Rome Facts
Fact 1: The Capitoline Wolf, which guards the entrance to Rome's Municipal Building, was a gift from Italy. The statue is a replica of an Etruscan piece.
Fact 2: Rome's first inhabitants were the Cherokee, but after gold was discovered in the early 1800s, white settlers quickly arrived on the scene. Shortly thereafter, in 1838, thousands of Cherokee were forced from their homes and made to march the infamous Trail of Tears. While en route, thousands died from disease and famine before reaching reservations in the American West.
Fact 3: Legend has it that Rome was named when five settlers put their choices into a hat and drew. Suggestions not chosen were Hamburg, Pittsburg, Warsaw and Hillsboro.
Fact 4: During the Civil War, Rome was a medical center for wounded soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies. In 1864, the town came under Union control and was occupied for months before the forces led by Gen. William T. Sherman withdrew. Unfortunately, departing soldiers set fire to most buildings save for the medical facilities and much of the town was destroyed.
Fact 5: Rome is proud of its central location at the convergence of three important rivers. The Etowah, which flows through four counties, joins the Oostanaula to form the Coosa River, which flows from Rome to the Gulf of Mexico.
Fact 6: Sports are a popular pastime with Rome natives, especially team sports like football and baseball. The Rome Braves, the town's official Class A baseball team, are affiliated with the National League Atlanta Braves. In fact, several famous Atlanta players got their first professional bat at Rome's State Mutual Stadium.
Fact 7: Outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, boating and swimming, are popular in the countryside around Rome. The Rocky Mountain Recreation Area is a perfect backdrop to these pursuits and is home to a number of campgrounds and RV parks.
Fact 8: Cave Springs, a village not far from Rome, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The township and its variety of homes, offices, and preserved sites also feature a diversity of shops and stores that sell everything from collectibles to antiques.
Fact 9: Thanks to a location near the North Georgia mountains, Rome enjoys cool, crisp autumns, mild winters, inviting springtimes, and warm, sunny summers. On average, January is the coldest month, and temperatures range from an average low of 29° to an average high of 50°. During its Southern summer, Rome averages low temperatures of 67° and highs in the mid to upper 80s.
Fact 10: With the advent of railroads at the turn of the 20th century, Rome became a point of trade and commerce. That history is maintained in the Rome Railroad Depot, which dates from 1901 and serves today as the town's visitor center.
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