Roanoke County, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Roanoke County is a county
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...

 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...

 Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia
Roanoke Region of Virginia
The Roanoke Region is the area of the Commonwealth of Virginia surrounding the city of Roanoke. Its usage may refer to the metropolitan statistical area or the Roanoke Valley, but it sometimes includes areas in the Allegheny Mountains and New River Valley which includes Alleghany county, Montgomery...

. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...

, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376. The independent cities
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...

 of Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...

 and Salem
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...

 (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 incorporated town of Vinton
Vinton, Virginia
Vinton is a town in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. The population was 7,782 at the 2000 census. It hosted teams by three names in the ECHL in a custom built facility known as the LancerLot; after the roof collapsed during the Blizzard of 1993, the franchise moved to the Roanoke Civic...

 is the only incorporated 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
Roanoke Valley
The Roanoke Valley in southwest Virginia is an area adjacent to and including the Roanoke River between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian Plateau to the west...

.

History

The county was established by an act of the Virginia Legislature
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...

 on March 30, 1838 from the southern part of Botetourt County
Botetourt County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...

. It was named for the Roanoke River
Roanoke River
The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 mi long. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains southeast across the Piedmont...

, which in turn was derived from a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

 term for money. Additional territory was transferred to Roanoke County from Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 83,629 people, 30,997 households, and 17,203 families residing in the county. The population density was 215 people per square mile . There were 32,527 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile...

 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
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the county has a total area of 251 square miles (650 km²), of which 251 square miles (650 km²) is land and 0 square miles (0 km²) (0.07%) 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
Cave Spring, Virginia
Cave Spring is a census-designated place in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. The population was 24,922 at the 2010 census. Cave Spring covers much of the area known locally as "Southwest County" which has the most affluent suburbs of Roanoke...

, Hollins
Hollins, Virginia
Hollins is a census-designated place in Botetourt and Roanoke counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. Hollins covers much of the area known locally as "North County". The population was 14,309 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area...

, Vinton
Vinton, Virginia
Vinton is a town in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. The population was 7,782 at the 2000 census. It hosted teams by three names in the ECHL in a custom built facility known as the LancerLot; after the roof collapsed during the Blizzard of 1993, the franchise moved to the Roanoke Civic...

, and Windsor Hills. Vinton is an incorporated town with an elected town council and town manager.

There are five high schools located in Roanoke County. They are Cave Spring High School, Glenvar High School
Glenvar High School
Glenvar High School is a public high school in Roanoke County, Virginia. It is one of the five high schools for the . Glenvar High School serves the western end of Roanoke County and is located in the community of Glenvar, which is immediately west of Salem, Virginia.-History:Glenvar High School...

, Hidden Valley High School
Hidden Valley High School (Roanoke, Virginia)
Hidden Valley High School is a public high school in Roanoke County, Virginia. It is one of the five high schools in the Roanoke County Public Schools system. Hidden Valley High School is one of the two high schools, along with Cave Spring High School, that serve southwest Roanoke...

, Northside High School
Northside High School (Roanoke, Virginia)
Northside High School is one of five high schools in Roanoke County, Virginia.- Location and History :Northside High School , located in the northern area of Roanoke County, Virginia, first opened its doors to students in December, 1960...

, and William Byrd High School
William Byrd High School
William Byrd High School is a public secondary school located in Roanoke County, Virginia. It is a part of the Roanoke County Public Schools system....

.

Hollins University
Hollins University
Hollins University is a four-year institution of higher education, a private university located on a campus on the border of Roanoke County, Virginia and Botetourt County, Virginia...

, a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
The Old Dominion Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division III athletic conference. Its member schools are located primarily in Virginia, with other members in North Carolina and Washington, DC. Only the American Southwest Conference in Texas is larger in Division III. -History:The conference was...

, is located in Northern Roanoke County, near the Botetourt County border.

Notable Sports Figures

Notable sports figures from Roanoke County include Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....

, Ronde Barber
Ronde Barber
Jamael Orondé "Rondé" Barber is an American football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...

, and J. J. Redick, all of whom attended and graduated from Cave Spring High School
Cave Spring High School
Cave Spring High School is a public secondary school in Roanoke, Virginia. It is under the jurisdiction of Roanoke County Public Schools. Cave Spring is one of two high schools that serve southwest Roanoke County and one of five high schools that serve the Roanoke County school district...

 in Southwest Roanoke County.

Adjacent Counties and Cities

  • Botetourt County, Virginia
    Botetourt County, Virginia
    As of the census of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...

     - Northeast
  • Bedford County, Virginia
    Bedford County, Virginia
    As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...

     - East
  • Franklin County, Virginia
    Franklin County, Virginia
    As of the census of 2000, there were 47,286 people, 18,963 households, and 13,918 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 22,717 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...

     - Southeast
  • Floyd County, Virginia
    Floyd County, Virginia
    As of the census of 2000, there were 13,874 people, 5,791 households, and 4,157 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile . There were 6,763 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...

     - South-Southwest
  • Montgomery County, Virginia
    Montgomery County, Virginia
    As of the census of 2000, there were 83,629 people, 30,997 households, and 17,203 families residing in the county. The population density was 215 people per square mile . There were 32,527 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile...

     - West
  • Craig County, Virginia
    Craig County, Virginia
    As of the census of 2000, there were 5,091 people, 2,060 households, and 1,507 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 2,554 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...

     - Northwest
  • Roanoke, Virginia
    Roanoke, Virginia
    Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...

     - Center (enclave)
  • Salem, Virginia
    Salem, Virginia
    Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...

     - Center (enclave)

Nationally Protected Areas

  • Blue Ridge Parkway
    Blue Ridge Parkway
    The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...

     (part)
  • Jefferson National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 85,778 people, 34,686 households, and 24,696 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 342 people per square mile (132/km²). There were 36,121 housing units at an average density of 144 per square mile (56/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.63% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 3.35% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.12% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 1.61% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.39% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 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% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 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 age 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. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the county was $24,637. About 2.70% of families and 4.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.20% of those under age 18 and 4.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Presidential election results
Year GOP
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

DEM
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

Others
2008 60.0% 30,571 38.9% 19,812 1.2% 592
2004 65.1% 30,596 34.2% 16,082 0.6% 295
2000 60.1% 25,740 37.7% 16,141 2.2% 936
1996 52.5% 20,700 39.0% 15,387 8.4% 3,334
1992 50.3% 20,667 35.8% 14,704 13.9% 5,709
1988 62.6% 22,011 36.8% 12,938 0.6% 208
1984 68.6% 23,348 31.0% 10,569 0.4% 137
1980 55.8% 17,182 39.3% 12,114 5.0% 1,518
1976 50.4% 13,587 48.7% 13,120 0.9% 241
1972 77.3% 19,920 20.6% 5,318 2.1% 540
1968 58.9% 12,439 18.5% 3,902 22.7% 4,783
1964 54.8% 10,714 45.1% 8,808 0.1% 14
1960 67.3% 9,109 32.4% 4,384 0.3% 39

Unincorporated communities

  • Back Creek
  • Bent Mountain
  • Bonsack
    Bonsack, Virginia
    Bonsack is an unincorporated community in eastern Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. The community is divided by Route 220 which later junctions with U.S. 460....

  • Catawba
    Catawba, Virginia
    Catawba is an unincorporated community in the northern section of Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. Catawba occupies the Catawba Valley bound on the south by the north slope of Catawba Mountain and on the north by several mountains which form the border between Roanoke County and Craig...

  • Cave Spring
    Cave Spring, Virginia
    Cave Spring is a census-designated place in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. The population was 24,922 at the 2010 census. Cave Spring covers much of the area known locally as "Southwest County" which has the most affluent suburbs of Roanoke...

  • Clearbrook
  • Fort Lewis
    Fort Lewis, Virginia
    Fort Lewis is an unincorporated community in Bath County, Virginia, in the United States.-Reference:...

  • Glenvar
    Glenvar, Virginia
    Glenvar is a census-designated place in western Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 976. The center of the community lies along U.S. 11/U.S. 460 about one mile west of the Salem city limits. The community is home to Glenvar High School which serves...

  • Hanging Rock
    Hanging Rock, Virginia
    Hanging Rock is an unincorporated community in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States located directly north of Salem. The community is named for a prominent rock outcrop. The intersection of Virginia State Route 311 and Virginia State Route 419 is in Hanging Rock...

  • Hollins
    Hollins, Virginia
    Hollins is a census-designated place in Botetourt and Roanoke counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. Hollins covers much of the area known locally as "North County". The population was 14,309 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area...

  • Masons Cove
  • Mount Pleasant
  • Oak Grove
    Oak Grove, Virginia
    Oak Grove is an unincorporated community in the Washington District of Westmoreland County, Virginia. The community, on the historic Northern Neck of Virginia , was a Colonial stagecoach stop in the early days of the Colony of Virginia. It is only minutes from the birthplaces of George Washington...

  • Penn Forest
  • Poages Mill
  • Read Mountain

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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