview and Marketplace
  • Area Festivals: Rochester International Jazz Festival; Corn Hill Festival; High Falls Film Festival; Image Out/Gay & Lesbian Film Festival; Clothesline Art Festival; Park Avenue Merchants Festival; Lilac Festival at Highland Park; Rose Festival at Historic Maplewood Park; Rochester Music Festival; and Cold Rush Winter Celebration
  • Parks: Beautiful woodland areas and waterfront sites in numerous locations

Sports

Rochesterians love their sports — both watching from the bleachers and being on the playing field themselves.

Photo of Red Wings Logo
  • 13 full-time recreation centers, 19 swimming programs, 3 artificial ice rinks, 66 softball/baseball fields, 47 tennis courts, 5 football fields, 7 soccer fields and 43 outdoor basketball courts
  • Named the #1 Minor League Sports market in the country by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal in July, 2005
  • Eight professional sports teams including hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball, indoor football and lacrosse.
  • The Buffalo Bills run their summer training camp less than a mile from Nazareth.
  • Oak Hill Country Club (Nazareth's next-door neighbor) has hosted the Ryder Cup, the U.S. Open, the 2003 PGA Championship, and is scheduled to host future PGA tournaments as well.

Pittsford, N.Y.

Nazareth resides in Pittsford, N.Y., a cozy village of funky shops, tree-lined streets, and Erie Canal-side dining. From here you can bike the Erie Canal path as far east as Rome or as far west as Buffalo — but you probably won't make it back in time for classes.

  • Suburb eight miles (15 minutes) southwest of Rochester
  • Actual location of Nazareth College
  • Population: 27,000
  • Located on the Erie Canal
  • 25 minutes from the Rochester International Airport
  • 3.5 hours away from the metropolitan city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Photo of Rochester Skyline

Find out more: