Rochester Hills is a city in northeast
Oakland County of the
U.S. state of
Michigan. As of the
2000 census, the city had a total population of 68,825. The 2008 census estimate places the population at 69,014.
The City of
Rochester in bounded on the north, south, and west by Rochester Hills. Rochester Hills is an affluent suburb on the northern outskirts of
Metro Detroit.
Rochester College is located in Rochester Hills, and
Oakland University is located partly in Rochester Hills and partly in neighboring Auburn Hills, although it maintains a Rochester mailing address.
Avondale School District and
Rochester Community Schools are the public school districts in Rochester Hills. Other institutions located within the city limits include Leader Dogs for the Blind, and Crittenton Hospital.
"Rochester", or the "Rochester Area", are often used to describe Rochester, Oakland Township, and Rochester Hills. Although most residents refer to themselves as living in Rochester, rather than Rochester Hills, and receive mail sent to a Rochester address.
History
The first European settler was James Graham both arriving in 1817.
Avon Township was organized in 1835.
Rochester incorporated as a village within the township in 1869. The township adopted a charter in 1948 under the Home Rule Act. In 1966, Rochester residents voted to become a city, effective in February 1967. As a result, Rochester residents no longer had to pay property taxes to the township.
In 1967, the township filed a petition to become a city. In January 1968, township voters approve the petition to move forward with seeking city status. Three proposed city charters were voted down by residents, the first in March 1969, the second in May 1970, and the third in September 1971. The city of Rochester then sought to annex all of the township, which was unanimously denied by the Michigan Boundary Commission. In 1972, petitions were filed to consolidate Avon Township and Rochester. In April 1974, the consolidation petition lost by 350 votes in the township, while passing by four votes in Rochester. In May 1974, Rochester's petition to annex of Avon Township was approved by the Michigan Boundaries Commission. The township became
Avon Charter Township in August 1978. Court challenges to the 1974 annexation continued until November 1981, when the township was ordered to surrender the annexed property.
In May 1984, township voters approved a city charter. On November 20, 1984 the township became the City of Rochester Hills. However, discussions of consolidation with Rochester continued, and in 1987, voters in both cities decisively rejected consolidation.
Geography
The City of Rochester Hills is bordered on the north by
Oakland Charter Township, the east by the City of
Rochester and
Shelby Township, the south by the City of
Troy, and on the west by the City of
Auburn Hills. According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.9
square miles (85.3
km²), of which, 32.8 square miles (85.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.24%) is water. Elevation's in the city range from 690 Ft. in the southeastern portion of the city to 1,010ft. in the northwestern portion of the city.
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, there were 68,825 people, 26,315 households, and 18,973 families residing in the city. The
population density was 2,095.2 per square mile (808.9/km²). There were 27,263 housing units at an average density of 830.0/sq mi (320.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.75%
White, 6.76%
Asian, 2.42%
African American, 0.20%
Native American, 0.03%
Pacific Islander, 0.47% from
other races, and 1.37% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 2.29% of the population.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $80,882, and the median income for a family was around $101,000. Males had a median income of $69,280 versus $40,405 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $35,070. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Parks
The City operates three major parks:
Notable current & former residents
