Roanoke County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roanoke County
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Roanoke County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
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 Virginia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Virginia |
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| Founded | March 30, 1838 | |
| Named for | Roanoke River | |
| Seat | Salem | |
| Largest town | Vinton | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 251.3 sq mi (651 km2) | |
| • Land | 250.6 sq mi (649 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (2 km2) 0.3% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 96,929 | |
| • Density | 385.71/sq mi (148.924/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional districts | 6th, 9th | |
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 96,929. Its county seat is Salem, but the county administrative offices are located in the unincorporated Cave Spring area of the county.
Roanoke County is part of the Roanoke, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia.
The independent cities of Roanoke and Salem (incorporated as such in 1884 and 1968 respectively) are located within the boundaries of Roanoke County, but are not a part of the county. The town of Vinton is the only municipality within the county. While significant areas of the county are rural and mountainous, most residents live in the suburbs near Roanoke and Salem in the Roanoke Valley.
Contents
History
The county was established by an act of the Virginia Legislature on March 30, 1838 from the southern part of Botetourt County. It was named for the Roanoke River, which in turn was derived from a Native American term for money. Additional territory was transferred to Roanoke County from Montgomery County in 1845. Salem was originally the county seat. When Salem became an independent city, by agreement with the county the Roanoke County Courthouse remained in Salem and the two localities share a jail. However, the County Administrative Offices were moved to the Cave Spring District.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 251.3 square miles (650.9 km2), of which 250.6 square miles (649.1 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.3%) is water.
Districts
The county is governed by a Board of Supervisors with one representative elected from each of the five magisterial districts: Catawba, Cave Spring, Hollins, Vinton, and Windsor Hills. Vinton is an incorporated town with an elected town council and town manager.
Adjacent Counties and Cities
- Bedford County, Virginia - East
- Botetourt County, Virginia - Northeast
- Craig County, Virginia - Northwest
- Floyd County, Virginia - Southwest
- Franklin County, Virginia - Southeast
- Montgomery County, Virginia - West
- Roanoke, Virginia - Center (enclave)
- Salem, Virginia - Center (enclave)
Nationally Protected Areas
- Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
- Jefferson National Forest (part)
Major highways
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Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 5,499 | — | |
| 1850 | 8,477 | 54.2% | |
| 1860 | 8,048 | −5.1% | |
| 1870 | 9,350 | 16.2% | |
| 1880 | 13,105 | 40.2% | |
| 1890 | 30,101 | 129.7% | |
| 1900 | 15,837 | −47.4% | |
| 1910 | 19,623 | 23.9% | |
| 1920 | 22,395 | 14.1% | |
| 1930 | 35,289 | 57.6% | |
| 1940 | 42,897 | 21.6% | |
| 1950 | 41,486 | −3.3% | |
| 1960 | 61,693 | 48.7% | |
| 1970 | 67,339 | 9.2% | |
| 1980 | 72,945 | 8.3% | |
| 1990 | 79,332 | 8.8% | |
| 2000 | 85,778 | 8.1% | |
| 2010 | 92,376 | 7.7% | |
| 2020 | 96,929 | 4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 81,886 | 79,928 | 88.64% | 82.46% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,580 | 5,650 | 4.96% | 5.83% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 121 | 155 | 0.13% | 0.16% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,455 | 3,425 | 2.66% | 3.53% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 26 | 24 | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 89 | 435 | 0.10% | 0.45% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,268 | 3,805 | 1.37% | 3.93% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,951 | 3,507 | 2.11% | 3.62% |
| Total | 92,376 | 96,929 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Communities
Town
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
- Back Creek
- Bent Mountain
- Bonsack
- Catawba
- Clearbrook
- Fort Lewis
- Hanging Rock
- Masons Cove
- Mount Pleasant
- Oak Grove
- Penn Forest
- Poages Mill
- Read Mountain
Education
There are five public high schools located in Roanoke County:
- Cave Spring
- Glenvar
- Hidden Valley
- Northside
- William Byrd
Hollins University, a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, is located in northern Roanoke County, near the Botetourt County border. Roanoke College, also a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, is located in the independent city of Salem within the boundaries of Roanoke County; the former county courthouse on Main Street is now a college academic building.
Notable people
Notable sports figures from Roanoke County include Tiki Barber, Ronde Barber, J. J. Redick, all of whom attended and graduated from Cave Spring High School in Southwest Roanoke County.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Roanoke para niños
