Why an American city was named after the capital of the Roman Empire
In short: In 1834, a group of veterans held a drawing to name a new Georgia settlement. They chose Rome, inspired by the seven hills and river confluences of their namesake. Today, this Southern hub holds unexpected relics of Italian diplomacy and ancient mythology.
The naming of Rome, Georgia, was a deliberate nod to the topography of the original Roman Empire. Early European-American settlers, including founders like Colonel Daniel R. Mitchell, observed that the city developed on seven hills with the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers running between them, much like the Italian capital. This strategic location at the confluence of these rivers—which form the Coosa River—initially served as a vital trading post for the cotton-based economy, allowing goods to be shipped downriver to the Gulf Coast.
The city's connection to Italy was solidified in 1929 through a high-profile industrial project. To celebrate the 'New Rome', Benito Mussolini gifted a bronze copy of the Capitoline Wolf—depicting Romulus and Remus nursing—to the joint venture between Italy's Chatillon Corporation and the American Chatillon Company. He also provided a marble piece from the historic Roman Forum, bearing the inscription 'From Old Rome to New Rome', to act as the factory's foundation stone.
However, this cultural link faced significant tension during World War II. Due to intense anti-Italian sentiment in 1940, the city commission moved the Capitoline Wolf statue into storage to protect it from potential vandalism, replacing it with an American flag. It was not until 1952 that the statue was restored to its prominent position in front of City Hall.
The city's history is also deeply intertwined with the displacement of the Cherokee and Creek peoples. Following the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Cherokee were the last major Southeast tribe to be forcibly moved to Indian Territory in 1838. Before this, prominent Cherokee leaders like John Ross and Major Ridge lived on the land, even developing their own cotton plantations.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Rome, Georgia
- Also: Wikidata — Rome · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — history of Rome, Georgia · CC0
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