Rochester MN Moving Companies

Rochester, Minnesota

Rochester is the third largest city in Minnesota and lies 75 miles southeast of the Twin cities. The city is the business and cultural hub for southeastern Minnesota, and its local health care facilities are among the finest in the world. Those moving to Rochester will discover clean air, low crime, and a strong sense of community, as well as attractive offerings in the arts and recreational areas.

History:
George Head founded Rochester in 1854. Originally, from Rochester, New York, Head settled in Waukesha, Wisconsin before moving west to Minnesota. He named the village on the South Fork of the Zumbro River after his New York hometown, and built a log cabin his family operated as Head's Tavern. By 1856, the population had grown to 50; by 1858, it was 1,500. The territorial legislature created Olmsted County on February 20, 1855, with Rochester named county seat in 1857. Rochester developed as a stagecoach stop between Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Dubuque, Iowa. When the railroad arrived in the 1860s, it brought new residents and business opportunities. In 1863, Dr. William W. Mayo arrived as the examining surgeon for draftees in the Civil War. On August 21, 1883, the Great Tornado demolished much of Rochester, leaving 37 dead and about 200 injured. There was no medical facility at the time, so Mayo and his two sons worked together to care for the wounded. Donations of $60,000 were collected and the Sisters of St. Francis, assisted by Mayo, opened a new facility named St. Marys Hospital in 1889. The Mayo practice grew and is today among the largest and most well-respected medical facilities in the world. The modern Mayo Clinic and IBM have attracted the greater investment and development of Rochester throughout the 20th century. Today, Rochester is regarded as a cosmopolitan, small city due to its immense local offerings and accessibility to the rest of the globe.

Economy:
Even in the face of a difficult U.S. economy, the Rochester area's business community remains strong. A steady increase in population within the Rochester MSA has resulted in the continual growth and diversification of the area's labor force. It is estimated that the Rochester MSA has access to a labor pool of some 150,000 people. Rochester also benefits from the 45 two-and four-year institutions of higher learning located within a 90-mile radius. Students enrolled in any one of these colleges or universities often seek employment opportunities within this region post-graduation. Service businesses reign supreme in the Rochester area, a sector anchored by the Mayo Clinic, which employs 3,000. Olmsted Medical Center is also a top employer with 1,000-plus employees. The service industry accounts for approximately 83 percent of the area's employment. Hospitality is the second-largest industry, followed by agriculture, which is represented by 1,400 working farms in Olmsted County. Education, government, retail and manufacturing also have a significant impact in the local economy, as does the technology and bio-business industries. Several well-known technology-based businesses have chosen this Midwest region as their home, establishing Rochester as a major center for technology. IBM Rochester stands as the area's second largest employer and the state's largest information technology employer. The hospitality industry is another major economic force in the city. The city provides nearly 5,000 hotel rooms to serve the more than one million national and international visitors each year. The city can count nearly 150 manufacturing firms in the Rochester area. Together, their payrolls exceed $67 million annually, according to RAEDI. Among firms in this category, Crenlo Inc., a metal enclosure maker, and electronics manufacturer Benchmark Electronics typically have between 450 and 600 workers at any one time. The city is actively seeking commercial and industrial development to grow jobs.

Tourism:
There are magnificent attractions, theatres, restaurants, sporting events, and entertainment located in the heart of the city. For shopping, visit the Apache Mall. Shop an incredible collection of stores like aerie, Buckle, City Looks Salon and Spa, Coach, Crazy 8, Coldwater Creek, GAP, J. Jill, and Swarovski. Great choices for family dining include Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, HuHot Mongolian Grill, and the food court. Next, the Rochester Art Center is the city's signature venue for innovative contemporary art. In the spacious galleries of our award-winning, 21st century, copper-zinc-glass wrapped building, RAC presents visually stimulating and thought provoking work by artists who are nationally and internationally known, as well as emerging Minnesota artists. For the outdoor enthusiast, opportunities to enjoy running, hiking, inline skating, biking or walking throughout Rochester are endless. The city offers more than 85 miles of trails with amazing city and country views and recently finished surfaces. Rochester provides easy and accessible ways for residents and visitors to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.

Colleges and Universities:

• University of Minnesota - Rochester
• Rochester Community College
• Winona State University

Interesting Facts:

• Rochester was rated the nation's 'Best Small City to Live' in 2000 by Money Magazine.
• Many famous people from around the world, including former Presidents George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and King Hussein of Jordan, have visited Rochester as patients of the Mayo Clinic.