Rochester is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 28,461, the largest in New Hampshire's Seacoast region. The New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning estimated its 2007 population at 30,823.^[1] The city includes the villages of East Rochester and Gonic. Rochester is home to Skyhaven Airport and the annual Rochester Fair.

1 History
2 Notable inhabitants
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 Sites of interest
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

Rochester was once inhabited by Abenaki Indians of the Pennacook tribe. They fished, hunted and farmed, moving locations when their agriculture exhausted the soil for growing pumpkins, squash, beans and maize. Gonic was called Squamanogonic, meaning "the water of the clay place hill."

The town would be one of four granted by Colonial Governor Samuel Shute of Massachusetts during his brief term. Incorporated in 1722, it was named for his close friend, Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester and brother-in-law to King James II. As was customary, tall white pine trees were reserved for use as masts by the Royal Navy. But hostility with the Indians delayed settlement until 1728, although attacks would continue until 1748. Early dwellings clustered together for protection, beginning near Haven Hill. Due to warfare or disease, after 1749 the Indians were gone. The community at that time included Farmington, which would be incorporated in 1798, and Milton, in 1802.

In 1737, the Reverend Amos Main became the first settled pastor of the Congregational Church, located on Rochester Hill. The building would be moved to Rochester Common, which then encompassed 250 acres (1 km²) and was called Norway Plain Mille Common after its abundant Norway pines. By 1738, the farming community contained 60 families. A statue of Parson Main, sculpted by Giuseppe Moretti, today presides over the town square.

Upper Dam c. 1905

The first large business was lumbering, although it would be overtaken by other industries as Rochester developed into a mill town with the Cochecho River to provide water power. In 1806, 6 tanneries were operating, along with a sawmill, fulling mill, and 2 gristmills. By the 1820s-1830s, the town had a cabinet maker and clockmaker. The Mechanics Company was established in 1834, producing woolen blankets which would win the premium quality award at the 1853 New York World's Fair. The Norway Plains Woolen Company manufactured blankets used by the Union Army in the Civil War, and in 1870 wove 1,600,000 yards (1,500,000 m) of textiles, but by century's end was out of business.

In 1854, the E.G. & E. Wallace Shoe Company was established, eventually becoming the city's biggest employer, with over 700 workers in 1901. Its name changed to the Rochester Shoe Corporation in the 1920s. The Kessel Fire Brick Company was established in 1889, and at one time bricks for new buildings at Harvard University were made in Gonic. Carrying the freight were four railroads which once passed through Rochester, a major junction between Haverhill, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine. Agriculture continued to be important, and in 1875 the Rochester Fair was established. In 1891, Rochester was incorporated as a city.

During the Great Depression, however, several industries left for cheaper operating conditions in the South or went bankrupt. But the affluent mill era left behind some fine architecture, including the Rochester Public Library, designed by the Concord architects Randlett & Griffin, and built in 1905 with a contribution of $20,000 from Andrew Carnegie. Another notable structure is the 1908 Rochester City Hall and Opera House by George Gilman Adams, the auditorium of which has a floor that can be raised or lowered.

Public Library c. 1908

Central Square in 1909

Wallace Factory c. 1910

Stone Bridge c. 1910

[edit] Notable inhabitants

Isaac Adams, inventor & manufacturer
Allard Baird, assistant general manager, the Boston Red Sox
James Farrington, United States Representative from New Hampshire
Samuel D. Felker, governor
John P. Hale, U.S Senator
Lyndon Larouche, political activist & presidential candidate
Freddy Meyer, professional hockey player, Philadelphia Flyers
Carol Shea-Porter, representative to US House of Representatives
Huntley N. Spaulding, governor
Rolland H. Spaulding, governor
Nathaniel Upham (1774-1829), US Representative from New Hampshire

[edit] Geography

Rochester is located at 43°18′7″N, 70°58′23″W (43.302081, -70.973106).^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 45.8 square miles (118.6 km²), of which 45.2 sq mi (117.1 km²) is land and 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²) is water, comprising 1.38% of the town. Rochester is drained by the Salmon Falls, Isinglass and Cochecho Rivers. The highest point in Rochester is a southern extension of Nute Ridge, at 581 feet (177 m) above sea level, occupying the northern corner of the city.

[edit] Demographics

City Hotel c. 1910

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 28,461 people, 11,434 households, and 7,649 families residing in the city. The population density was 630.3 people per square mile (243.4/km²). There were 11,836 housing units at an average density of 262.1/sq mi (101.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.12% White, 0.52% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.

There were 11,434 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.

Rochester Fair c. 1910

In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,596, and the median income for a family was $47,324. Males had a median income of $34,290 versus $23,319 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,859. About 6.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Sites of interest

Rochester Historical Society Museum
Rochester Opera House
Rochester Park
Spaulding High School
Lilac Mall

[edit] References

^ "2007 Population Estimates of New Hampshire Cities and Towns". NH Office of Energy and Planning (June 2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

Rochester, New Hampshire is at coordinates 43°18′08″N 70°58′23″W / 43.302081, -70.973106 (Rochester, New Hampshire)Coordinates: 43°18′08″N 70°58′23″W / 43.302081, -70.973106 (Rochester, New Hampshire)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Strafford County, New Hampshire

County seat: Dover

Cities	Dover \| Rochester \| Somersworth

Towns	Barrington \| Durham \| Farmington \| Lee \| Madbury \| Middleton \| Milton \| New Durham \| Rollinsford \| Strafford

Village	East Rochester