Rome, also known as Stout, is a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

in Green Township, Adams County,

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

, United States, along the

Ohio River The Ohio River is a long river in the United States. It is located at the boundary of the Midwestern and Southern United States, flowing southwesterly from western Pennsylvania to its mouth on the Mississippi River at the southern tip of Illino ...

. The population was 83 at the 2020 census.

History

Rome was laid out in 1835 by William Stout. The village was named after

Rome, Italy , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (Romulus and Remus, legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg ...

, according to local history. While the village is officially named Rome, it is often called "Stout"; even the community's post office is named "Stout," not "Rome." A post office called Stout has been in operation since 1893.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the village has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

U.S. Route 52 U.S. Route 52 (US 52) is a major United States highway in the central United States that extends from the northern to southeastern region of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S. Highways, US 52 primarily follows ...

passes to the north of Rome.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 94 people, 45 households, and 26 families living in the village. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 64 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 95.7%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 2.1% Native American, and 2.1% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 1.1% of the population. There were 45 households, of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 11.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.73. The median age in the village was 49.3 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 1.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 24.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 117 people, 46 households, and 31 families living in the village. The population density was . There were 58 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 94.02%

, 4.27% Native American, and 1.71% from two or more races. There were 46 households, out of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were

living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06. In the village, the population was spread out, with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males. The median income for a household in the village was $31,136, and the median income for a family was $31,944. Males had a median income of $19,167 versus $30,500 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the village was $12,026. There were 28.9% of families and 24.4% of the population living below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 30.3% of under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Government

In 2016, the Ohio Auditor of State deemed Rome to be "unauditable" due to recordkeeping issues and a lack of elected village leadership. A 2021 analysis of the village by the Auditor of State determined that there had been no elected officials since 1995, and that the village had not approved a tax budget since at least 2016; these criteria, in addition to considering the village's small size, led the Auditor to request that the

Ohio Attorney General The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state, State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Republican Dave Yost. History The office ...

begin legal action to dissolve the village.

References

{{Authority control Villages in Adams County, Ohio Villages in Ohio Ohio populated places on the Ohio River 1835 establishments in Ohio Populated places established in 1835