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Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 34,950 at the 2000 census. It is in New York's 23rd Congressional District. The city is named after the city in Italy. It is sometimes nicknamed "The Copper City" on account of the brass and copper works founded by Paul Revere in 1801.
The City of Rome is in the south-central part of the county. The Rome Sand Plains is a 15,000-acre inland pine barrens within the city, that consists of a mosaic of high sand dunes and low peat bogs, mixed northern hardwood forests, meadows and wetlands. It is one of only a handful of inland pine barrens remaining in the United States.
History
In the heart of the Leatherstocking Region made famous by James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales, Rome is known as the City of American History.
Native Americans called the area Deo-Wain-Sta, or The Great Carrying Place, referring to the portage between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek. The portage was also known as the Oneida Carrying Place. Boats coming up the Mohawk River had to transfer their cargo (and boats) 1.7 miles overland to continue west to Lake Ontario. This important east/west trade route was later formalized by construction of the Erie Canal.
In 1758, Fort Stanwix was built to guard this strategic area.
On July 4, 1817 construction on the Erie Canal began in Rome; in 1851, Jesse Williams founded America's first cheese factory.
The City of Rome was incorporated in 1870 on the site of Fort Stanwix.
Between 1951 and 1991, the Rome Air Development Center (RADC) was located at Griffiss AFB. In 1991, the RADC was redesignated Rome Laboratory. The RADC has been responsible for some of the United States Air Force's major technological accomplishments, especially in the area of radio communications. The Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS)
Geography
Rome is located at (43.219469, -75.463330).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 196.0 km² (75.7 mi²). 194.1 km² (74.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.9 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (0.99%) is water.
Rome's total land area (75 square miles) makes it the second largest city (geographically) in the state of New York.
New York City is first in the state of New York in terms of both land area (309 square miles) and population (8.2 million).
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,950 people, 13,653 households, and 8,328 families residing in the city. The population density was 180.1/km² (466.4/mi²). There were 16,272 housing units at an average density of 83.8/km² (217.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.85% White, 7.58% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.72% of the population.
There were 13,653 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,643, and the median income for a family was $42,928. Males had a median income of $31,635 versus $23,899 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,604. About 12.0% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Famous Residents
- Jerry Cook and Richie Evans, NASCAR drivers
- Francis Bellamy, author of the Pledge of Allegiance
- Rich Peck
External links
- Jervis Library Local History Links
- Rome, NY Military Museum
- Rome, NY official webpage
- Rome Daily Sentinel (newspaper)
"Rome, New York"