Rome is a city located in Oneida County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 34,950. It is in New York's 23rd Congressional District. The city is named after the city in Italy. <br> The City of Rome was incorporated in 1870. The City is founded on the site of Fort Stanwix which guarded the "Great Portage" that allowed canoes to be travel between the Mohawk River and Lake Ontario. <br> On July 4, 1817 construction on the Erie Canal began here. Rome is located at 43°13'10" North, 75°27'48" West (43.219469, -75.463330)1. <br> 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 is water. The total area is 0.99% water. <br> As of the census of 2000, there are 34,950 people, 13,653 households, and 8,328 families residing in the city. The population density is 180.1/km2 (466.4/mi2). There are 16,272 housing units at an average density of 83.8/km2 (217.2/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 4.72% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. <br> There are 13,653 households out of which 28.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% are married couples living together, 13.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% are non-families. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.93. <br> In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 105.0 males. <br> The median income for a household in the city is $33,643, and the median income for a family is $42,928. Males have a median income of $31,635 versus $23,899 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,604. 15.0% of the population and 12.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 23.4% are under the age of 18 and 7.6% are 65 or older. <br> Military History <br> Rome has a strong historical relationship with the military. In the heart of the Leatherstocking Region, made famous by James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales, Rome is home to Fort Stanwix, which was built in 1758 to guard a strategic portage along a major transportation route. <br> Between 1951 and 1991, the Rome Air Development Center (RADC) was located at Griffiss AFB <br>(http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/griffiss.htm). In 1991, the RADC was redesignated Rome Laboratory (external link (http://www.rl.af.mil/)). The RADC has been responsible for some of the United States Air Force's major technological accomplishments, especially in the area of radio communications.