There is a city called Rome on every continent except Antarctica.
Every Continent Has a City Called Rome (Except One)
The name "Rome" has spread far beyond the ancient capital of Italy. In a remarkable example of cultural influence and naming conventions, every inhabited continent on Earth has at least one place called Rome or Roma—from the original in Europe to small towns scattered across the globe.
The Global Empire of Romes
Europe naturally claims the most famous Rome—the eternal city of Roma, Italy. But North America boasts an impressive 13 cities and 4 townships bearing the name across the United States alone, including locations in Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. Canada also has its own Rome in Ontario.
The other continents each have their representative:
- South America: La Roma and Puerto Roma in Ecuador, plus Roma in Peru
- Africa: Roma, Lesotho—a small town in the mountainous kingdom
- Asia: Roma, Indonesia
- Australia: Roma, Queensland—a thriving town of about 6,000 people in the outback
Why So Many Romes?
The proliferation of Romes reflects the massive cultural impact of the Roman Empire and classical education. Many American towns named Rome were founded in the 18th and 19th centuries when classical names were fashionable for new settlements. Founders often chose names that evoked power, civilization, and historical grandeur.
Roma, Queensland, has a different origin story—it was named in 1862 after Lady Roma Bowen, wife of Queensland's governor. This shows that not every "Rome" traces back to Caesar's legacy; some are coincidental.
The Antarctic Exception
Antarctica remains the only continent without a Rome, which makes perfect sense: it has no cities at all. The frozen continent has research stations but no permanent settlements or indigenous population. You can't name a city after Rome if you can't build a city in the first place.
Still, with over a dozen research stations dotting the ice, it's only a matter of time before some ambitious scientist proposes "New Rome Station" for their Antarctic outpost. Until then, Rome's global reach stops at six continents—which is still pretty impressive for a city founded nearly 3,000 years ago.