Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia as seen at night from the Mill Mountain Star.
Seal
Nickname: The Star City
Location in Virginia
Coordinates: 37°16′15″N 79°56′30″W / 37.27083, -79.94167
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Government
- Mayor	Nelson Harris
Area
- City	43 sq mi (111.1 km²)
- Land	42.9 sq mi (111.1 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation [1] [2]	883-1,740 ft (269-530 m)
Population (2005)
- City	92,631
- Density	2,213.2/sq mi (854.5/km²)
- Metro	295,700
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	540
FIPS code	51-68000GR2
GNIS feature ID	1499971GR3
Website: RoanokeVA.gov

Roanoke is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The city of Roanoke is adjacent to the city of Salem and the town of Vinton and is otherwise surrounded by, but politically separate from, Roanoke County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 94,911.^[3] The city is bisected by the Roanoke River. Roanoke is the commercial, cultural, and medical hub of much of the surrounding area of Virginia and southern West Virginia. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2272x1386, 685 KB) Roanoke, Virginia as seen at night from the Mill Mountain Star. ... The Mill Mountain Star in early evening. ... Image File history File links City_Seal_of_Roanoke,_VA.jpg‎ Seal of Roanoke, Virginia This logo is an official seal of a government or one of its government agencies, and may be subject to copyright, trademark, and/or other restrictions on its reproduction, especially in commercial contexts. ... // A nickname is a name of a person or thing other than its proper name. ... Image File history File links Adapted from Wikipedias VA county maps by Seth Ilys. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... Roanoke Mayor Nelson Harris Nelson Harris is the mayor of Roanoke, Virginia. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... Look up city, City in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Look up city, City in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Though DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... The area colored red indicates the northern region of Virginia served by area code 540 North American telephone area code 540 was established July 15, 1995 as a split from area code 703. ... Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the U.S. Federal government for use by all (non-military) government agencies and by government contractors. ... GNIS (The Geographic Names Information System) contains name and locative information about almost two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its Territories. ... An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Salem is an independent city located in Virginia, bordered by the city of Roanoke and Roanoke County. ... Vinton is a town located in Roanoke County, Virginia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 2000 US Census logo 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. ... The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 mi (660 km) long. ...

The United States Census Bureau includes in Roanoke's metropolitan area the counties of Botetourt, Franklin, Craig and Roanoke, and the cities of Salem and Roanoke. The metropolitan area's population in the past three censuses has been reported to be: The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Botetourt County, Virginia, from 1895 state map Botetourt County iis a county located in the U.S. state — officially, Commonwealth — of Virginia. ... Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, Commonwealth — of Virginia. ... Craig County is a county located in the state of Virginia. ... Salem is an independent city located in Virginia, bordered by the city of Roanoke and Roanoke County. ...

• 1980 --- 220,393
• 1990 --- 224,477
• 2000 --- 235,932
• 2005 (estimate) --- 292,983

Please note that the figures through 2000 do not include Franklin County (50,345 est. 2005 population) and Craig County (5,154 est. 2005 population) which were recently added to the Roanoke MSA, which is the fourth largest in Virginia (behind the Greater Richmond area, Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads) and the largest outside of the eastern half of the state. Nickname: Motto: Sic dic Itur Ad Astra (Thus do we reach the stars) Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia Coordinates: , Country State County Independent City Government  - Mayor L. Douglas Wilder (I) Area  - City 62. ... Map of Northern Virginia Northern Virginia (NoVA) consists of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties and the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, and Manassas Park. ... This view from space in July 1996 shows portions of each of the Seven Cities of Hampton Roads which generally surround the harbor area of Hampton Roads, which framed by the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel visible to the east (right), the Virginia Peninsula subregion to the north (top), and the...

History

Incorporation

The town of Big Lick was established in 1852 and chartered in 1874. It was named for a large outcropping of salt which drew the wildlife to the site near the Roanoke River.[1] It became the town of Roanoke in 1882 and was chartered as the independent city of Roanoke in 1884. The name Roanoke is said to have originated from an Algonquin word for shell "money",[2] but the town was almost certainly renamed for the river that bisected it and the county that had surrounded it since 1838.[3] It grew frequently through annexation through the middle of the twentieth century.[4] However, the last annexation was in 1976 and Virginia cities are currently prohibited from annexing land from adjacent counties. Its location in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the middle of the Roanoke Valley between Maryland and Tennessee, made it the transportation hub of western Virginia and contributed to its rapid growth. The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 mi (660 km) long. ... Algonquin (or Algonkin) is an Algonquian language closely related to Ojibwe. ... Ceremonies during the annexation of Hawaii. ... Blue Ridge Mountains, Shining Rock Wilderness Area Appalachian Mountain system The Blue Ridge is a mountain chain in the eastern United States, part of the Appalachian Mountains, forming their eastern front from Georgia to Pennsylvania. ... Roanoke Valley in southwestern Virginia is an area adjacent to and including the Roanoke River. ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 101 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37° 53′ N to 39° 43′ N  - Longitude 75° 03′ W to 79° 29... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ...

Colonial influence

During colonial times the site of Roanoke was an important hub of trails and roads. The Great Wagon Road, one of the most heavily travelled roads of eighteenth century America, ran from Philadelphia through the Shenandoah Valley to the future site of the City of Roanoke, where the Roanoke River passed through the Blue Ridge. The Roanoke Gap proved a useful route for immigrants to settle the Carolina Piedmont region. At Roanoke Gap, another branch of the Great Wagon Road, the Wilderness Road, continued southwest to Tennessee and Kentucky. The Great Wagon Road, which ran from Pennsylvania to Georgia, was one of the most heavily traveled major routes for settlers in all America. ... The Wilderness Road was the principal route used by settlers to reach Kentucky for more than fifty years. ...

Railroads and coal

In the 1850s, Big Lick became a stop on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad (V&T) which linked Lynchburg with Bristol on the Virginia-Tennessee border. Virginia and Tennessee Railroad - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Lynchburg is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ... Motto: A Good Place to Live Nickname: The Birthplace of Country Music Map Political Statistics County Independent city Mayor To Be Determined Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Land  - Water 34. ...

After the American Civil War (1861-1865), William Mahone, a civil engineer and hero of the Battle of the Crater, was the driving force in the linkage of 3 railroads, including the V&T, across the southern tier of Virginia to form the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad (AM&O), a new line extending from Norfolk to Bristol, Virginia in 1870. However, the Financial Panic of 1873 wrecked the AM&O's finances. After several years of operating under receiverships, Mahone's role as a railroad builder ended in 1881 when northern financial interests took control. At the foreclosure auction, the AM&O was purchased by E.W. Clark and Co., a private banking firm in Philadelphia which controlled the Shenandoah Valley Railroad then under construction up the valley from Hagerstown, Maryland. The AM&O was renamed Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W). Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... William Mahone (December 1, 1826 – October 8, 1895), of Southampton County, Virginia, was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. ... A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering. ... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Ambrose E. Burnside Robert E. Lee Strength IX Corps elements of the Army of Northern Virginia Casualties 5,300 total 1,032 total The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the Siege... Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Run on the Fourth National Bank, No. ... Shenandoah Valley Railroad was a line completed in the 1880s extending down the Shenandoah Valley from Hagerstown, Maryland through the West Virginia panhandle into Virginia to reach Roanoke, Virginia and the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) in the late 19th century. ... Nickname: Motto: A Great Place to Live Work and Visit Location in Maryland Coordinates: , County Washington Incorporated 1813 Government  - Mayor Robert Bob E. Bruchey II Area  - City 27. ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 101 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37° 53′ N to 39° 43′ N  - Longitude 75° 03′ W to 79° 29... The Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) (AAR reporting marks NW), a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. ...

Frederick J. Kimball, a civil engineer and partner in the Clark firm, headed the new line and the new Shenandoah Valley Railroad. For the junction for the Shenandoah Valley and the Norfolk and Western roads, Kimball and his board of directors selected the small Virginia village called Big Lick, on the Roanoke River. Although the grateful citizens offered to rename their town "Kimball", on his suggestion, they agreed to go with Roanoke after the river. As the N&W brought people and jobs, the Town of Roanoke quickly became an independent city in 1884. In fact, Roanoke became a city so quickly that it earned the nickname "Magic City." Frederick J. Kimball Categories: People stubs | United States railroad executives | 1844 births | 1903 deaths ... The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 mi (660 km) long. ... Magic City is a nickname of several cities, usually commemorating a remarkable growth in size over a short time. ...

Kimball, whose interest in geology was responsible for the opening of the Pocahontas coalfields in western Virginia and West Virginia, pushed N&W lines through the wilds of West Virginia, north to Columbus, Ohio and Cincinnati, Ohio, and south to Durham, North Carolina and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This gave the railroad the route structure it was to use for more than 60 years. This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Ohio, USA Coordinates: , Country State Counties Franklin, Delaware, and Fairfield Government  - Mayor Michael B. Coleman (D) Area  - City  212. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Greater Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... “Cincinnati” redirects here. ... Nickname: Location in North Carolina Coordinates: , Country State Counties Durham, Orange, Wake Government  - Mayor Bill Bell Area  - City  94. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Largest metro area Charlotte metro area Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Nickname: Motto: Youre Something Special in Winston-Salem Location in North Carolina Coordinates: , Country State Counties Forsyth County Founded Incorporated 1766 (Salem) 1849 (Winston) 1913 Government  - Mayor Allen Joines (D) Area  - City  132. ...

The Virginian Railway (VGN), an engineering marvel of its day, was conceived and built by William Nelson Page and Henry Huttleston Rogers. Following the Roanoke River, the VGN was built through the City of Roanoke early in the twentieth century. It was merged with the N&W in 1959. The Virginian Railway (AAR reporting marks VGN) was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. ... William Nelson Page (January 6, 1854–March 7, 1932), was a United States civil engineer, entrepreneur, capitalist, businessman, and industrialist. ... Henry Huttleston Rogers (January 29, 1840 – May 19, 1909) was a United States capitalist, businessman, industrialist, financier, and philanthropist. ...

The opening of the coalfields made N&W prosperous and Pocahontas bituminous coal world-famous. Transported by the N&W and neighboring Virginian Railway (VGN), it fueled half the world's navies and today stokes steel mills and power plants all over the globe. The N&W was famous for manufacturing steam locomotives in-house. It was Norfolk & Western's Roanoke Shops, that made the company known industry-wide for its excellence in steam power. The Roanoke Shops, with its workforce of thousands, is where the famed classes A, J, and Y6 locomotives were designed, built, and maintained, and new steam locomotives were built there until 1953, long after diesel-electric had emerged as the motive power of choice for most North American railroads. Around 1960, N&W was the last major railroad in the United States to convert from steam to diesel motive power. Bituminous coal Bituminous coal is a relatively hard coal containing a tar-like substance called bitumen. ... One of the last mainline steam locomotives built in the UK: British Railways Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 no. ... The Roanoke Shops of the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) in Roanoke, Virginia were founded in 1881, and acquired by the railroad in 1883. ... Great Western Railway No. ...

The presence of the railroad also made Roanoke attractive to manufacturers. American Viscose opened a large rayon plant in Southeast Roanoke in October 1917.[5] This plant closed in 1958, leaving 5,000 workers unemployed which was soon followed by the 2,000 workers laid off when N&W converted to diesel.[6] Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulosic fiber. ...

Cultural hub

Today, Roanoke is known for its Chili Cook-Off, Local Colors Festival, Henry Street Festival, Strawberry Festival, and the large red, white, and blue illuminated (temporarily illuminated in white on April 22, 2007 in remembrance of the Virginia Tech Massacre of April 16, 2007) Mill Mountain Star on Mill Mountain, which is visible from many points in the city and surrounding valley. The Virginia Tech massacre was a school shooting comprising two separate attacks about two hours apart on April 16, 2007, on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States. ... The Mill Mountain Star in early evening. ...

Roanoke also plays host to Festival in the Park, an annual festival which is used to "To enhance and promote the visual and performing arts and sports activities in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas, to generate a positive economic impact on the Valley, and to fund an Arts Scholarship Program."

Government

Roanoke has a weak mayor-city manager form of government. The city manager is responsible for the day to day operation of the city's government and has the authority to hire and fire city employees. The mayor has little, if any, executive authority and essentially is the "first among equals" on the city council. The mayor, however, has a bully pulpit as Roanoke media frequently cover the mayor's appearances and statements. The current mayor of Roanoke is Nelson Harris and the current city manager is Darlene Burcham. City council has six members, not counting the mayor, all of whom are elected on an at-large basis. The four year terms of city council members are staggered, so there are biannual elections. The candidate who receives the most votes is designated the vice mayor for the following two years. Some residents contend that the at-large system results in a disproportionate number of council members coming from affluent neighborhoods and that electing some or all council members on a ward basis would result in a more equal representation of all areas of the city. Mayor-Council government is one of two variations of government most commonly used in modern representative municipal governments in the United States. ... The council-manager government is one of 2 main variations of representative municipal government (for contrast, also see Mayor-Council government). ... A bully pulpit is a public office of sufficiently high rank that it provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter; the American presidency is a bully pulpit. It is thought of as an executive check on legislative powers. ... Roanoke Mayor Nelson Harris Nelson Harris is the mayor of Roanoke, Virginia. ...

The city's African-American and professional class voting blocs have made the Democratic Party the leading party in recent years. However, the working class vote has tended increasingly towards the Republican Party. A slate of three Democrats, running on an independent ticket dubbed "For the City" against the nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties, won seats on Roanoke's city council in the May 2006 election. Roanoke's past two mayoral elections, in 2000 and 2004, have also been competitive three way races in which Delvis "Mac" McCadden, who previously served on city council as a Republican, ran as an independent against the nominees of the major parties. Physicians are among the most commonly used examples of occupations which are part of the professional class. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... The term working class is used to denote a social class. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ...

Roanoke is represented by two members of the Virginia House of Delegates, Onzlee Ware (D-11th) and William Fralin (R-17th), and one member of the Virginia Senate, John Edwards (D-21st). Delvis McCadden has announced plans to challenge Ware for the Democratic nomination in the 2007 General Assembly election. Former Roanoke mayor Ralph Smith has moved into the neighboring 22nd Senate district and defeated incumbent Brandon Bell for the Republican nomination in the 2007 election. He will face Democrat Michael Breiner in the November 6 general election. The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. ... The Virginia Senate is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. ... Former Roanoke Mayor Ralph K. Smith Ralph K. Smith was the mayor of Roanoke, Virginia from 2000 to 2004. ...

The city of Roanoke lies within the 6th Congressional District of Virginia, which also includes Lynchburg and much of the Shenandoah Valley. Current representative Bob Goodlatte resides in Roanoke as have most of those who have held the seat. Virgil Goode resides in nearby Franklin County and represents most of the area to south and east of Roanoke in the 5th Congressional District of Virginia, which also stretches north to Charlottesville. The 9th Congressional District of Virginia, represented by Rick Boucher, has traditionally covered southwest Virginia but has expanded into parts of Roanoke County and counties to the north of Roanoke to make up for population losses in the rest of the district. Given that the Virginia General Assembly is currently held by Republicans, Goodlatte and Goode will likely keep their traditional territories in the next redistricting cycle. However, once one or both leave office or if Democrats gain control of redistricting, the lines of the three districts could be significantly redrawn to account for rapid growth in the northern parts of the 5th and 6th districts and slower growth in the southern parts of the districts and population loss in much of the 9th. Canoeing on the Shenandoah River near Winchester, VA. The Shenandoah Valley region of western Virginia, from Winchester to Staunton, is bounded by the Blue Ridge mountains to the East and the Allegheny mountains to the West. ... Robert William Bob Goodlatte (born September 22, 1952) is a Republican U.S. Representative from Virginia. ... Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. ... Charlottesville is an independent city located within the confines of Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Princess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife of King George III of England. ... Rick Boucher Frederick Carlyle Rick Boucher (born August 1, 1946) is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives representing Virginias 9th Congressional District (map). ... The Virginia General Assembly is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state. ... The process known as redistricting in the United States and redistribution in many Commonwealth countries is the changing of political borders (in many countries, specifically the electoral district/constituency boundaries) usually in response to periodic census results. ...

Geography and climate

Roanoke is located in the valley and ridge province of Virginia immediately west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Ridge-and-valley Appalachians are a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from northern New Jersey westward into Pennsylvania and southward into Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. ... Blue Ridge Mountains, Shining Rock Wilderness Area Appalachian Mountain system The Blue Ridge is a mountain chain in the eastern United States, part of the Appalachian Mountains, forming their eastern front from Georgia to Pennsylvania. ...

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 111.1 km² (42.9 mi²). 111.1 km² (42.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.07%) is water. Image File history File links Adapted from Wikipedias VA county maps by Seth Ilys. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Within the city limits is Mill Mountain, which stands detached from surrounding ranges. Its summit features the Roanoke Star, Mill Mountain Zoo, the Discovery Center interpretive building, and an overlook of the Roanoke Valley. The Appalachian Trail runs through the northern section of Roanoke County several miles north of the city, while the Blue Ridge Parkway runs just to the south of the city. Carvins Cove, the second-largest municipal park in America at 12,700 acre, lies in northeast Roanoke County and southwest Botetourt County.^{[citation needed]} Smith Mountain Lake is several miles southeast of the city. The Jefferson National Forest is nearby. Roanokers and visitors to the area enjoy hiking, mountain biking, cross-country running, canoeing, kayaking, fly fishing, and other outdoor pursuits. The Mill Mountain Star in early evening. ... Roanoke Valley in southwestern Virginia is an area adjacent to and including the Roanoke River. ... The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. ... Roanoke County is a county located in the state of Virginia. ... Blue Ridge Parkway route map The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. ... Carvins Cove Natural Reserve Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is the third largest city park in the United States, at 12,700 acres. ... Roanoke County is a county located in the state of Virginia. ... Botetourt County is a county located in the state of Virginia. ... Smith Mountain Lake Smith Mountain Lake is a large artificial lake southeast of Roanoke, Virginia, and southwest of Lynchburg, Virginia. ... The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are U.S. National Forests that combine to form one of the largest areas of public land in the Eastern United States They cover 1. ...

The city is located in the North Fork of Roanoke winemaking region. The "North Fork of Roanoke" appellation is a designated American Viticultural Area, recognizing the unique grape growing conditions present in the area. Valhalla Vineyards is located just outside the city limits of Roanoke. The North Fork of Roanoke American Viticultural Area (North Fork of Roanoke AVA) is an American Viticultural Area defined by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as being approximately 22-miles long and located on the eastern slopes of the Allegheny Mountains in Roanoke and Montgomery... Winemakers often use carboys like these to ferment smaller quantities of wine Winemaking, or vinification, is the process of wine production, from the selection of grapes to the bottling of finished wine. ... An appellation in its broadest sense is a name or designation. ... An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a delimited grape-growing region distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the United States governments Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). ... This article is about the fruits of the genus Vitis. ... Valhalla Vineyards is a vineyard and winery located in the North Fork of Roanoke American Viticultural Area in Roanoke County, Virginia. ...

The Roanoke River flows through the city of Roanoke. Some stretches of the river flow through parks and natural settings, while others flow through industrial areas. Several tributaries join the river in the city, most notably Peters Creek, Tinker Creek, and Mud Lick Creek. The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 mi (660 km) long. ... A tributary (or affluent or confluent) is a contributory stream, a river that does not reach the sea, but joins another major river (a parent river), to which it contributes its waters, swelling its discharge. ...

Roanoke has a temperate climate with four distinct, but generally mild, seasons. Temperatures may reach over 100°F (38°C) in summer or dip below 0°F (-18°C) in winter, but neither occur in a typical year. Roanoke's all time record high of 105°F (40.5°C) occurred on August 21, 1983, and the all time record low of -11°F (-23.9°C) occurred on January 21, 1985. For the usage in virology, see temperate (virology). ... For other uses, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

The city averages 23.0 inches of snow per winter; however, in something of an aberration, much of the central part of Virginia between Roanoke and Richmond have not received one foot of snow in a single storm since the blizzard of 1996. The area had a long stretch of many snowy winters in the 1960s and, to a lesser extent, through much of the 1970s and early 1980s, but snowy winters have been much more sporadic since then. Roanoke's snowiest winter on record occurred in 1986-1987 when 72.9" (185 cm) fell. The largest single storm dumped approximately three feet from December 16, 1890 through December 18, 1890. Snow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. ... Nickname: Motto: Sic dic Itur Ad Astra (Thus do we reach the stars) Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia Coordinates: , Country State County Independent City Government  - Mayor L. Douglas Wilder (I) Area  - City 62. ... The Blizzard of 1996 was a noreaster that paralyzed the U.S. East Coast with up to four feet (1. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ...

Flooding is the primary weather related hazard faced by Roanoke. Heavy rains, most frequently from remnants of a hurricane, drain from surrounding areas to the narrow Roanoke Valley. The most recent significant flood was in the fall of 2004, caused by the remains of Hurricane Ivan. The most severe flooding in the city's history occurred on November 4, 1985 when heavy storms from the remnants of Hurricane Juan stalled over the area. Ten people drowned in the Roanoke Valley, and others were saved by rescue personnel. A flood (in Old English flod, a word common to Teutonic languages; compare German Flut, Dutch vloed from the same root as is seen in flow, float) is an overflow of water, an expanse of water submerging land, a deluge. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... This article is about the temperate season. ... For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Ivan (disambiguation). ... is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... The 1985 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ...

Many residents complain that they are prone to allergies because of pollen from trees in the surrounding mountains. Most famously, the family of Wayne Newton moved from Roanoke to the dry climate of Phoenix, Arizona because of his childhood asthma and allergies.[7] However, there have not been clinical studies to establish that these conditions are more prevalent in Roanoke than other cities with similar vegetation and climate. This article needs cleanup. ... SEM image of pollen grains from a variety of common plants: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), prairie hollyhock (Sidalcea malviflora), oriental lily (Lilium auratum), evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa), and castor bean (Ricinus communis). ... Carson Wayne Newton (born April 3, 1942, in Roanoke, Virginia) is an American singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. ... Nickname: Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates: , Country State County Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Government  - Type Council-Manager  - Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Area  - City  515. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ...

The following table shows Roanoke's average monthly temperatures and rainfall totals. In meteorology, precipitation is any kind of water that falls from the sky as part of the weather. ...

Transportation

Roads

Interstate 581 is the primary north-south roadway through the city. It is also the only interstate highway as Interstate 81 passes north of the city limits. Interstate 581 is a concurrency with U.S. Route 220, which continues as the Roy L. Webber Expressway from downtown Roanoke, where the I-581 designation ends, south to State Route 419. Route 220 connects Roanoke to Martinsville, Virginia and Greensboro, North Carolina. The proposed Interstate 73 would generally parallel Route 220 between Roanoke and Greensboro and would likely be a concurrency with I-581 through the city. The primary east-west roadway is U.S. Route 460, named Melrose Avenue and Orange Avenue. Route 460 connects Roanoke to Lynchburg. U.S. Route 11 passes through the city, primarily as Brandon Avenue and Williamson Road, which may be the best-known road in the city. Other major roads include U.S. Route 221, State Route 117 (known as Peters Creek Road), and State Route 101 (known as Hershberger Road). The Blue Ridge Parkway also briefly runs adjacent to the city border. [8] Interstate 581 (I-581) is a spur off of Interstate 81 into Roanoke, Virginia, United States, completely overlapping U.S. Route 220. ... Interstate 81 (abbreviated I-81) is an interstate highway in the eastern part of the United States. ... U.S. Route 220 in Virginia runs north-south through the western part of the state. ... State Route 419, also known as Electric Road, is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. ... Martinsville is an independent city located within the confines of Henry County, Virginia. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Greensboro Skyline Greensboro redirects here. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Largest metro area Charlotte metro area Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Interstate 73 (abbreviated I-73) is a main route of the Interstate Highway System, currently located entirely within the U.S. state of North Carolina. ... U.S. Route 460 in Virginia runs east-west through the southern part of the state. ... Lynchburg is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ... U.S. Route 11 in Virginia runs north-south through the western part of the state, parallel to Interstate 81. ... Williamson Road is an approximately 8. ... U.S. Route 221 runs northeast-southwest (signed north-south) in the U.S. state of Virginia. ... State Route 117 is a primary state highway in Roanoke and northern Roanoke County, Virginia, United States, known as Peters Creek Road for its entire length. ... State Route 101 is a primary state highway in Roanoke, Virginia, United States, running along most of Hershberger Road. ... Blue Ridge Parkway route map The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. ...

Roanoke is divided into four quadrants: Northwest (NW), Northeast (NE), Southwest (SW), and Southeast (SE). The mailing address for locations in Roanoke includes the two letter quadrant abbreviation after the street name. For example, the Center in the Square complex in downtown Roanoke has the address "1 Market Square SE." An address is a code and abstract concept expressing the fixed location of a home, business or other building on the earths surface. ...

Airports

Roanoke Regional Airport is located in the northern part of the city and is the primary airport for Southwest Virginia. Roanoke Regional Airport (IATA: ROA, ICAO: KROA), also known as Woodrum Field, is a public airport located in northern Roanoke, Virginia. ... Southwest Virginia at its greatest geographical definition Southwest Virginia is a mountainous region of Virginia in the westernmost part of the commonwealth. ...

Rail

Ironically for a city known for its rail history, Roanoke has not had passenger rail service since the early 1980s. Amtrak offers a shuttle bus service from Roanoke to the station in Clifton Forge, Virginia. Amtrak also stops in Lynchburg. Roanoke would be a stop in the proposed Transdominion Express passenger rail system currently under study by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The high-speed Acela Express in West Windsor, New Jersey. ... Clifton Forge is a town in Alleghany County in the state of Virginia. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

Roanoke remains a major hub in Norfolk Southern's freight rail system. In 2006, the railroad announced plans to construct an intermodal rail yard in the community of Lafayette, Virginia of neighboring Montgomery County; however, opposition by local residents has prompted Norfolk Southern to consider other potential sites. In 2007, former Roanoke mayor David A. Bowers urged Roanoke to offer a site for the yard. Shortly thereafter, neighboring Salem proposed a site in an industrial area of the city. The Commonwealth of Virginia may also upgrade Norfolk Southern's rail line parallel to Interstate 81 from Roanoke through the Shenandoah Valley to encourage more freight to be shipped by rail. An intermodal train carrying both shipping containers and highway semi-trailers in piggyback service, on flatcars, passes through the Cajon Pass in February, 1995. ... Elliston-Lafayette is a census-designated place located in Montgomery County, Virginia. ... Former Roanoke Mayor David Bowers David A. Bowers was the mayor of Roanoke, Virginia from 1992 to 2000. ... Canoeing on the Shenandoah River near Winchester, VA. The Shenandoah Valley region of western Virginia, from Winchester to Staunton, is bounded by the Blue Ridge mountains to the East and the Allegheny mountains to the West. ...

Buses

The Valley Metro bus system serves the city of Roanoke and surrounding areas. Nearly all routes originate or terminate at the Campbell Court bus station in downtown Roanoke, which is also served by Greyhound. Valley Metro also offers bus service to Blacksburg, Virginia and Virginia Tech. Valley Metro Logo Valley Metro, the operational name for the Greater Roanoke Transit Company, is a local government-owned urban-suburban bus line based in Roanoke, Virginia. ... Greyhound Lines is the largest inter-city common carrier of passengers by bus in North America , serving 2,200 destinations in the United States. ... Blacksburgs location within Virgina Virginias location within the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Virginia County Montgomery Founded 1798 Government  - Mayor Ron Rordam Area  - Town  19. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article or section should include material from Virginia Bioinformatics Institute. ...

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 94,911 people, 42,003 households, and 24,235 families residing in the city. By 2006, the city's population is estimated to be 92,328; if the population trends of the past six years continue, the city will have a smaller population than Roanoke County in the 2010 census. The population density was 854.6/km² (2,213.2/mi²). There were 45,257 housing units at an average density of 407.5/km² (1,055.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.38% White, 26.74% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population. Image:1870 census Lindauer Weber 01. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

There were 42,003 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.86. Marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a contract, or through civil process. ...

In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,719, and the median income for a family was $37,826. Males had a median income of $28,465 versus $21,591 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,468. About 12.9% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Education

The local public school division is Roanoke City Public Schools. The two public high schools in Roanoke City are Patrick Henry High School, located in the Raleigh Court area, and William Fleming High School, located in Northwest Roanoke. The six public middle schools in Roanoke City are Woodrow Wilson, James Madison Middle School, and Stonewall Jackson, that feed into Patrick Henry High School; and Lucy Addison, William Ruffner, and James Breckenridge, that feed into William Fleming High School.[9] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A school division is a geographic division of the U.S. state of Virginia over which a school board has jurisdiction. ... Roanoke City Public Schools is the local Virginia school division for public schools in the independent city of Roanoke, Virginia. ... Patrick Henry High School Patrick Henry High School is a public high school in Roanoke, Virginia. ... William Fleming High School William Fleming High School is a public high school in Roanoke, Virginia. ... James Madison Middle School located in Roanoke, Virginia, USA is situated on a large hill with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. ...

Private non parochial schools in Roanoke City include Community High School, that provides classes from ninth to twelfth grade; and New Vista Montessori, that provides classes from third through ninth grade.[10]

Private parochial schools in Roanoke City include North Side Christian and Roanoke Catholic (a top 50 Catholic school) [11], that provide classes from kindergarten through twelfth grade; and Roanoke Adventist Preparatory, that provides classes from kindergarten through eighth grade.[12]

Two four-year private institutions are situated in neighboring localities - Roanoke College in the city of Salem, and Hollins University in Roanoke County. Virginia Tech is located in neighboring Montgomery County. It has opened a higher education center in downtown Roanoke in cooperation with other colleges and universities, and the Virginia Tech Foundation owns the Hotel Roanoke. Virginia Western Community College is located in the city of Roanoke. Roanoke College is an independent, four-year, private, coeducational, liberal-arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ... // Salem is a common name for towns and places, particularly in the Western world. ... Hollins University is a four-year institution of higher education, a private university located on a 475-acre campus on the border of Roanoke County, Virginia and Botetourt County, Virginia. ... Roanoke County is a county located in the state of Virginia. ... This article or section should include material from Virginia Bioinformatics Institute. ... The Hotel Roanoke is a hotel and National Historic Landmark located in Roanoke, Virginia. ...

Economy

Although Roanoke is part of the South culturally, its economy developed around the Norfolk and Western Railroad and heavy manufacturing. Roanoke's economic history generally shares more in common with cities of the Rust Belt than the Sun Belt.[13] Surrounding areas have traditionally relied on industries such as textiles and furniture manufacturing, which have lost jobs to foreign competition. Despite Virginia being a right to work state, unions have traditionally represented workers at many large employers in the Roanoke area and southwest Virginia. Roanoke was formerly the headquarters of Norfolk and Western Railway until its merger with the Southern Railway created the Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982. Norfolk Southern continues to operate its marketing headquarters and some maintenance facilities in Roanoke. Wachovia Bank, then known as First Union, acquired Roanoke based Dominion Bank in 1993 and maintains an operations and customer service center in Roanoke. Other firms such as Roanoke Electric Steel and architectural and engineering firm Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, (HSMM) have also been acquired by companies headquartered elsewhere. Roanoke's rates of economic and population growth have been less than the state and national averages since the 1960s. The immediate Roanoke area has a low unemployment rate, but a brain drain of workers unable to find satisfactory employment and underemployment are sometimes cited as the explanation.[14] Historic Southern United States. ... Manufacturing Belt, highlighted in red The Rust Belt, a term coined from Manufacturing Belt, is an area in parts of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States of America. ... The Sun Belt, highlighted in red This article is about the region of the United States. ... ... A trade union or labor union is an organization of workers. ... The Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) (AAR reporting marks NW), a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. ... The Southern Railway (AAR reporting mark SOU) was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894. ... Norfolk Southern Headquarters Norfolk, Virginia. ... Norfolk Southern Corporation (AAR reporting mark NS) NYSE: NSC is a US publicly-traded stock corporation based in Norfolk, Virginia. ... Wachovia Corporation NYSE: WB, based in Charlotte, North Carolina is one of the largest banking chains in the United States. ... This article is about the emigration term. ... In economics, the term underemployment has at least three different distinct meanings and applications. ...

However, Roanoke's economy has areas of strength. The city is the health care and retail hub of a large area, driving the expansion of Carilion Health System and Valley View Mall. Advance Auto Parts is headquartered in Roanoke and has expanded through the acquisition of other chains to become one of the largest auto parts retailers in the country. Norfolk Southern remains a major employer and has announced plans to hire new workers in 2007; FreightCar America has hired several hundred persons to assemble rail cars in shops leased from Norfolk Southern. General Electric and Toshiba manufacture large drive systems for electrical generation stations and factories at their joint facility in Salem. ITT manufactures night vision goggles at its plant in Roanoke County, and some of its employees have started other firms such as Optical Cable Corporation. The proximity of automotive assembly plants in the South has attracted manufacturers including Dynax, Koyo, and Yokohama, formerly Mohawk Tire. Roanoke's location allows for delivery within one day to most markets in the southeast, northeast, mid-atlantic, and Ohio Valley, which has made it a distribution cente