Rochester, Minnesota

Rochester, Minnesota
Nickname(s): 
Med City, Roch
Motto: 
America's City of Care and Innovation
Interactive map of Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester
Rochester
Coordinates: 44°00′51″N 92°28′43″W / 44.014299°N 92.478592°W / 44.014299; -92.478592
Country United States
State Minnesota
CountyOlmsted
FoundedJuly 12, 1854
IncorporatedAugust 5, 1858
Founded byGeorge Head
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • MayorKim Norton
 • City managerAlison Zelms
Area
 • City
57.151 sq mi (148.020 km2)
 • Land56.806 sq mi (147.128 km2)
 • Water0.344 sq mi (0.890 km2)  0.6%
Elevation
1,129 ft (344 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City
121,395
 • Estimate 
(2024)
123,624
 • RankUS: 238th
MN: 3rd
 • Density2,136.99/sq mi (825.098/km2)
 • Urban
121,587 (US: 273rd)
 • Metro
230,742 (US: 207th)
Time zoneUTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
55901, 55902, 55903, 55904, 55905, 55906
Area codes507 and 924
FIPS code27-54880
GNIS feature ID2396395
Websiterochestermn.gov

Rochester is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States. It is the county seat. It is located along rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota. The population was 121,395 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 123,624 in 2024, making it the third-most populous city in Minnesota. The Rochester metropolitan area has an estimated 230,000 residents. The city is the home and birthplace of Mayo Clinic.

Rochester first developed as a stagecoach stop between Dubuque, Iowa, and Saint Paul, Minnesota. With the creation of the Mayo Clinic in 1864, Rochester became a national center for healthcare, as well as a hub for regional agriculture. For higher education needs the University of Minnesota Rochester, Rochester Community and Technical College, and Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine are located in the city.