Rochester is a city on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in the western portion of the U.S. state of New York, and the seat of Monroe County. The city's population (210,565) was the state's third largest — after New York City and Buffalo — at the time of the 2010 census. Rochester is the center of a larger metropolitan area that encompasses and extends beyond Monroe County, and comprises Genesee County, Livingston County, Ontario County, Orleans County and Wayne County.

Rochester was one of America's first boomtowns, and rose to prominence as the site of many flour mills along the Genesee River, and then as a major hub of manufacturing. Several of the region's universities (notably the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology) have renowned research programs. In addition, Rochester is the site of many important inventions and innovations in consumer products.