Located in the
foothillsFoothills are geographically defined as gradual increases in hilly areas at the base of a mountain range. They are generally larger than hills, but not as tall as nearby mountains...
of the
Appalachian MountainsThe Appalachian Mountains , often called the Appalachians, are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. Definitions vary on the precise boundaries of the Appalachians...
,
Rome is the largest
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
and the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Floyd County, GeorgiaFloyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 90,565. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 95,618...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the principal city of the
Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical AreaThe Rome Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of one county – Floyd – in northwest Georgia...
which encompasses all of Floyd County. At the 2000
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
, the city had a total
populationIn biology, a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular species; in sociology, a collection of human beings. Individuals within a population share a factor may be reduced by statistical means, but such a generalization may be too vague to imply anything...
of 34,980, and was the largest city in
Northwest GeorgiaNorthwest Georgia includes the counties of:*Dade County*Walker County*Catoosa County*Whitfield County*Murray County*Gordon County*Chattooga County*Floyd County*Bartow County*Paulding County*Polk County*Haralson County...
.
Though no Interstate highway passes through Rome, it is the largest city near the center of the triangular area defined by the Interstate highways between
AtlantaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the state of Georgia, as well as the urban core of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States....
,
BirminghamBirmingham is the largest city in the state of Alabama in the United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County and includes part of Shelby County. According to a 2007 estimate, the city had a population of 229,800 The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, as of the 2008 census estimates,...
and
ChattanoogaChattanooga is the fourth-largest city in Tennessee , and the seat of Hamilton County. Located in southeastern Tennessee on Chickamauga Lake and Nickajack Lake, which are both part of the Tennessee River, Chattanooga lies approximately 120 miles to the northwest of Atlanta, Georgia, about 135...
, which contributes to its importance as a
regionalRégional Compagnie Aérienne Européenne, or Régional for short, is a subsidiary airline wholly owned by Air France which connects hubs at Paris, Lyons, Clermont-Ferrand, and Bordeaux to 49 airports in Europe. The airline operates in Air France livery, retaining its name in small titles and logo on...
center in several areas, such as medical care and
educationEducation in its broadest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual...
.
Rome's name is a commemoration of the
ItalianItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
city of
RomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
. Rome, Georgia, was built on seven
hillA hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain, in a limited area. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of scarp slope without a well-defined summit A hill is a landform that extends above the...
s with a river running between them, a feature that was an inspiration for the name. This connection is emphasized by a replica of the
statueA statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
of
Romulus and RemusRomulus and Remus are considered to be the traditional founders of Rome, appearing in Roman mythology as the twin sons of the Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia, fathered by the god of war, Mars...
nursing from a
motherA mother is a biological and/or social female parent of an offspring. Because of the complexity and differences of a mothers' social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to define a mother to suit a universally accepted definition.-Biological mother:In the case of a...
wolf, a symbol of the original Rome, which was a 1929 gift from Italian dictator
Benito MussoliniBenito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini,
KSMOM GCTE was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism. He became the Prime Minister of Italy in 1922 and began using the title Il Duce by...
.
Geography
Rome is located at 34°15'36" North, 85°11'6" West (34.259893, -85.185037) in Floyd County. The city is at the confluence of the
Etowah RiverThe Etowah River rises northwest of Dahlonega, Georgia, north of Atlanta. Its name is the Cherokee version of the original Muskogee word "Etalwa" which means a "trail crossing." On Matthew Carey's 1795 map the river was labeled "High Town River." On later maps, such as the 1839 Cass County map,...
and the
Oostanaula RiverThe Oostanaula River is a principal tributary of the Coosa River, about 45 mi long, in northwestern Georgia in the United States. Via the Coosa and Alabama Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mobile River, which flows to the Gulf of Mexico...
— the two rivers that form the
Coosa RiverThe Coosa River is one of Alabama's most developed rivers. It begins at the confluence of the Oostanaula and Etowah Rivers in Rome, Georgia. Around 90% of the Coosa River's length is located in Alabama. The river starts in Rome, Georgia and ends just northeast of the Alabama state capital,...
. The closest confluence of latitude and longitude is 34°N 85°W, about 20 miles South-Southeast of Rome. According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 29.8 square miles (77.3 km²), of which, 29.4 square miles (76.1 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.54% water.
The seven hills that inspired the name of Rome are Blossom Hill, Jackson Hill, Lumpkin Hill, Mount Aventine Hill, Myrtle Hill, Shorter Hill (now known as Old Shorter Hill), and Neely Hill (also known as Tower Hill and Clock Tower Hill). Some of the hills have been partially graded since Rome was founded.
Native American era
Life in the area of Rome before the Spaniard expeditions in the 1500s is largely unknown, due to the native inhabitants' lack of written records.
There is some debate over whether
Hernando de SotoHernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who, while leading the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States, was the first European to discover the Mississippi River....
was the first Spanish
conquistadorConquistador is the term widely used to refer to the Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th through the 17th centuries following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
to encounter
Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States is the phrase that describes indigenous peoples from North America now encompassed by the continental United States, including parts of Alaska and the island state of Hawaii. They comprise a large number of distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of...
in the area now known as Rome, but it is usually agreed that he passed through the region with his expedition in 1540. In 1560,
Tristán de LunaTristán de Luna y Arellano was a Spanish conquistador of the 16th century. Born in Borobia, Spain, he came to New Spain in about 1530, and was sent on an expedition to conquer Florida in 1559...
sent a detachment of 140 soldiers and two Dominican friars north along de Soto's route, and it is this group that established true relations with the
Coosa chiefdomThe Coosa chiefdom was a powerful Native American chiefdom near what is now Gordon and Murray counties in Georgia, in the United States. It was inhabited from about 1400 until about 1600, and was visited by Hernando de Soto and his conquistadors on their travels throughout the Southeast United...
as they assisted the Coosa in a raid against the rebellious province of Napochín, in what is now known as Tennessee. Exposed to unfamiliar European diseases, within 20 years these Mound Builders were gone, replaced by the Creek.
The
AbihkaThe Abihka were a division of the Upper Creeks. Their main place of residence was in what is now Talladega County, Alabama. At times their name is used for all of the Upper Creeks. They had three towns named Abihkutchi, Talladega and Kan-tcati. The remnant of the Natchez joined the Abihka when...
tribe of Creek in the area of Rome later became part of the Upper Creek, and merged with other tribes to become the Ulibahalis, who later migrated westerward into
AlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its...
in the general region of
GadsdenGadsden is a city in and the county seat of Etowah County, northeastern Alabama, United States, approximately 60 miles northeast of Birmingham. It is the principal city of and is included in the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459...
, and were replaced by the
CherokeeThe Cherokee are a Native American people from the Southeastern United States...
in the mid-1700s.
There was a Cherokee village named Hightower on the site of Rome, but its people later moved to
Cartersville, GeorgiaCartersville is a city in Bartow County, Georgia, in the United States. It was named after Col. Farish Carter. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 15,925. Growth is evident as the community's population rose to 21,274 as of the 2005 mid-census estimate...
, taking the name with them. The Cherokee also referred to the area that would become Rome as "Head of Coosa", and it eventually became home to several Cherokee leaders, including Chiefs
Major RidgeMajor Ridge , also Pathkiller II was a Cherokee Indian leader and protégé, along with Charles R. Hicks, of James Vann...
and
John RossJohn Ross , also known as Guwisguwi , was Principal Chief of the Cherokee Native American Nation from 1828-1860...
. Ridge's home here was known for years as Chieftains House, and is now
Chieftains MuseumChieftains, also known as Major Ridge Home, is a two-story dogtrot house built in 1792 in Rome, Georgia. It was home of Cherokee Nation chief Major Ridge.The log cabin was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973....
.
In the 1700s, a high demand in Europe for American
deer skinsThe deerskin trade between Colonial America and the Native Americans was one of the most important trading relationships between Europeans and Native Americans, especially in the southeast. It was a form of the fur trade, but less famous since deerskins were not as valuable as furs from the north,...
had led to a brisk trade between Indian hunters and white traders, and as a result, a few white traders and some settlers (primarily from the British Colonies of
GeorgiaThe Province of Georgia was one of the Southern colonies in British America. It was the last of the thirteen original colonies established by Great Britain in what later became the United States...
and
CarolinaThe Province of Carolina from 1663 to 1712, was a colony of British America, controlled by the Lords Proprietary, a group of eight English noblemen led informally by member Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury...
) were accepted by the Head of Coosa Cherokee. These were later joined by
missionariesA missionary is a member of a religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith; someone who proselytizes. The word "mission" is derived from the Latin missioninimus A missionary is a member of a religion who works to convert those who do not share the missionary's faith;...
, and then more settlers. After the
American War of IndependenceThe American Revolutionary War , also sometimes known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen united former British colonies in North America, and concluded in a global war between several European great powers...
, most new settlers came from the area of the State of Georgia East of the Proclamation Line of 1763.
In 1793, in response to a
CherokeeThe Cherokee are a Native American people from the Southeastern United States...
raid into
TennesseeTennessee is a state located in the Southeastern United States. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 6,214,888, an increase of nearly 9.5% since 2000. Tennessee is the 14th fastest growing state in the US and is ranked 17th by population. It is ranked 36th by total land area. In...
,
John SevierJohn Sevier served four years as the only governor of the State of Franklin and twelve years as Governor of Tennessee, and as a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1811 until his death...
, the
GovernorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of
TennesseeTennessee is a state located in the Southeastern United States. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 6,214,888, an increase of nearly 9.5% since 2000. Tennessee is the 14th fastest growing state in the US and is ranked 17th by population. It is ranked 36th by total land area. In...
, led a retaliatory raid against the Cherokee here in the
Battle of HightowerThe Battle of Hightower in 1793 was part of the Chickamauga wars, in which the Cherokee sought to defend their territory from illegal immigration by white settlers...
, in the vicinity of
Myrtle HillMyrtle Hill Cemetery, also nicknamed "Where Romans Rest", is the second oldest cemetery of the city of Rome, Georgia. The cemetery is at the confluence of the Etowah River and Oostanaula River and to the south of downtown Rome across the bridge. Myrtle Hill used to be a original hill and was named...
. In 1802, the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and
GeorgiaGeorgia is a state in the United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution, it had been the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established, in 1733. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January...
executed the
Compact of 1802The Compact of 1802 was a compact made by U.S. president Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to the state of Georgia. In it, the United States paid Georgia 1.25 million U.S. dollars for its central and western lands , and promised that the U.S...
, in which Georgia sold its claimed Western lands to the United States and the United States agreed to ignore Cherokee land titles and remove all Cherokee from Georgia. The commitment to evict the Cherokee was not immediately enforced, and Chiefs John Ross and Major Ridge led efforts to stop their removal, including several Federal lawsuits.
During the 1813
Creek Civil WarThe Creek War , also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, began as a civil war within the Creek nation...
, most Cherokee took the side of the Upper Creek Indians against the Red Stick Creek Indians. Before they moved to Head of Coosa, Chief Ridge commanded a company of Cherokee warriors as a unit of the Tennessee militia, with Chief Ross as
adjutantAdjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Commonwealth Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer....
. This unit was under the overall command of
Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . He was military governor of Florida , commander of the American forces at the Battle of New Orleans , and eponym of the era of Jacksonian democracy...
, and supported the Upper Creek.
In 1829, gold was discovered near
Dahlonega, GeorgiaDahlonega is a city in Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 3,638....
, starting the first
gold rushA gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of gold.Gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States....
in the United States. The
Indian Removal ActThe Indian Removal Act, part of a United States government policy known as Indian removal, was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 26, 1830.-19), the U.S. House passed it on 26 May 1830 ; Francis Paul Prucha, The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians,...
of 1830, which fulfilled the Compact of 1802, was a direct result of this, and Georgia's General Assembly passed legislation in 1831 that claimed all Cherokee land in Northwest Georgia. This entire territory was called Cherokee County until additional legislation in 1832 divided the territory into the nine counties that exist today.
City founding period
In 1834, the city of Rome was founded by Col. Daniel R. Mitchell, Col. Zacharia Hargrove, Maj. Philip Hemphill, Col. William Smith, and
Mr. John LumpkinJohn Henry Lumpkin was an American politician, lawyer and jurist.Lumpkin was born in Lexington, Georgia, and attended Franklin College, the initial college of the University of Georgia in Athens, for some time and then attended Yale College in 1831 and 1832...
(nephew of
Governor LumpkinWilson Lumpkin was a governor of Georgia, and a United States Representative and Senator. Born near Dan River, Virginia, he moved in 1784 to Oglethorpe County, Georgia with his parents, who settled near Point Peter and subsequently at Lexington, Georgia...
), who determined the name for the new city by holding a drawing. Each put his choice in a hat, with Col. Mitchell submitting the name of Rome in reference to the area's hills and rivers. Mitchell's submission was selected, and the Georgia Legislature made Rome an official city in 1835. The
County SeatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
was subsequently moved east from the village of
LivingstonLivingston is the site of an old Indian village in Floyd County, Georgia, United States. The place was supposedly visited by Hernando de Soto, and evidence of his visit was found near McGee Bend on the Coosa River....
to Rome.
With the entire area still occupied primarily by Cherokee, the city served the agrarian needs of the new cotton-based economy that had begun to replace deer-skin trading after the invention of the
cotton ginA cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates the cotton fibers from the seeds, a job previously done by hand. These seeds are either used again to grow more cotton or, if badly damaged, are disposed of...
. The first
steamboatA steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels....
navigated the Coosa River to Rome in 1836, reducing the time-to-market for the cotton trade and speeding travel between Rome and the
Gulf CoastThe Gulf Coast region of the United States, sometimes called the Gulf South, South Coast, or Third Coast, comprises the coasts of states which border the Gulf of Mexico. The states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are known as the Gulf States...
.
By 1838, the Cherokee had run out of legal options, and were the last of the major tribes to be forcibly moved to the Indian Territories (in modern-day
OklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,617,316 residents in 2007 and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
) on the Trail of Tears. After the removal of the Cherokee, their
homes and businesses were taken over by whitesGeorgia Land Lottery was an early Nineteenth-Century system of land re-distribution for Georgia's citizens. Under this system, qualifying citizens could register for a chance to win lots of land that had formerly belonged to the Cherokee Indians and Creek Indians. This lottery system was utilized...
, and the Roman economy continued to grow. In 1849, an 18 mile rail spur to the
Western and Atlantic RailroadThe Western and Atlantic Railroad is a historic railroad that operated in the southeastern United States from Atlanta, Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee.It was founded on December 21 1836 as the Western and Atlantic Railroad of the State of Georgia...
in
KingstonKingston is a city in Bartow County, Georgia, United States. The population was 659 at the 2000 census; the 2005 official estimate listed a population of 868.-Geography:Kingston is located at ....
was completed roughly along the current path of Georgia Highway 293, significantly improving transportation to the east.
Civil war period
In April 1863, during the
U.S. Civil WarThe American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several other names, was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America...
, the city was defended by Confederate General
Nathan Bedford ForrestNathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War...
against Union Colonel
Abel StreightAbel D. Streight was a lumber merchant, publisher, and a Union Army general in the American Civil War, noted for his daring cavalry raid, Streight's Raid, in 1863. After the war, he served as a State Senator in Indiana for two terms.-Early life and Civil War:Streight was born in Wheeler, New York...
's "lightning mule" raid from the area east of modern day
Cedar Bluff, AlabamaCedar Bluff is a town in Cherokee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,467. NASCAR driver Tina Gordon is from the town. Unlike the rest of the county, Cedar Bluff is a wet city, and is the "Crappie Capital of the World".It has the most amount of crappie counted...
. General Forrest tricked Colonel Streight into surrendering just a few miles shy of Rome. Realizing their vulnerability, Rome's city council allocated $3,000 to build three fortifications. Although these became operational by October 1863, efforts to strengthen the forts continued as the war progressed. These forts were named after Romans who had been killed in action: Fort Attaway was on the western bank of the Oostanaula River, Fort Norton was on the eastern bank of the Oostanaula, and Fort Stovall was on the southern bank of the Etowah River. At least one other fort was later built on the northern side of the Coosa River.
In May 1864, Union General
Jefferson C. DavisJefferson Columbus Davis was an officer in the United States Army who served in the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and the Modoc War. He was the first commander of the Department of Alaska, from 1868 to 1870...
, under the command of
Major GeneralMajor General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General. A Major General is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of Lieutenant General and senior to the ranks of Brigadier and Brigadier General...
William Tecumseh ShermanWilliam Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
, attacked and captured Rome when the outflanked Confederate defenders retreated under command of
Major GeneralMajor General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General. A Major General is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of Lieutenant General and senior to the ranks of Brigadier and Brigadier General...
Samuel Gibbs FrenchSamuel Gibbs French was an officer in the U.S. Army, wealthy plantation owner, author, and a major general in the Confederate army during the American Civil War. He commanded a division in the Army of Tennessee in the Western Theater.-Biography:Samuel G. French was born in Trenton, New Jersey...
. Union General William Vandever was stationed in Rome, and is depicted with his staff in a picture taken there. Due to Rome's forts and iron works, which included the manufacture of
cannonA cannon is any tubular piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellants to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s, Rome was a significant target during Sherman's destructive march through Georgia. Davis's forces occupied Rome for several months, making repairs to the damaged forts and briefly quartering General Sherman. Foreshadowing Sherman's infamous
Special Field Orders, No. 120Sherman's Special Field Orders, No. 120 were military orders issued during the American Civil War, on November 9, 1864, by Major General William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army during the American Civil War. He issued these orders in preparation for his famous March to the Sea, also known as the...
, Union forces destroyed Rome's forts, iron works, the rail line to Kingston, and any other material that could be useful to the South's war effort as they withdrew from Rome to participate in the
Atlanta CampaignThe Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta, Georgia, during the summer of 1864, leading to the eventual fall of Atlanta and hastening the end of the American Civil War....
.
Reconstruction period
In 1871, Rome constructed a water tank on Neely Hill, which overlooks the downtown district. This later became a
clock towerA clock tower is a tower built with one or more clock faces. The clock tower is usually part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall, but many clock towers are free-standing....
, and has served as the town's iconic
landmarkThis is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories: natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares, and so forth...
ever since, appearing in the city's crest and local business logos. As a result, Neely Hill is also referred to as Clock Tower Hill.
With two rivers merging to form a third, Rome has occasionally been subjected to serious flooding. The first severe flood after Rome became a city was the flood of 1886, which inundated the city and allowed a steamboat to travel down Broad Street. In 1891, upon recommendation of the
United States Army Corps of EngineersThe United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 34,600 civilian and 650 military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, the Georgia State Legislature amended Rome's charter to create a commission to oversee the construction of river levees to protect the town against future floods. In the late 1890s, additional flood control measures were instituted, including raising the height of Broad Street by about 15 feet. As a result, many of the below-ground basements of Rome's historic buildings were originally ground level entrances.
Capitoline Wolf
In 1928, the American Cotillion Company began construction of a
rayonRayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulose fiber. Because it is produced from naturally occurring polymers, it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor a natural fiber; it is a semi-synthetic fiber. Rayon is known by the names viscose rayon and art silk in the textile industry. It usually has a...
plant in Rome as a joint effort with the Italian Chatillon Corporation. Italian premier
Benito MussoliniBenito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini,
KSMOM GCTE was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism. He became the Prime Minister of Italy in 1922 and began using the title Il Duce by...
sent a block of marble from the ancient
Roman ForumThe Roman Forum , sometimes known by its original Latin name, is located between the Palatine hill and the Capitoline hill of the city of Rome. It is the central area around which the ancient Roman civilization developed...
, inscribed "From Old Rome to New Rome," to be used as the cornerstone of the new rayon plant. After the rayon plant was completed in 1929, Mussolini honored Rome with a bronze replica of the sculpture of
Romulus and RemusRomulus and Remus are considered to be the traditional founders of Rome, appearing in Roman mythology as the twin sons of the Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia, fathered by the god of war, Mars...
nursing from the
Capitoline WolfThe bronze Capitoline Wolf in the Museo Nuovo in the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the Campidoglio —where it has been housed since 1473 — is one of the icons of the founding of Rome. When the twins Romulus and Remus's father Numitor was overthrown by his brother Amulius, according to the...
. The statue was placed in front of City Hall on a base of white marble from
Tate, GeorgiaTate is an unincorporated town in Pickens County, Georgia, United States. Originally called Marble Works post office by the United States Postal Service, then Harnageville after Ambrose Harnage, it was the first county seat for Cherokee County, which functioned as a large territory rather than a...
, with a brass plaque inscribed
"This statue of the Capitoline Wolf, as a forecast of prosperity and glory, has been sent from Ancient Rome to New Rome during the consulship of Benito Mussolini in the year 1929."
In 1940, anti-Italian sentiment due to
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
became so strong that the Rome city commission moved the statue into storage to prevent
vandalismVandalism is the behaviour attributed to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
and replaced it with an American flag. In 1952, the statue was restored to its former location in front of City Hall.
Great Depression
In Rome, Ga. the effect of The Great Depression was not as bad as the larger cities across America. Since Rome was an agricultural town, people did not have to worry as much about food, but jobs were becoming very few around 1932, three years after the stock market crash of 1929.
An important segway into the Great Depression was the "Cotton Bust" which had hit Rome in mid 1920s, and caused many farmers to move away, sell their land or convert to other agricultural crops, such as corn. The "Cotton Bust" was the effect of the
Boll WeevilThe boll weevil is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central America, it migrated into the US from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all US cotton-growing areas by the 1920s, devastating the...
, a tiny bug which was introduced to Georgia in 1915. Before the Boll Weevil came to Georgia, cotton was an abundant and cheap resource, but when the boil weevil came to Rome and North Georgia it destroyed many fields of cotton and put a damper on Rome's economy.
While the Great Depression had its affect on Rome, the area was not as devastated as many of the big cities; however, it did put many families through hard financial times. Jobs were scarce and prices of food and basic commodities went up. Even the "postal employees took a fifteen per cent cut in pay, and volunteered a further ten per cent reduction in work time in order to save the jobs of substitute employees who otherwise would have been thrown out of work."
Referring to the book "History of Rome and Floyd County" the Relief Follies and cotton style show was created to help the struggling families during this time. Romans bought tickets to a show put on by local performers and the fares went directly to grocers who made boxes of food to sell at a discount price to the needy families.
To lower the number of unemployed during this time, S.H. Smith, Sr. tore down the Armstrong hotel. Afterwards, he employed many people to help build the towering Greystone Hotel at the corner of Broad St. and East Second St. in 1927. "The Rome News-Tribune on November 30, 1933, reported a heartening increase in local building permits for a total of $95,800; of this amount, $85,000 was invested by S.H. Smith, Sr., in the construction of the Greystone Hotel. The Greystone Apartments were added in 1936."
Places of interest
- Martha Berry Museum, a Berry College founder museum.
- Rome Area History Museum
Rome Area History Museum, currently directed by Jerry Desmond, was founded in 1996 to promote an understanding of the shared past, to enrich local lives, and to inspire a stronger sense of community. Since its establishment, the museum has received over 80,000 visitors...
, a history of Rome museum.
- Chieftans Museum
Chieftains, also known as Major Ridge Home, is a two-story dogtrot house built in 1792 in Rome, Georgia. It was home of Cherokee Nation chief Major Ridge.The log cabin was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973....
, Major Ross' house museum.
- Clock Tower, a clock tower museum.
- Rome Braves
The Rome Braves are a Class-A minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. In 2003, the team, previously known as the Macon Braves, moved from Macon, Georgia to Rome, Georgia, 60 miles northwest of Atlanta....
, a Class A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
Sites on the National Register of Historic Places
Rome has many historic homes and businesses, many of which are on the
National Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
:
Economy
Rome has long had the strength of economic diversity, founded in manufacturing, education, healthcare, technology,
tourism, and other industries.
In 1954,
General ElectricThe General Electric Company, or GE , is a multinational American technology and services conglomerate incorporated in the State of New York. In 2009, Forbes ranked GE as the world's largest company...
established a factory to build medium
transformerA transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core, and thus a varying magnetic field...
s. In the 1960s, Rome contributed to the American effort in the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War or the Second Indochina War was a Cold War military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975...
when the
Rome Plow CompanyRome plows were large, armored, specially modified bulldozers used in South Vietnam by the United States military during the Vietnam War. They were used, beginning in 1967, by land clearing units to clear jungle vegetation, thus removing cover that could be used by the Viet Cong and North...
produced
Rome plowRome plows were large, armored, specially modified bulldozers used in South Vietnam by the United States military during the Vietnam War. They were used, beginning in 1967, by land clearing units to clear jungle vegetation, thus removing cover that could be used by the Viet Cong and North...
s, which were large armored vehicles used by the U.S. Military to clear jungles. In the latter part of the 20th century, many
carpetA carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene, and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their structure.- Etymology :The...
mills prospered in the areas surrounding Rome.
Recent additions to Rome's manufacturing industry include Brugg Cable and Telecom,
Suzukiis a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
Manufacturing of America, and automobile parts makers Neaton Rome and F&P Georgia. The most prominent of the new additions is the North American headquarters of
PirelliPirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy.-History:Founded 1872 in Milan by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, Pirelli initially specialised in rubber and derivative processes. Effectively, Pirelli's activities are still primarily focused on the production of tyres and cables...
Tire.
Rome is also well known in the region for its medical facilities, particularly
Floyd Medical CenterFloyd Medical Center is a system of health care providers serving Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama since 1942. Located in Rome, Ga., it is Floyd County’s largest employer with over 2,000 employees....
,
Redmond Regional Medical CenterRedmond Regional Medical Center, , is located in Rome, Georgia, and is one of the largest employers in Floyd County with a staff of 1,200 and over 250 affiliated doctors. Redmond is a 230 bed medical, surgical and rehab unit serving Rome, Floyd County, and surrounding counties...
, and the
Harbin ClinicWith over 141 doctors specializing in 32 different medical specialties, the Harbin Clinic is the largest privately-owned multispecialty medical clinic in Georgia...
.
National companies that are part of Rome's technology industry include Universal Tax Systems and Peach State Labs.
In the world of professional sports, the city is home to the
Rome BravesThe Rome Braves are a Class-A minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. In 2003, the team, previously known as the Macon Braves, moved from Macon, Georgia to Rome, Georgia, 60 miles northwest of Atlanta....
, a Class A affiliate of the
Atlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field....
. The Rome Braves compete in the
South Atlantic LeagueThe South Atlantic League, or "Sally League," is a minor league baseball league which operates mostly in the southeastern United States, although it has a team in New Jersey...
. Additionally, Rome has hosted stages of the
Tour de GeorgiaThe Tour de Georgia is a U.S. professional cycling stage race across the state of Georgia. The race began in 2003 and has been contested six times. It is one of the three events in North America ranked as Hors Classe stage race events by the UCI, which is cycling's international governing body,...
in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and
2007The 2007 Tour de Georgia was a seven-stage professional bicycle race held from April 16 through April 22, 2007 across the state of Georgia and into Tennessee. The race was part of the 2007 USA Cycling Pro Tour...
.
Demographics
At the 2000
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
, there were 34,980 people, 13,320 households and 8,431 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 1,190.5 per square mile (459.7/km²). There were 14,508 housing units at an average density of 493.7/sq mi (190.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 63.12% White, 27.66% African American, 1.42% Asian, 0.39% Native American, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 5.61% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.35% of the population.
There were 13,320 households of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 41.2% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, wend 36.7% are non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% have someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.
The age distribution was 24.2% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The
median household incomeThe median household income is commonly used to provide data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $30,930, and the median family income was $37,775. Males had a median income of $30,179 versus $22,421 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $17,327. About 15.3% of families and 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under the age of 18 and 16.3% of those 65 and older.
Education
Reflecting its function as a regional center, Rome is home to four colleges:
| College | Public/
Private | Type | Notes |
Berry CollegeBerry College is an American accredited, private, Christian-affiliated four-year liberal arts college located in Rome, Georgia. It was founded in 1902 by Martha Berry.-Location:Berry College is located next to Rome on U.S...
| Private Private schools, also known as independent schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students tuition, rather than relying on public funds...
| Liberal Arts Liberal arts are the skills derived from the Classical education curriculum.-Definition:The term liberal arts denotes a curriculum that imparts general knowledge and develops the student’s rational thought and intellectual capabilities, unlike the professional, vocational, technical curricula...
| World's largest contiguous college campus |
| Coosa Valley Technical College Coosa Valley Technical College , begun in 1962, is a member of Georgia’s system of technical colleges that operate under the Technical College System of Georgia and an institution of higher learning that provides occupational education, skills training, and workforce development to support the...
| PublicA public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities...
| TechnicalInstitute of technology, and polytechnic, are designations employed in a wide range of learning institutions awarding different types of degrees and operating often at variable levels of the educational system...
| Founded in 1962 |
Georgia Highlands CollegeGeorgia Highlands College, commonly known as Georgia Highlands, is a two-year community college associate degree-granting unit of the University System of Georgia, and located in Rome, Georgia, USA; with satellite campuses in Heritage Hall, Rome, Georgia; Cartersville, Georgia; Marietta, GA;...
| PublicA public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities...
| GA Community CollegeThe University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering Public Library...
| Formerly Floyd Junior College |
| Shorter College Shorter College is a Christian liberal arts college, located in Rome, Georgia.-History:The college was founded in 1873 as a women's college, the Cherokee Baptist Female College. It was renamed in 1877 to Shorter Female College because of the financial contributions of Alfred and Martha Shorter. ...
| Private Private schools, also known as independent schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students tuition, rather than relying on public funds...
| Liberal Arts Liberal arts are the skills derived from the Classical education curriculum.-Definition:The term liberal arts denotes a curriculum that imparts general knowledge and develops the student’s rational thought and intellectual capabilities, unlike the professional, vocational, technical curricula...
| Founded in 1873 |
Rome's
public school system administers
Rome High SchoolRome High School is a four-year public high school located in Rome, Georgia, United States. The current principal is Dr. J. Tygar Evans.As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,487 students and 89.1 classroom teachers , for a student-teacher ratio of 16.7.-History:As part of...
and a variety of elementary and middle schools. In addition, Rome is home to
Darlington, an independent preparatory school in operation for over 100 years, on a campus of over 500 acres.
Movie production
- Dixie Times (2008
The year 2008 in film saw many new films released worldwide, including several major mainstream sequels, prequels, and remakes as well as original films.-Top grossing films:...
) an idependent film produced by Ken Wheeler. Most of the film was shot in Cave Spring, GeorgiaCave Spring is a city in Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is located 12.24 miles south of Rome, Georgia. The population was 975 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The name of town was named after its cave and water spring hence "Cave...
which is a small town right outside of Rome.
- Dance of the Dead
Dance of the Dead is a 2008 American independent zombie comedy, directed by Gregg Bishop and written by Joe Ballarini. The film featured Jared Kusnitz, Greyson Chadwick, Chandler Darby, and Carissa Capobianco...
(2008The year 2008 in film saw many new films released worldwide, including several major mainstream sequels, prequels, and remakes as well as original films.-Top grossing films:...
), an independentAn independent film, or indie film, is a film that is produced outside of any major film studio. Originally, this term denoted independence from Paramount Pictures, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., RKO, Universal Pictures, United Artists, and Columbia Pictures, the 8 major studio entities...
zombie comedyThe zombie comedy is a film genre which aims to blend zombie or horror motifs with slapstick comedy as well as dark comedy.-Background:The earliest roots of the genre can be found in Jean Yarbrough's King of the Zombies and Gordon Douglas's Zombies on Broadway , though both of these films dealt...
filmed at various locations in Rome and North Georgia, including the old Coosa Middle School, Myrtle Hill CemeteryMyrtle Hill Cemetery, also nicknamed "Where Romans Rest", is the second oldest cemetery of the city of Rome, Georgia. The cemetery is at the confluence of the Etowah River and Oostanaula River and to the south of downtown Rome across the bridge. Myrtle Hill used to be a original hill and was named...
, Shorter CollegeShorter College is a Christian liberal arts college, located in Rome, Georgia.-History:The college was founded in 1873 as a women's college, the Cherokee Baptist Female College. It was renamed in 1877 to Shorter Female College because of the financial contributions of Alfred and Martha Shorter. ...
, and the Claremont House.
- Sweet Home Alabama
Sweet Home Alabama is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Andy Tennant and stars Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, and Patrick Dempsey. The film was released on September 27, 2002.-Plot:...
(2002The year 2002 in film involved some significant events. The first significant releases of sequels took place between Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Men in Black II, Analyze That, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost...
), starring Reese WitherspoonLaura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon , better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. In 1998 she appeared in three major movies: Overnight Delivery, Pleasantville, and Twilight. The following year, Witherspoon appeared in the critically acclaimed Election, which earned her...
and Josh LucasJosh Lucas is an American actor. He has appeared in the films Glory Road and Poseidon, among others.-Early life:...
, is a romantic comedyRomantic comedy is a hybrid genre of fiction, especially motion pictures, in which a story about romance is presented in a comedic style. Works in this genre are generally considered light-hearted, and are sometimes associated with the vaguely derogatory terms "chick lit" or "chick flick", meaning...
filmed partly on the Berry College campus, prominently featuring the former Martha BerryFor the Cherokee bead artist, see Martha Berry Martha McChesney Berry was an United States educator and the founder of Berry College in Rome, Georgia.-Early years:...
residence, the Oak Hill Berry MuseumOak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum is the home and museum about Berry College founder Martha Berry located in Rome, Georgia. It is also an All-America Selections Display Garden, a part of Berry Schools on the National Register of Historic Places, and a AAA Star Attraction.-Oak Hill:Oak Hill is a ...
.
- Remember the Titans
Remember the Titans is an American sports drama, directed by Boaz Yakin and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer for Walt Disney Pictures, released in 2000. The film stars Denzel Washington as coach Herman Boone and Ryan Hurst as Gary Bertier. Remember the Titans centers on the American football team of...
(2000The year 2000 in film involved some significant events.-Top-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the United States and Canada in 2000...
), starring Denzel WashingtonDenzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director and film producer. He has garnered much critical acclaim for his work in film since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures, such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin Carter, Melvin B...
, was filmed partly on the Berry College campus.
- Dutch
Dutch is a 1991 American comedy/drama film directed by Peter Faiman and written by John Hughes. The original music score was composed by Alan Silvestri. The film stars Ethan Embry and Ed O'Neill with a cameo appearance by golfer great Arnold Palmer...
(1991The year 1991 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York*Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became one of the landmarks for sci-fi action films.-Top grossing films :...
), a comedyComedy as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse generally intended to amuse, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in Ancient Greece...
featuring several scenes from Berry CollegeBerry College is an American accredited, private, Christian-affiliated four-year liberal arts college located in Rome, Georgia. It was founded in 1902 by Martha Berry.-Location:Berry College is located next to Rome on U.S...
and Rome.
- The Mosquito Coast
The Mosquito Coast is a 1982 novel by Paul Theroux and a 1986 film based on the book. Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, Andre Gregory , and River Phoenix star in the film directed by Peter Weir...
(1986-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle*Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
), starring Harrison FordHarrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. Ford is best known for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series...
and River PhoenixRiver Jude Phoenix was an American film actor. He was listed on John Willis's Screen World, Vol. 38 as one of twelve "promising new actors of 1986," and was hailed as highly talented by such critics as Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. He was also well known for his animal rights activism...
, is an adventureAn adventure is an activity that comprises risky, dangerous or uncertain experiences. The term is more popularly used in reference to physical activities that have some potential for danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing, and extreme sports...
movie with scenes from Rome as a fictional city in MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most of its population of...
. Visible are the historic Floyd County Courthouse and Oostanaula River.
News
Rome Georgia Classifieds
Radio stations
| Call Letters | Frequency | Nickname | Format |
|---|
| WGPB |
97.7 FM |
NPR |
Public Radio |
| WLAQ WLAQ is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Rome, Georgia, USA, the station serves the Rome GA area...
|
1410 AM |
n/a |
Talk |
| WQTU -Schedule:Q102's schedule lineup consists of:* The Morning Q with Jim and Karli* The At-Work Network with Kevin Daniels* The All Request 80s Cafe* The Ride Home with Randy Rhodes* Rick Bradley* Casey Kasem's American Top 40: The 80's-Sports Coverage:...
|
102.3 FM |
Q102 |
Hot AC |
| WRGA Rome's NewsTalk WRGA is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Rome, Georgia, USA, the station serves the Rome GA area...
/WSRM |
1470 AM/93.5 FM |
n/a |
News/Talk |
| WROM WROM is a radio station broadcasting a Gospel music format. Licensed to Rome, Georgia, USA, the station serves Rome, GA and Vicinity. The station is currently under ownership of LGV Broadcasting, Inc....
|
710 AM |
n/a |
Gospel Music |
| WTSH |
107.1 FM |
South 107 |
Country |
| WATG WATG is a radio station broadcasting a Classic rock format. Licensed to Trion, Georgia, USA, the station serves the Rome GA area. The station is currently owned by TTA Broadcasting, Inc and features programing from ABC Radio. The station serves as the flagship station for the Rome Braves baseball...
|
95.7 FM |
95.7 The Ridge |
Classic Hits |
Notable residents
- Major Ridge
Major Ridge , also Pathkiller II was a Cherokee Indian leader and protégé, along with Charles R. Hicks, of James Vann...
(c.1771-1839), Cherokee IndianThe Cherokee are a Native American people from the Southeastern United States...
Chief and co-signer of the Treaty of New EchotaThe Treaty of New Echota was a treaty signed on December 29, 1835 in New Echota, Georgia by officials of the United States government and representatives of a minority Cherokee political faction. The treaty was amended and ratified in March 1836. The treaty established terms under which the entire...
- John Ross
John Ross , also known as Guwisguwi , was Principal Chief of the Cherokee Native American Nation from 1828-1860...
(1790–1866), Principal Chief of the United CherokeeThe Cherokee are a Native American people from the Southeastern United States...
Nation
- Stand Watie
Stand Watie was a leader of the Cherokee Nation and a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
(1806–1871), Cherokee IndianThe Cherokee are a Native American people from the Southeastern United States...
leader and ConfederateThe Confederate States of America was a separatist political entity existing between 1861 to 1865, established by eleven southern slave states of the United States of America, each of which had previously declared their secession from the United States...
generalA general officer is an officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank that is simply called general.-All general officer...
- John H. Lumpkin
John Henry Lumpkin was an American politician, lawyer and jurist.Lumpkin was born in Lexington, Georgia, and attended Franklin College, the initial college of the University of Georgia in Athens, for some time and then attended Yale College in 1831 and 1832...
(1812–1860), Co-founder of Rome, Superior CourtIn common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
JudgeA judge, or arbiter of justice, is a lead official who presides over a court of law, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is like an umpire in a game and...
, and U.S. RepresentativeThe United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the "House," is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate. The composition and powers of the House and the Senate are established in Article One of the Constitution...
- Homer V. M. Miller
Homer Virgil Milton Miller was a United States Senator from Georgia.Born in Pendleton District, South Carolina, he moved with his parents to Rabun County, Georgia in 1820. He attended the common schools and graduated from the Medical College of South Carolina in 1835...
(1814–1896), U.S. SenatorThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the lower house being the House of Representatives. The composition and powers of the Senate and the House are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution . Each U.S state is represented by two senators,...
, senior ConfederateThe Confederate States of America was a separatist political entity existing between 1861 to 1865, established by eleven southern slave states of the United States of America, each of which had previously declared their secession from the United States...
medical officer
- Bill Arp
Charles Henry Smith was a Georgia politician who as a writer used the nom de plume Bill Arp for nearly 40 years....
(birth name Charles H. Smith) (1826–1903), Rome mayor"Mayor" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government....
and 19th century writerA writer is anyone who creates a written work, though the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, as well as those who have written in many different forms.-Profession:...
- Ellen L. A. Wilson (1860–1914), First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the President of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president...
and first wife of President Woodrow WilsonThomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States. A leading intellectual of the Progressive Era, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
- Martha M. Berry
For the Cherokee bead artist, see Martha Berry Martha McChesney Berry was an United States educator and the founder of Berry College in Rome, Georgia.-Early years:...
(1865–1942), educatorEducation in its broadest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual...
- John H. Towers
John Henry Towers was a United States Navy admiral and pioneer Naval Aviator. He made important contributions to the technical and organizational development of Naval Aviation from its very beginnings, eventually serving as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics...
(1885–1955), U.S. NavyThe United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
admiralAdmiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above Vice Admiral and below Admiral of the Fleet/Fleet Admiral. It is usually abbreviated to "Adm." or "ADM"...
and pioneer naval aviatorA United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
- Ma Rainey
Gertrude Malissa Nix Pridgett Rainey, better known as Ma Rainey , was one of the earliest known American professional blues singers and one of the first generation of such singers to record. She was billed as The Mother of the Blues...
(1886–1939), early professional bluesBlues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre created within the African-American communities in the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer
- Charles H. Fahy
Charles Fahy served as Solicitor General of the United States and later as a United States federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit....
(1892–1979), U.S. Solicitor GeneralThe United States Solicitor General is the person appointed to represent the Government of the United States before the Supreme Court of the United States. Currently, the Solicitor General is Elena Kagan, who was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 19, 2009.The Solicitor General...
and Navy CrossThe Navy Cross is the highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard but could be awarded to all branches of United States...
recipient
- Calder Willingham
Calder Baynard Willingham, Jr. was an American novelist and screenwriter. He cowrote several notable screenplays, including Paths of Glory and One-Eyed Jacks ....
(1922–1995), screenwriterScreenwriters or scenarists or scriptwriters are people in a film crew who write/create the screenplays from which films and television programs are made....
and novelA novel is a long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist
- Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He played in two Super Bowls, Super Bowl V and Super Bowl VI and also coached in four more, Super Bowl XXI, Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXIV as the Denver Broncos' head coach, and Super Bowl XXXIII as the head coach of...
(1944- ), American footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
player and head coachA head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing sports men and women. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
- Arn Anderson
Martin Anthony Lunde better known by his ring name Arn Anderson, is a former American professional wrestler. His career has been highlighted by his alliances with Ric Flair and various members of the wrestling stable, The Four Horsemen...
(1958- ), professional wrestlerProfessional wrestling, or pro wrestling, is an athletic performing art where matches are prearranged by the promotion's booking staff. It is a non-competitive sport which contains strong elements of theatre, mock combat, and catch wrestling. Wrestling's origins date to 19th-century carnival...
- Ray Donaldson
Raymond Canute Donaldson is a former American football Center who played 17 seasons in the National Football League. He was selected to six Pro Bowls and then he played in Super Bowl XXX as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. Donaldson played college football at the University of Georgia...
(1958- ), American footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
player
- Brett Butler
Brett Butler is an American actress and stand-up comedienne, best known for playing the title role in comedy series Grace Under Fire.-Early life and career:...
(1958- ), ActressAn actor or actress is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and comedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain members of an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
- Will Muschamp
William Larry Muschamp is an American college football coach and the current defensive coordinator and linebackers coach of the Texas Longhorns football team after previously serving in the same positions with Auburn and LSU...
(1971- ), Defensive coordinator for the University of Texas. Former safety for the University of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1785, UGA claims to be the oldest public university in the United States....
.
- Ken Irvin
Kenneth Pernell Irvin was an American football defensive back for ten seasons in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, and the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at the University of Memphis....
(1972- ), American footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
player
- Ronnie Brown
Ronnie Gene Brown is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins second overall in the 2005 NFL Draft...
(1981- ), American footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
player
- Marcus Dixon
Marcus Dwayne Dixon is an American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
(1984- ), American footballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
player
- Kris Durham
Kris Durham , is a wide receiver for the University of Georgia Bulldogs.-High School Career:Durham was a stand-out receiver for the Calhoun High School Yellow Jackets. He helped lead the Jackets to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the state championship under coach Hal Lamb...
(1988- ), University of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning. Founded in 1785, UGA claims to be the oldest public university in the United States....
wide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
- Mike Glenn
Mike Theodore "Stinger" Glenn is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'2" guard, Glenn graduated in 1973 from Rome's Coosa High School, where he was an all-state standout, still holding the school points record at over 2,400 points for his high school career...
(1955-), NBA player for the Buffalo Braves, New York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, known familiarly as the Knicks, are a professional National Basketball Association team based in New York City, and the most valuable franchise in the league, valued at $608 million...
, Atlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Hawks are coached by Mike Woodson, who is in his fifth season at the helm.-The first years:The...
, and the Milwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They play in the National Basketball Association . The current franchise owner is Herb Kohl.- Early years :...
- Major General Douglas Carver (1951-), United States Army Chief of Chaplains
External links
Further reading
- Roger Aycock, All Roads to Rome, Georgia: W.H. Wolfe Associates, 1981. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006E51R2
- Jerry R. Desmond, Georgia's Rome: A Brief History, Charleston: The History Press, 2008. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1596293098
- George Magruder Battey Jr., A History of Rome and Floyd County, Georgia 1540-1922, Georgia: Cherokee Publishing Company, 2000. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0877970033
- Sesquicentennial Committee of the City of Rome, Rome and Floyd County: An Illustrated History, The Delmar Co 1986.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HWTSOK
- Morrell Johnson Darko, The Rivers Meet: A History of African-Americans in Rome, Georgia, Darko, 2003. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0974388807
- Orlena M. Warner, When in Rome..., Georgia: Steven Warner, 1972. A collection of poems. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W94Y38