Rochester, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Rochester is a village in Sangamon County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 2,893 at the 2000 census, and 3,246 at a 2009 estimate. The village was settled in 1819, and is located in Rochester Township.
Rochester is part of the Springfield, Illinois
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Rochester is located at 39°45′2"N 89°32′30"W (39.750625, -89.541587). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²) of it is land and 0.47% is water.
of 2000, there were 2,893 people, 1,075 households, and 868 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,372.9 people per square mile (529.4/km²). There were 1,099 housing units at an average density of 521.6 per square mile (201.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.65% White, 0.28% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 1,075 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $62,891, and the median income for a family was $73,191. Males had a median income of $50,875 versus $35,944 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $26,881. About 0.8% of families and 1.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.
Rochester is the southeastern end of the Lost Bridge Trail
, a 5.0-mile (8.0 km) trail built by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) atop an abandoned railbed formerly used by the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) railroad. It is operated jointly by IDNR and the Village of Rochester. The trail crosses the South Fork of the Sangamon River near Rochester, and crosses Sugar Creek near Springfield. Sugar Creek carries the outflow from Lake Springfield, a sizable nearby reservoir. The Lost Bridge trail name recalls IDOT's failure to prevent salvagors affiliated with the B&O from dismantling the Sugar Creek bridge for scrap.
IDOT future plans include extending the trail to Taylorville, Illinois along the same railroad bed, and this was partly realized in a recent extension from the trail's original end at State Rte. 29 and N. Main St., across Rochester, to just past the intersection of State Rte. 29 and State St.
Rochester High School's enrollment for the 2004-2005 school year was 617 students, and has increased slightly since. The high school's principal is Dennis Canny, the assistant principal is Kim Poole. The activities director is Andrew Ford. Rochester High School teachers on average make $47,027, while administrators make $74,897 on average.
Rochester High School students test above the Illinois state averages in all categories on the ACT. The average composite score on the ACT for Rochester is 22.2, which exceeds the state average of 20.1. In Illinois, the ACT is required as part of the state's standardized testing program. This information is provided in the school's Illinois School Report Card, which all schools in Illinois are required to release to the public each year.
Construction on a new wing to the high school began in July 2005, and was finished in August 2006. Demolition of the old Rochester Junior High building also took place in the summer of 2006, and junior high students occupied most of the new wing until the new junior high facility was fully completed. A new auditorium was also being constructed for the district, and it was scheduled to be completed in early 2007. The new junior high facility was completed by January 2008. The new auditorium was completed in time for the spring musical, The Wizard of Oz, in 2008.
In 2010, the Rochester High School football team was undefeated and became the Class 4A State Champions.
In 2011, the Rochester High School football team was 12-2 and won the 4A State Championship for the second straight year.
Sangamon County, Illinois
Sangamon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 197,465, which is an increase of 4.5% from 188,951 in 2000...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,893 at the 2000 census, and 3,246 at a 2009 estimate. The village was settled in 1819, and is located in Rochester Township.
Rochester is part of the Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Springfield, Illinois metropolitan area
The Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in Central Illinois, anchored by the city of Springfield...
.
Geography
Rochester is located 4.0 miles outside Springfield, Illinois, down Illinois East State Route 29. The village is exit 96A off Interstate 55.Rochester is located at 39°45′2"N 89°32′30"W (39.750625, -89.541587). According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²) of it is land and 0.47% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,893 people, 1,075 households, and 868 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,372.9 people per square mile (529.4/km²). There were 1,099 housing units at an average density of 521.6 per square mile (201.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.65% White, 0.28% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 1,075 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $62,891, and the median income for a family was $73,191. Males had a median income of $50,875 versus $35,944 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $26,881. About 0.8% of families and 1.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and Recreation
Located on the northwest side of the village is the Rochester Community Park, erected and operated by the Village of Rochester. The late 1990s saw massive expansion on the park, with the addition of a lighted ballfield, multiple soccer fields, and the Friendship Fort, a massive play-structure built in 1998. The park hosts many village events, including "Sparks In The Park", an annual Independence Day festival with vendors, entertainment, a carnival, and a parade. Spanning three days, the event attracts not only the citizens of Rochester, but visitors from the surrounding areas as well.Rochester is the southeastern end of the Lost Bridge Trail
Lost Bridge Trail
The Lost Bridge Trail is a rail trail in Sangamon County, Illinois. It was built by the Illinois Department of Transportation along an abandoned Baltimore and Ohio Railroad corridor between the east side of Springfield, Illinois to the center of Rochester, Illinois.The trail crosses the South...
, a 5.0-mile (8.0 km) trail built by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) atop an abandoned railbed formerly used by the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) railroad. It is operated jointly by IDNR and the Village of Rochester. The trail crosses the South Fork of the Sangamon River near Rochester, and crosses Sugar Creek near Springfield. Sugar Creek carries the outflow from Lake Springfield, a sizable nearby reservoir. The Lost Bridge trail name recalls IDOT's failure to prevent salvagors affiliated with the B&O from dismantling the Sugar Creek bridge for scrap.
IDOT future plans include extending the trail to Taylorville, Illinois along the same railroad bed, and this was partly realized in a recent extension from the trail's original end at State Rte. 29 and N. Main St., across Rochester, to just past the intersection of State Rte. 29 and State St.
Schools
Rochester's schools are part of District 3A, headed by district superintendent Dr. Thomas Bertrand. The district lists its enrollment for the 2004-2005 school year at 2,003 students, and 2,070 students for the 2005-2006 year.Rochester High School's enrollment for the 2004-2005 school year was 617 students, and has increased slightly since. The high school's principal is Dennis Canny, the assistant principal is Kim Poole. The activities director is Andrew Ford. Rochester High School teachers on average make $47,027, while administrators make $74,897 on average.
Rochester High School students test above the Illinois state averages in all categories on the ACT. The average composite score on the ACT for Rochester is 22.2, which exceeds the state average of 20.1. In Illinois, the ACT is required as part of the state's standardized testing program. This information is provided in the school's Illinois School Report Card, which all schools in Illinois are required to release to the public each year.
Construction on a new wing to the high school began in July 2005, and was finished in August 2006. Demolition of the old Rochester Junior High building also took place in the summer of 2006, and junior high students occupied most of the new wing until the new junior high facility was fully completed. A new auditorium was also being constructed for the district, and it was scheduled to be completed in early 2007. The new junior high facility was completed by January 2008. The new auditorium was completed in time for the spring musical, The Wizard of Oz, in 2008.
In 2010, the Rochester High School football team was undefeated and became the Class 4A State Champions.
In 2011, the Rochester High School football team was 12-2 and won the 4A State Championship for the second straight year.
External links
- Village of Rochester Website - http://www.rochesteril.org
- Rochester CUSD 3A Schools - http://www.rochester3a.sangamon.k12.il.us/default.html
- Rochester Fire Protection District - http://www.rochesterfirerescue.org
- Rochester Public Library - http://www.rochesterlibrary.org