Rochester

Rochester is the name of several places and institutions in the United Kingdom and the United States. The most prominent are Rochester in Kent, England; Rochester in New York; and Rochester in Minnesota.

Rochester, Kent, is a historic town on the River Medway in southeast England. It preserves a medieval urban core with notable landmarks such as Rochester Castle, a Norman fortress built after 1087, and Rochester Cathedral, founded in the 7th century and rebuilt over the centuries. The town has literary associations with Charles Dickens and hosts heritage events and festivals. It lies near Chatham and the Medway towns, forming part of the wider Historic Dockyard and Medway area.

Rochester, New York, is a city in western New York on the Genesee River, about 60 miles east of Buffalo and near Lake Ontario. It is home to the University of Rochester, a private research university founded in 1850, and the Eastman School of Music. The city has historical ties to the Eastman Kodak Company and offers cultural institutions such as the Memorial Art Gallery, along with parks and a varied economy anchored in education and technology.

Rochester, Minnesota, serves as the county seat of Olmsted County in southeastern Minnesota. It developed around the Mayo Clinic, founded in 1889 by the Mayo brothers. Today it is known as a major medical care and research center, with Mayo Clinic activity shaping the local economy, education, and healthcare services, attracting patients from around the world.

There are additional smaller communities named Rochester in the United States and elsewhere, and the name is associated with several related institutions and entities.