ABOUT ROCHESTER

During the 1880's, Rochester became a thriving agricultural center.  As the city continued to grow, businesses were established to serve and support farmers in the area.  On August 21, 1883, most of the city was ravaged by a tornado.  Damage from the storm left hundreds of injured and homeless settlers. 

No hospital or organized medical care was available at the time.  Only a handful of doctors who administered the necessary aid in makeshift hospitals in the buildings which remained standing.  The Sisters of St. Francis assisted the Mayo brothers in the treatment of the disaster victims and suggested that a hospital be established in Rochester. 

As a result of the work and financial assistance of the Sisters, St. Mary's Hospital was begun, the first in a series of medical institutions which make up the world famous Mayo Medical Center, which is considered to be one of the best medical facilities in the world.

Through the years, Rochester not only attracted quality medical care and facilities, but also entered the field of advanced technology with the opening of the International Business Machines (IBM) plant in the 1950's.  Since that time, the operation has grown to be one of IBM's most efficient plants.  In 1990, the plant earned the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.  Today it is the home of the popular AS/400 mid-sized computer.

Agriculture, food processing, and dairy are still important to Rochester's economy today as farms in the area produce annual harvests of corn, soybeans, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.  Rochester is also home to Marigold Foods, producers of Kemps ice cream and dairy products.

When Money magazine pronounced Rochester, Minnesota, "The Best Place to Live," the city's "humming" economy was featured as prominently for its quality of life.  Rochester's business community is known for innovation and quality.  Both Inc. and Venture magazines have named Rochester one of the country's top cities for entrepreneurs, and The Wall Street Journal recently listed Rochester among the nation's most successful high-technology growth areas.  Rochester offers the benefits of a small, stable mid-western city combined with the advantages of an international center.  As Money magazine put it, Rochester "radiates cosmopolitan style without big-city ills."