Rochester, New York is known alternately as the “Flour City” and the “Flower City,” depending which time period in its history you’re referring to.  In the 2004 census it had a little over 210,000 residents and is the center of a larger metropolitan area that clears 1,035,000 in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, and other counties.

Rochester is in northwestern New York along the Genesee River off of Lake Ontario.  It’s about equal distance from New York City and Boston, and it a little over an hour’s drive east of Buffalo.

The city was founded in 1817 as the Village of Rochesterville and then was re-chartered as the city of Rochester in 1834.  Four years later, the city’s mills, powered by the Genesee River, propelled Rochester to be named the largest flour-producing city in the world, earning it the nickname “The Flour City”.  The Erie Canal was built through the city, and it acted as major trade center for Midwest grain being shipped east and supplies being shipped the other direction.  The hundreds of varieties of lilacs that blanket Rochester in May switched its nickname to “The Flower City.”

Throughout Rochester’s history, it’s been home to progressive movements.  Many freed slaves called the area home and the city is where Fredrick Douglas published his abolitionist newspaper The North Star.  Rochester was also home to women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony, who was instrumental in getting the University of Rochester to allow female enrollment in 1900 among other things.

Innovation and industry have found a home in Rochester.  George Eastman founded Kodak in the city and invented the flexible-film camera.  The city was the first place marshmallows were commercially produced and French’s Mustard made its first batch here.  Xerox was headquartered in the city for decades and was responsible for many of the urban renewal projects that took place in the city.  While it no longer has its headquarters here, the company still maintains a large presence.  Famed grocery retailer Wegmans calls Rochester home.  The company is consistently ranked at or near the top of Fortune Magazine’s top companies to work for.  The largest employer in the area is now the University of Rochester, which is one of many schools in and around Rochester.

Rochester has its gastronomical specialties that need to be explained to the newcomer.  In local terms, a “hot” is a hot dog.  As such, “hot sauce” isn’t the spicy pepper sauce but a meat sauce blend that is mildly spiced.  “Red Hots” are the traditional hot dogs, while “White Hots” are a variation made of uncured and unsmoked pork that was popularized by the local chain Zweigle’s and are the official hot dogs of the Buffalo Bills.  A “Garbage Plate” is a delicacy from local diners.  It’s not for the dieter, as it’s comprised of fried hotdogs, hamburgers, potatoes, macaroni salad, and hot sauce.  Custard, especially from local chain Abbot’s is very popular here.  And finally, Rochester residents refer to soft drinks as “pop.”  It’s the most eastern point in the United States before it becomes “soda.”