1960s

Rochester in the 1960s reflected the social changes and stresses of the United States during that decade, including racial turmoil and Vietnam anti-war protests.

"The 1960 census showed a population drop to 318,611 and a drop in rank to 38th.


... city began a process of urban renewal, with the construction of Midtown Plaza, the first indoor shopping mall in a traditional downtown area in the United States. In the middle of that decade, when the New York State Department of Public Works decided it would build the Inner Loop expressway through the downtown Rochester Institute of Technology campus, the decision was made to build a new campus in the suburbs. The move to a more spacious location was critical to RIT's 1966 selection as the site for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and the 1,300 acre (5.3 km²) campus in suburban Henrietta opened in 1968.


In the 60s and 70s, Rochester became known as the leading jazz town in upstate New York. Famous jazz musicians would come to Clarissa Street and play all night long moving from club to club." ¹

Some Highlights:

• See 1960 Events Page for all RocWiki entries
  

• 1964 Race Riot ravages the Joseph Avenue area
  

• 1965 - Liberty Pole erected, Urban League of Rochester founded.
  

• 1966 Blizzard shut down city for a week
  

• 1968 - Al Sigl Center opened and Xerox Tower built
  

Comments:

Note: You must be logged in to add comments