UNDERSTANDING
ROCHESTER: A SUMMARY
PSJS 250: Social Change through Service
Dr. Lynn Donahue
A Few Facts . . .

Rochester city center population is approximately 210,000, making it
New York's third largest city. The greater Rochester area has a
population of about 1,000,000.

Rochester was ranked #6 among 379 U.S. Metro areas in the 25th
edition of the Places Rated Almanac for Most Livable Cities.

Rochester was home to civil rights leaders Frederick Douglas and
Susan B. Anthony.

Rochester Inventions: Baby shoes, Western Union, 1st Gold Tooth and
Dental Chair, Jell-O, Marshmallows, Grahm “Flour”, 1st enclosed
shopping mall (Midtown)
Economy in Brief

Home to the #1 Best Small Company to Work for in America-- Dixon Schwabl (2010); the
#1 Best Medium Company to Work for in America-- Genencor (2005); and the #1 Best
Large Company to Work for in America-- Wegmans (2005).

Largest employers are University of Rochester, Wegmans, and Eastman Kodak Company.
Rochester also home to Bausch & Lomb, Constellation Brands and Paychex.

Rochester is known as the world capital of imaging and is home to the Institute of Optics of
the University of Rochester (ranked #1 in the country).

The city offers several matching grant programs, a number of low-interest loans, and other
incentives for small businesses.
Rochester City Neighborhoods
Sector 1: Charlotte
Sector 2: Maplewood
Sector 3: Brown Square, Charles House Area Council
(CHAC), Edgerton, Lyell-Otis, People of
Dutchtown, Susan B. Anthony
Sector 4: B.E.S.T., Genesee-Jefferson, Mayor's Heights,
Plymouth-Exchange, and 19th Ward
Sector 5: Corn Hill and Central Business District
Sector 6: Ellwanger-Barry, Highland, South Wedge,
Strong, and Swillburg
Sector 7: Atlantic-University, Cobbs Hill, East Avenue,
Park Avenue, Pearl-Meigs-Monroe, and Upper
Monroe
Sector 8: Beechwood, Browncroft, Culver/Winton,
Homestead Heights, and Northland-Lyceum
Sector 9: 14621
Sector 10: N. Marketview Heights, S. Marketview
Heights, and Upper Falls
Rochester City Neighborhoods

Park Avenue: A popular area, especially for students
and young people. Lining the streets are cafes, shops,
pubs and restaurants.

University Avenue: The most culture and art-rich
sections of the city. Located here are the Village Gate,
Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester Museum and Science
Center, Rochester Public Market, ArtWalk, and George
Eastman House.

East End: A residential neighborhood in Downtown
Rochester but also the main nightlife district. The Eastman
Theater and the Eastman School of Music and many
clubs, bars and high-end restaurants are here.

South Wedge: The South Wedge neighborhood dates
back to 1827, prior to the incorporation of Rochester
Village. It is currently undergoing revitalization due to a
recent increase in homeownership.

Monroe Avenue: Stretches from Pittsford to
Downtown, contains many trendy shops and small
businesses.
Rochester City Neighborhoods

Highland Park: Site of the Ellwanger-Berry nursery
and home to the Highland Park Festival every May.

Corn Hill: Near downtown, it is one of the nation's
best preserved Victorian neighborhoods and the Corn
Hill Art Festival is one of the city's most popular.

Charlotte: A lake front community in Rochester home
to Ontario Beach Park.

Maplewood: A northwest neighborhood located
south of Kodak Park next to the Genesee River and
home to the Maplewood Rose Garden.
Downtown Rochester
High Falls
Paetec Park
City Living Loft
Strong National
Museum of
Play
Manhattan
Square
Park Ice
Skating Rink
Location of
Businesses
Rochester Demographics
Male: 47.64%
Female: 52.36%
Median Age: 31.6
Educational Attainment of
population 25 years and over
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Less than 9th grade 7%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma 16%
High school graduate (over 25) 78%
Some college, no degree 16%
Associate's degree10%
Bachelor's degree 24%
Graduate degree 9%
• 52% HS degree or less
Race:
 White: 37%
 African Americans: 41%
 Hispanic or Latino: 16%
 Asian: 3%
 Other: 3%
Foreign Born:
16,077 residents are foreign born (2.2%
Latin America, 2.1% Asia, 2.1% Europe).
US Census Bureau, 2010
Rochester Challenges
Rochester Challenges:
The Economy

At its peak, Kodak employed about 60,000
people in the Rochester area; it now
employs fewer than 5,000 full-time local
workers.

Upstate NY has suffered a loss of
manufacturing jobs at a rate of 33% (high
above the national average).

Cost of doing business in NYS is 2nd highest
in the country because of high taxes and
energy costs.
RBJ, 2008
Rochester Challenges:
Urban Sprawl
Rochester Challenges:
Poverty
Income:
Estimated median household income : $27,407
Estimated median household income
in NYS: $51,384.
http://www.citydata.com/poverty/povertyRochester-New-York.html
Percentage of residents living in poverty : 44%
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
Hispanic or Latino residents: for 41.4%
Black residents: 36.0%
White Non-Hispanic residents: 19.6%
Rochester has 10th highest poverty rate in
nation (1 in 4 vs. 1 in 8 national avg.)
City-data.com
In 2010, the poverty threshold for a four-person family with two children was $22,050.
Rochester Challenges:
Poverty
Rochester Challenges:
Rochester City School
2012 Rochester City School Profile:




Race Profile:
- 62% African American/Black
- 23% Hispanic
- 10% White
- 3% Asian/Nat
17% with special needs
8% with limited English proficiency
35 different language groups
Poverty:
• 88% eligible for free/reducedprice lunch
• Out of America’s 245 largest
districts, Rochester had the 11th
highest child poverty rate.
•50% of schools at 90% poverty or
higher
http://www.rcsdk12.org/district/profile.htm;
www.edgov.edu
2006 RCSD Average
Graduation Rate: 48%
Rochester Improvements
Example City Improvement
Efforts: The Economy

PAETEC Communications will occupy
the former Midtown Plaza. It will bring
1,100 new jobs to downtown.

We are seeing nearly 300 new
downtown housing units in 12
different development projects.
U of R, Kodak, Xerox, Unity
Health & PAETEC are
providing financial incentives
for homeownership to keep
residents in Rochester.
2008 & 2012 State of the City Report
Example City Improvement
Efforts: Schools

We broke ground on the Thomas P. Ryan Community Center, which will
combine School #33, a new recreation center and a new library.

Truancy is being addressed by new Superintendent, Dr. Vargas.

We continue to provide $119.1 million in revenue from property and sales
taxes to the Rochester City School District. Issues in the schools can’t be
solved without addressing poverty and financial needs.
2008 & 2012 State of the
City Report by Mayor
Robert Duffy
Example City Improvement
Efforts: Safety

Our citywide curfew program has resulted in 204 encounters
with juveniles, of which 190 offenders have been directed
to the Hillside Children’s Center Curfew Site.

We have added 25 new public safety positions to the
force.

We are installing 50 high-tech surveillance cameras
in high crime areas with location input from neighborhood
associations.
2008 State of the City Report by
Mayor Robert Duffy
Example City Improvement Efforts:
Neighborhood Revitalization
2008 State of the City Report by
Mayor Robert Duffy

Last year Wegmans closed its Driving
Park store leaving the residents without
a nearby grocery store. Wegmans
donated the site and the City worked
with local developers to bring in Price
Rite. They employ 110 people –
almost all of them from the
neighborhood.

We have taken down 494 abandoned
buildings.

Over the last two years, more than
10,000 people have volunteered with
Operation Clean Sweep to help cleanup
and beautify our city.