Rome, Georgia, A Small Town With A Rich History

Whatever the reason that draws you to Rome, Georgia, you will find something for everyone. Whether you are visiting family, traveling with sports, or coming to Rome for a weekend getaway, you can’t help but fall in love with Rome, Georgia, a small town with a rich history.

I grew up in Rome and have lived here my whole life. When I was traveling outside of Rome, I realized that our town, with just over 36,000 people, is becoming a popular destination. It is located just an hour outside of Atlanta and Chattanooga and still keeps a hometown feel.

There is so much to do and see around Rome that it is becoming a popular place to visit. Over the years, Rome has grown to accommodate increasingly popular travel sports and competitions of all kinds.

Downtown Rome retains a rich history that thrives with shops, restaurants, historic homes, and activities. Most weekends, live bands perform up and down Broad Street.

The name Rome comes from the ancient city of Rome, Italy, because of the similarities between the two cities. In the heart of downtown Rome, in front of the City Hall, you can find a statue of the Capitoline Wolf, presented by Benito Mussolini in 1929 with the following inscription.

“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”.

There are interesting finds up and down Broad Street. The Carnegie Library is next to City Hall and served as Rome’s library until the current Sara Hightower Regional Library was built in the ’80s.

To the left of the Carnegie Library is a box shaped like the Carnegie Library building. One of my readers told me that it is a tiny library of free books made by thoughtful and creative students. Isn’t that awesome? It is often the simple things that amuse me.

Although the historic downtown area is the main focus of Rome, outside of the downtown area, you will find all the conveniences of a modern town. It is constantly changing and updating to accommodate our growing population.

Rome is also advanced in the medical field, offering two hospitals, a trauma center, and doctors of every specialty. Many people travel from the surrounding areas to Rome for medical care.

I encourage you, whatever brings you to Rome, to take the time to enjoy yourself and experience the uniqueness of Rome. Walk up and down Broad Street, going in and out of the boutiques and antique shops. Watch kayaks float down the river, or try out a local restaurant. It will make your visit well worth it.