Rome, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Rome | |
| Motto: Center of It All | |
  City of Rome
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Oneida |
| Incorporated | 1870 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | James F. Brown |
| Area | |
| - Total | 75.7 sq mi (196.0 km²) |
| - Land | 74.9 sq mi (194.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.8 sq mi (1.9 km²) 0.99% |
| Elevation | 456 ft (139 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 34,950 |
| - Density | 466.4/sq mi (180.1/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-63418 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0962840 |
| Website: http://romenewyork.com/ | |
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 24th congressional district. The city is named after the Italian city of Rome. It is sometimes nicknamed "The Copper City" on account of the brass and copper works founded by Paul Revere in 1801. It is also mentioned in the famous song "Erie Canal," as "We'll make it to Rome 'fore six o'clock."
The city 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.
Rome is a principal city of the Utica–Rome, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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[edit] 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.
Between 1951 and 1991, the Rome Air Development Center (RADC) was located at Griffiss AFB. In 1991, the RADC was redesignated Rome Laboratory. It remained active as the Griffiss AFB was closed as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process in 1993. In 1997, Rome Laboratory was made part of the Air Force Research Laboratory and renamed the Rome Research Site. 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) is also located in Rome, on the site of the former Griffiss Air Force Base.
Woodstock 1999 was held in Rome with the city once again making use of the former Griffiss Air Force Base site.
In July 2005, New York City developers, Park Drive Estates, purchased the former Woodhaven Housing- formerly the base housing for Griffiss Air Force officers and enlisted men, and are in the process of re-developing that land into a resort-style active adult community.
[edit] Geography
Rome is located at (43.219469, -75.463330).[1]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 75.7 square miles (196.0 km²), of which, 74.9 square miles (194.1 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (0.99%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 34,950 people, 13,653 households, and 8,328 families residing in the city. The population density was 466.4 people per square mile (180.1/km²). There were 16,272 housing units at an average density of 217.2/sq mi (83.8/km²). 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.
[edit] In popular culture
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- In an Archie Comics issue, Reggie wins a trip to what he thinks is Rome, Italy when it actually is to Rome, NY.[citation needed]
- Rome is designated as a regional capital in CBS' television series Jericho before aligning itself with Columbus, Ohio.
[edit] Famous residents
- Francis Bellamy, author of the Pledge of Allegiance, is buried in Rome.
- Archi Cianfrocco, Major League Baseball Player
- Jerry Cook, NASCAR driver, Six-time NASCAR Modified Champion, one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers of All-Time
- Richie Evans, NASCAR driver, Nine-time NASCAR Modified Champion, one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers of All-Time
- Henry A. Foster, U.S. Representative and Senator from New York, Judge of the New York Supreme Court
- Alex Haley, Author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family[citation needed]
- John B. Jervis, Civil Engineer, Designer of the Croton Aqueduct
- Tom Myslinski, NFL Player
- Pat Riley, NBA Head Coach
- Tim Sestito, Minor League Hockey Player
- Tom Sestito, Minor League Hockey Player
- Anthony Washington, Discus World Champion (1999), Two-time Olympian
- Benjamin Wright, Chief Engineer of the Erie Canal
- Walter R. Brooks, Author of the Freddy the Pig children's book series
- Frank Page, Cartoonist Bob the Squirrel comic strip [3]
- Brian Smith, Comedian, Entertainer musical comedians Dave and Brian was born in Rome.[4]
[edit] Transportation
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Meet Frank Page
- ^ Comedians Dave and Brian
[edit] External links
- Jervis Library Local History Links
- Rome, NY Military Museum
- Rome, NY official webpage
- Rome Daily Sentinel (newspaper)
- Job Search Engine for Rome and Central New York
- History of Rome, NY
- Rome, New York is at coordinates Coordinates:
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