Rochester is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 32,492 at the 2020 census. In addition to the downtown area, the city contains the villages of East Rochester, Gonic, and North Rochester. Rochester is home to Skyhaven Airport and allocation of Baxter Lake.

Rochester was one of New Hampshire’s fastest growing cities amongst 2010 and 2020.

Rochester was following inhabited by Abenaki Indians of the Pennacook tribe. They fished, hunted and farmed, moving locations later than their agriculture exhausted the soil for growing pumpkins, squash, beans and maize. Squanamagonic (abbreviated to “Gonic”) means “the water of the clay place hill”.

The town was one of four fixed by colonial manager Samuel Shute of Massachusetts and New Hampshire during his brief term. Incorporated in 1722, it was named for his near friend, Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester, brother-in-law to King James II. As was customary, tall white pine trees were reserved for use as masts by the Royal Navy. But unfriendliness with the Abenaki people delayed settlement until 1728, although attacks would continue until 1748. Early dwellings clustered together for protection, beginning near Haven Hill. Due to case or disease, after 1749 Native American numbers dwindled, although many descendants remain in or regarding Rochester communities. The community at that times included Farmington, which was incorporated in 1798, and Milton, in 1802.