History of Roswell, Georgia

Canton Street Vickory Creek
Canton Street Shops Vickory Creek

Introduction to Roswell, Georgia

Roswell is located in Fulton County. Frommer's ranked Roswell third in their book titled "Best Places to Raise Your Family." CNN named the town as one of the best places to live in the country. In 2006, it was ranked as the 18th safest city in the country by City Crime Rankings, published by Morgan Quinto Press. The municipality is named in tribute to the original settler, Roswell King and features numerous historic homes from the 1800's.

History

During the middle of the 1830's Roswell King selected the area to establish a cotton mill. He built the mill, homes, infrastructure and buildings for the new town with slave labor. The mill became one of the largest in Northern Georgia. Soon, other settlers arrived and established additional plantations and brought slaves with them. The cotton mills were a major factor for the economy.

The town was chartered in 1854. During the Civil War, the Union Army took control of the city. They burned down the mills but they did not destroy the homes. When the war was over, Barrington King constructed new mills. Some freed slaves chose to stay in Roswell and worked for wages on the plantations or took jobs in the city.

Attractions

  • The Archibald Smith Plantation Home includes numerous artifacts and slave quarters. It's listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Bulloch Hall features Greek Revival architecture. It's the former home of Martha Bulloch, the mother of President Theodore Roosevelt.
  • Primrose Cottage was one of the first homes built in Roswell and hosts a variety of events.
  • Teaching Museum North.
  • Barrington Hall is an excellent example of Greek Revival Temple architecture and is included in the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Foster House.
  • Town Square.
  • Brantley-Newton House.
  • Heart of Roswell features distinctive shops, restaurants and numerous art galleries.
  • Roswell Cultural Arts Center.
  • Possum Trot serves as an antique mall.

Activities

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area features numerous historic sites along the river. It also provides several areas for recreational activities including Cochran Shoals which is popular for walking, bicycle riding and jogging. It offers visitors opportunities to see the area's wildlife.

The Chattahoochee Nature Center is situated on a large acreage and serves as a environmental education facility. It provides four nature trails that traverse through wetlands and wooded areas. Horseshoe Bend Country Club features a beautiful golf course located along the Chattahoochee River

Festivals and Parades

  • The Roswell Memorial Day Festival is one of the largest in the state.
  • Roswell Roots celebrates African-American history and culture.
  • Riverside Sounds Concert Series.
  • Roswell Youth Day Parade and Festival is a popular event.
  • Roswell Criterium Bicycle Race and Historic Roswell Kiwanis Kids Bike Safety Rodeo.
  • Keep Roswell Beautiful Duck Race.

Top 15 Facts about Roswell, GA

  1. The City of Roswell was founded by Roswell King who came from St. Simons Island, GA in 1836.
  2. The City of Roswell has 18 parks with 800 acres of active and passive parkland and facilities.
  3. The City of Roswell has been chosen twice by "Atlanta Magazine" as the best place to live in the Metro-Atlanta area.
  4. The City of Roswell has been ranked one of the safest cities to live in the United States according to City Crime Rankings.
  5. The City of Roswell is Georgia's seventh largest city, but its major growth in population has just happened in the last 15 years.
  6. The City of Roswell is approximately 39.26 square miles. The Historic District consists of 640 acres with 122 acres on the National Register of Historic Places.
  7. The Cherokee Indians called Roswell "Enchanted Land".
  8. Warsaw Road bears the name of the Cherokee Indian leader who ran a ferry across the Chattahoochee.
  9. The Roswell Mill was the home to the Roswell Manufacturing Company making cotton products and Roswell earned a name as one of the most important manufacturing towns in Georgia.
  10. Major Bulloch's daughter Mittie's son was Teddy Roosevelt who became the 26th president of the United States.
  11. Ruins of the Roswell mills are still visible to those who walk along Vickery Creek.
  12. Roswell is home to approximately 80,000 residents.
  13. Bulloch Hall and it's southern belle historical female figures were a great inspiration for Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, thus making Bulloch Hall a must see for any true fan.
  14. There are about 5,000 businesses in Roswell, one third of them are home based, and many of Roswell's residents work a t businesses located within 10 miles of their homes.
  15. Roswell is nationally recognized as a "Bicycle Friendly Community".