Introduction to Roswell, Georgia
Roswell is located in Fulton County. The municipality is named in tribute to the original settler, Roswell King and features numerous historic homes from the 1800s.
History
During the middle of the 1830s 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 stat
- 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