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The site of Rochester and particularly the "Point" was known in Indian days as "Sawkunk". This was the gathering point for Indians in time of war and many council fires burned in the neighborhood of the present site of Water Street. It was not until the closing years of the 17th century that settlers came to Rochester. In 1799 the Rev. Francis Reno came to Rochester from Washington County and built a log cabin on the hillside where the Passavant Home now stands. Rev. Reno was married to Lydia Savours and they had six children. During his active service, he preached at surrounding areas of Sewickley, Georgetown, Ohioville and Rochester. He baptized children and married men and women for miles around. He lived to be80yearsof age and died August 12,1837. What is now Rochester was formerly included in the Borough of Beaver, and by an enactment of Legislature approved January 1904, all lands on the East side of the Big Beaver were cut off from the Borough of Beaver and formed the Borough of Rochester. Prior to the incorporation the town was known as "Fairport" and "East Bridgewater". The town was then named Rochester, and the honor was given to Mitchell Hammond, a grocer, who proposed the name and when purchasing goods had then sent to "Rochester". The name was formally adopted at the Incorporation in 1849. It is recorded that there were 239 taxables at the time and all those who had resided in the prescribed limits for one year were given the right to vote at the first election. It has been found in the history of the county that main highways and rails have followed old Indian trails. Brighton Avenue (the main street) is no exception for it was at one time known as the "Tuscarawas Trail". It was paved in 1890 and has the distinction of being one of the first two streets in the valley towns to be paved. Since business flourished along the river, Water Street soon became the hub of activity, but with the advent of the railroad the center of activity shifted to Brighton Avenue. With the cessation of canal activities and packet boats, the business district gradually moved upward to make the changes needed in transportation such as street cars and buses. Rochester, at one time, had its own railway Company known as "Trolley Car", the Peoples Electric Street Railway Company was chartered in 1891 and maintained service to Bridgewater, Freedom, and St. Clair with a western terminal at the intersection of the Beaver Valley Traction Company tracks at Junction Park, New Brighton. The heyday of the "Trolley Car" carried people to Junction Park and the thrill of an afternoon ride to Morado. The last car in the County ran August 10, 1937. The first bridge between Rochester and Bridgewater over the Beaver River was erected long before the incorporation of the town, as the State Road passed over this point.
The bridge was completed in 1815 and did a lot to promote the growth of Rochester. It was blown down in 1821 and a new bridge was built in 1826 and it stood until the great flood of 1884 when it was swept away. Four bridges have been built since. The 20th Century brought a gradual decline to Rochester industry and today it is mainly a community of homes.