Roanoke County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Roanoke County Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°16′N80°05′W / 37.27°N 80.08°W /37.27; -80.08 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | March 30, 1838 |
| Named after | 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 (1.8 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 96,929 |
• Estimate (2024)[1] | 97,334 |
| • Density | 386.8/sq mi (149.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 6th,9th |
| Website | www |
| [2] | |
Roanoke County (/ˈroʊ.əˌnoʊk/ROH-ə-nohk) is acounty in theU.S. state of theCommonwealth of Virginia. As of the2020 census, its population was 96,929.[3] Itscounty seat isSalem, but the county administrative offices are located in the census-designated place ofCave Spring.[4]
Roanoke County is part of theRoanoke, VirginiaMetropolitan Statistical Area, and is in theRoanoke Region of Virginia.[5]
Theindependent cities of Roanoke andSalem (incorporated as such in 1884 and 1968 respectively) are inside the boundaries of Roanoke County but are not a part of the county. The town ofVinton is the only municipality in the county. While significant areas of the county are rural and mountainous, most residents live in thesuburbs near Roanoke and Salem in theRoanoke Valley.
The county was established by an act of theVirginia Legislature on March 30, 1838, from the southern part ofBotetourt County.[2] It was named for theRoanoke River, which in turn was derived from aNative American term for money.[6] Additional territory was transferred to Roanoke County fromMontgomery County in 1845. Salem was originally the county seat.[7] When Salem became an independent city, by agreement with the county theRoanoke County Courthouse remained in Salem and the two localities share a jail. However, the county administrative offices were moved to the Cave Spring District.
According to theU.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.[8]
The county is governed by aBoard of Supervisors with one representative elected from each of the fivemagisterial districts: Catawba, Cave Spring, Hollins, Vinton, and Windsor Hills.[9] Vinton is an incorporated town with an elected town council and town manager.[10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[16] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 orAlaska 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.
As of thecensus[17] of 2000, there were 85,778 people, 34,686 households, and 24,696 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 342 people per square mile (132 people/km2). There were 36,121 housing units at an average density of 144 units per square mile (56 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.63%White, 3.35%Black orAfrican American, 0.12%Native American, 1.61%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.39% fromother races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 34,686 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% weremarried couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.60 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 85.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $47,689, and the median income for a family was $56,450. Males had a median income of $39,126 versus $26,690 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $24,637. About 2.70% of families and 4.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.20% of those under age 18 and 4.90% of those age 65 or over.
Roanoke County is a stronglyRepublican county in Presidential elections. It was one of the first places in Virginia to turn Republican. NoDemocrat has carried the county sinceFranklin D. Roosevelt in1944, andJimmy Carter in1976 is the last Democrat to garner even 40 percent of the vote.
However, theindependent city ofRoanoke itself is more Democratic than the county's average and has voted for Democrats in each presidential election since1988.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 108 | 10.60% | 696 | 68.30% | 215 | 21.10% |
| 1916 | 460 | 34.23% | 850 | 63.24% | 34 | 2.53% |
| 1920 | 955 | 41.85% | 1,286 | 56.35% | 41 | 1.80% |
| 1924 | 695 | 36.77% | 1,078 | 57.04% | 117 | 6.19% |
| 1928 | 2,675 | 67.57% | 1,284 | 32.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,704 | 39.93% | 2,509 | 58.79% | 55 | 1.29% |
| 1936 | 2,105 | 37.87% | 3,422 | 61.57% | 31 | 0.56% |
| 1940 | 2,302 | 39.10% | 3,539 | 60.11% | 47 | 0.80% |
| 1944 | 3,146 | 48.13% | 3,380 | 51.71% | 10 | 0.15% |
| 1948 | 3,988 | 53.49% | 2,876 | 38.58% | 591 | 7.93% |
| 1952 | 6,017 | 68.95% | 2,689 | 30.82% | 20 | 0.23% |
| 1956 | 7,509 | 69.83% | 2,899 | 26.96% | 345 | 3.21% |
| 1960 | 9,109 | 67.31% | 4,384 | 32.40% | 39 | 0.29% |
| 1964 | 10,714 | 54.84% | 8,808 | 45.09% | 14 | 0.07% |
| 1968 | 12,439 | 58.89% | 3,902 | 18.47% | 4,783 | 22.64% |
| 1972 | 19,920 | 77.28% | 5,318 | 20.63% | 540 | 2.09% |
| 1976 | 13,587 | 50.42% | 13,120 | 48.69% | 241 | 0.89% |
| 1980 | 17,182 | 55.76% | 12,114 | 39.31% | 1,518 | 4.93% |
| 1984 | 23,348 | 68.56% | 10,569 | 31.04% | 137 | 0.40% |
| 1988 | 22,011 | 62.61% | 12,938 | 36.80% | 208 | 0.59% |
| 1992 | 20,667 | 50.31% | 14,704 | 35.79% | 5,709 | 13.90% |
| 1996 | 20,700 | 52.51% | 15,387 | 39.03% | 3,334 | 8.46% |
| 2000 | 25,740 | 60.12% | 16,141 | 37.70% | 936 | 2.19% |
| 2004 | 30,596 | 65.14% | 16,082 | 34.24% | 295 | 0.63% |
| 2008 | 30,571 | 59.97% | 19,812 | 38.87% | 592 | 1.16% |
| 2012 | 31,624 | 61.75% | 18,711 | 36.53% | 882 | 1.72% |
| 2016 | 31,408 | 61.00% | 17,200 | 33.41% | 2,881 | 5.60% |
| 2020 | 34,268 | 59.93% | 21,801 | 38.12% | 1,115 | 1.95% |
| 2024 | 34,453 | 60.39% | 21,693 | 38.03% | 902 | 1.58% |
There are five public high schools in Roanoke County:
Hollins University, a member of theOld Dominion Athletic Conference, is in northern Roanoke County, near theBotetourt County border.Roanoke College, also a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, is in the independent city of Salem within the boundaries of Roanoke County; Salem's former county courthouse on Main Street is now a college academic building.
Notable sports figures from Roanoke County includeTiki Barber,Ronde Barber andJ. J. Redick, all of whom attended and graduated fromCave Spring High School in southwestern Roanoke County.
Many of these CDPs and unincorporated areas have mailing addresses in the cities of Roanoke and Salem.
Places adjacent to Roanoke County, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofRoanoke County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| Town |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
37°16′N80°05′W / 37.27°N 80.08°W /37.27; -80.08
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