Rome, GA

As the largest city in northwestern Georgia, Rome is the seat of Floyd County. The city covers almost 30 square miles and has a population of about 36,500. The city's name was inspired by the Italian city, which, like this Georgia community, is built atop seven hills.

Located within driving distance of the major cities Atlanta, Ga., Chattanooga, Tenn., and Birmingham, Ala., Rome is a popular tourist spot. In one recent year, tourist spending in Rome jumped by 58 percent.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Rome, with four institutions of higher education, is home to many students, which in part accounts for the city's low median income and need for multifamily homes. In an effort to balance these factors while maintaining its historic character, Rome is undergoing a historic preservation program. The neighborhoods involved include:

• Avenue A, the intact remnants of DeSoto, one of Rome's earliest suburbs. Most historic homes in the district are one- and two-story frame houses built between 1880 and 1920. Larger houses are characterized by late-Victorian features such as decorative shingles, gable vents, large porches with scrollwork, brackets, and turned balusters.
• Between the Rivers, named for its location between the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers, consists of approximately 90 acres that were the original core of the city. Today, two- to four-story commercial buildings from the 1870s to the 1940s line Broad Street, including several public buildings near the north end of the street.
• College Heights, named for its proximity to Shorter College, offers suburban housing dating from the 1910s through the 1960s. Housing styles include Colonial Revival; English Vernacular Revival, and Craftsman.
• East Rome includes residential buildings in the styles of Victorian, Queen Anne, Second Empire, Georgian Revival, and Craftsman.
• Oakdene Place was a planned subdivision with a curvilinear street layout as opposed to the grid street layout used elsewhere in the city. The north side of the district includes large Queen Anne, late Victorian, and Neoclassical homes built by some of Rome's prominent families.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The economy in Rome relies on education and manufacturing and, increasingly, tourism. Some of the biggest local employers include:

• Brugg Cable and Telecom
• Neaton
• Pirelli Tires
• Suzuki
• Floyd Medical Center
• Redmond Regional Medical Center

Local colleges have also given rise to a booming catering and restaurant industry, as well as substantial growth in the construction sector. Some 25 caterers have joined the Chamber of Commerce, and more than 25 general contractors hold a membership with the chamber.

FOR VISITORS

Art, nature and local history provide the basis of some of the attractions around Rome:

• Cave Spring, although considered a tiny Rome offshoot, is actually a small village that features a pool in the shape of the state of Georgia. It is the site of an impressive cave with plenty of rock formations, as well as a number of antique stores.
• The Chieftains Museum offers an opportunity to come face to face with the Cherokee lifestyle through the personal lives of the Ridge family. Personal effects, artifacts, and changing exhibits round out this educational opportunity.
• The Martha Berry Museum features an art gallery and Oak Hill gardens. The museum tells the story of Berry College and provides insight into college life, past and present.
• Rome's Clock Tower, the official symbol of the city, sits atop Neely Hill and offers a panoramic view of downtown. It contains works by Chuck Schmult, a local artist.
• A replica of the Capitoline Wolf nursing the twins Romulus and Remus, mythical founders of Rome, Italy, stands before Rome's historic City Hall on Broad Street. The statue was a gift from the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Rome features a variety of cultural offerings, including poetry readings, art exhibits, live music, and theatrical performances throughout the year. Two of the leading local arts groups are:

• The Rome Symphony Orchestra has been performing for more than 85 years. A number of special events and performances are scheduled throughout the year. Many of the musicians also play with the Oak Hill Symphony and the Berry Chamber Players.
• The Rome Little Theatre, based in the historic DeSoto Theatre, presents plays, musicals and other stage performances. The DeSoto itself is a work of art, and attendees enjoy both the performances and the atmosphere and design of the theater.

FAMILY FUN

Being surrounded by the Etowah, Oostanaula, and Coosa Rivers means Rome residents enjoy beautiful scenery and a variety of outdoor opportunities. The city, which boasts dozens of acres of green space, is also home to several tennis courts, public swimming pools, camp grounds, and boating and fishing sites. Expert and beginning horseback riders can also ride at the Gunby Equestrian Center or Crown Chase Farms.

Rome is also home to a number of golf courses, the most notable of which is the public Stonebridge Golf Course, an 18-hole, par 72 championship course designed by Arthur Davis. The course's location in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, as well as the presence of tall pine trees and a lake, make for some challenging but scenic golfing.

EVENTS

The annual Rome Fine Wine Festival is held at the Forrest Building Ballrooms in the historic downtown district. In addition to wine tasting and a bit of local history, the Rome Symphony Orchestra provides entertainment for the event.

On the first Friday evening each month from May to September, Rome residents bring their blankets and lawn chairs and gather downtown at Bridgepoint Plaza for the First Friday Concert Series. Each of these free concerts features family-friendly music.

EDUCATION

Rome is home to four institutions of higher learning:

• Berry College offers a comprehensive liberal arts program with Christian values.
• Shorter College offers undergraduate liberal arts program, specialized professional programs and select graduate programs with a commitment to Christian values.
• Coosa Valley Technical College provides occupational education, skills training and workforce development to area residents.
• Georgia Highlands Community College is part of the University System of Georgia. The two-year institution grants associate degrees.

SPORTS TEAMS

Rome residents cheer for the Rome Braves, a successful Class-A minor-league baseball team that is affiliated with the Atlanta Braves. Mascots Romey and Roxie are highly visible on game day throughout the city. The Rome Braves play their home games in the 5,105-seat State Mutual Stadium.