No other park system in Georgia surpasses that of Roswell. With hundreds of recreational programs and beautiful scenic trail systems, the city is frequently recognized by the state for its excellent services and quality facilities. The history of Roswell dates back to the Trail of Tears. The city of Roswell, like much of North Georgia, was once part of the Cherokee nation.
With the discovery of gold on Cherokee land in 1829, Georgia rapidly extended its control over the territory, and most of the land was drawn in lotteries, in which the Indians themselves were excluded. In 1838, all the remaining Cherokees were expelled from the state. The Indians traveled west along a path that would become known as the Trail of Tears. The quest for gold was the last driving force behind the expulsion of the Cherokees.
Roswell, Georgia, is located about 22 miles from downtown Atlanta and borders the Chattahoochee River. It's a big city with a small-town feel, and was twice chosen by Atlanta Magazine as the best place to live in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Residents love the outdoor activities available in the city, such as biking, running, hiking, rafting and kayaking. Roswell offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants, riverfront parks for those with an active lifestyle, and affordable neighborhoods in a rich and historic environment.
Roswell's Plaza Mayor was built in 1839 as part of the city's original design devised by founder Roswell King, and was created as a recreational space. Roswell was recently named the first bicycle-friendly city in Georgia by the League of American Cyclists. The industrialist and businessman Roswell King was seventy years old when he founded the city that bears his name, Roswell. President Jimmy Carter's aunt, Emily Dolvin-Visscher, known as the president's Roswell White House, has been the focus of his many visits to Roswell.
In 1829, Roswell King, a successful businessman, landowner and slave owner from Darien, Georgia, went to the beautiful mountainous region of North Georgia to investigate the prospects for gold mining. Roswell Mills Roswell King oversaw the construction of the Roswell cotton mill, which was completed in 1839.
