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 In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...

or the

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. The valley includes much of Roanoke County, as well as the t ...

, but it sometimes includes areas in the

Allegheny Mountains The Allegheny Mountain Range (; also spelled Alleghany or Allegany), informally the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the Eastern United States and Canada and posed a significant barrier to land travel in less devel ...

and

New River Valley The New River Valley is a region along the New River in Southwest Virginia in the United States. It is usually defined as the counties of Montgomery (including the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg), Pulaski, Floyd, and Giles and the i ...

which includes Alleghany County,

Montgomery County Montgomery County may refer to: Australia * The former name of Montgomery Land District, Tasmania United Kingdom * The historic county of Montgomeryshire, Wales, also called County of Montgomery United States * Montgomery County, Alabama * Mon ...

Covington Covington may refer to: People * Covington (surname) Places United Kingdom * Covington, Cambridgeshire * Covington, South Lanarkshire United States * Covington, Georgia * Covington, Indiana * Covington, Kentucky, the largest American cit ...

Clifton Forge Clifton Forge is a town in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States which is part of the greater Roanoke Region. The population was 3,555 at the 2020 census. The Jackson River flows through the town, which as a result was once known as Jac ...

, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and

Radford Radford may refer to: Places England * Radford, Coventry, West Midlands * Radford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire * Radford, Plymstock, Devon *Radford, Oxfordshire * Radford, Somerset *Radford, Worcestershire *Radford Cave in Devon *Radford Semele, ...

. Bedford County and Floyd County are sometimes included as part of the region. The Roanoke Region, excluding communities in the New River Valley, has a population of 316,802. If including the New River Valley, its population is 475,130. Both the Roanoke Region and the Roanoke MSA are sometimes referred to as the Roanoke Valley (or Greater Roanoke Valley) and are often included in the NewVa region. The Roanoke Valley, however, more accurately describes the geographic depression between the Blue Ridge Mountains where many of the region's communities are located (see

). Notable places and landmarks in the Roanoke Region include the

Blue Ridge Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and National Scenic Byway, All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for through 29 Virginia and North Carolina cou ...

, the

Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a Physiographic regions of the world, physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States, and extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsy ...

, the

Roanoke River The Roanoke River ( ) runs long through southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the App ...

Virginia Tech Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also ...

, the

Mill Mountain Star The Roanoke Star, also known as the Mill Mountain Star, is the world's largest freestanding illuminated man-made star, constructed in 1949 at the top of Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia. It is visible for from the air and it sits above the cit ...

, the

Booker T. Washington Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African-American c ...

monument, the Fincastle Court House, and

Smith Mountain Lake Smith Mountain Lake is a large reservoir in the Roanoke Region of Virginia, United States, located southeast of the City of Roanoke and southwest of Lynchburg. The lake was created in 1963 by the Smith Mountain Dam impounding the Roanoke River. ...

Definitions and Regional Organizations

Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area

As defined by the United States

Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). OMB's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, but it also examines agency programs, pol ...

(OMB), the Roanoke MSA includes four counties, two independent cities, and 21 incorporated towns and census-designated places. *Counties **Botetourt **Craig **Franklin **Roanoke *Cities **Roanoke (principal city) **Salem *Incorporated Towns and Census-designate places **Blue Ridge (census-designated place) **Boones Mill **Buchanan **Cave Spring (census-designated place) **Cloverdale (census-designated place) **Daleville (census-designated place) **Eagle Rock (census-designated place) **Ferrum (census-designated place) **Fincastle **Glen Wilton (census-designation place) **Henry Fork (census-designated place) **Hollins (census-designated place) **Laymantown (census-designated place) **New Castle **North Shore (census-designated place) **Penhook (census-designated place) **Rocky Mount **Troutville **Union Hall (census-designated place) **Vinton **Westlake Corner (census-designated place)

Roanoke Region

The Roanoke Region is defined by many regional economic, planning, and tourism organizations. The most common definition includes communities located within the Roanoke Valley and Allegheny Mountains. It typically includes The Roanoke Regional Partnership, a regional, nonprofit economic development organization formed by area businesses and local governments, defines the region as including the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, Franklin, and Alleghany; the cities of Roanoke, Salem, and Covington; and the town of Vinton. The same region is defined by the Commonwealth of Virginia as the Workforce Investment Area III, but also includes Craig County. The LWIA-III service area is also served by the '
Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
'', an organization that provides analysis, demographic research, and other regional data for the state and local governments. The Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau (RCVB), which promotes tourism in the region and provides conference and meeting services for business and visitors, excludes Alleghany County from its definition, but includes Bedford, Montgomery, and Floyd counties, although it gives less attention to these areas in its promotional materials. The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce (RRCC) advocates and provides various professional services to businesses within the region, which it more strictly defines as Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, and Roanoke counties, and Roanoke and Salem cities. Various media outlets, periodicals, and magazines in the region include different areas in their coverage. The most widely distributed and read newspaper, ''

The Roanoke Times ''The Roanoke Times'' is the primary newspaper in Southwestern Virginia and is based in Roanoke, Virginia, United States. It is published by Lee Enterprises. In addition to its headquarters in Roanoke, it maintains a bureau in Christiansburg, ...

'', includes Bedford, Botetourt, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, and Roanoke counties, as well as, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem cities in its coverage area. Other periodicals, magazines, and television news outlets include the same communities, but also Lynchburg,

Amherst County Amherst County is a county, located in the Piedmont region and near the center of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The county is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, and its county seat is also named Amherst. ...

, and

Rockbridge County Rockbridge County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,650. Its county seat is the city of Lexington. Rockbridge County completely surrounds the i ...

. Thus, the Roanoke Region typically refers to the following communities: *Alleghany County *Botetourt County *Covington *Franklin County *Roanoke County *Roanoke City *Salem And, less often, also includes: *Bedford County *Blacksburg *Christiansburg *Floyd County *Giles County *Montgomery County *Radford *Pulaski County

NewVa Region

The use of the term "NewVa" is relatively new and was first introduced in 2002 by the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission as a

brand A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create a ...

for an economic development strategy serving the a larger economic region that combines two adjacent planning districts: the 5th Planning District and the 4th Planning District. It has since been adopted by the majority of economic and community development organizations and businesses as well as participating local governments. The NewVa Corridor Technology Council (NCTC), a nonprofit, member-driven association of businesses and organizations in the region, is most prominent contributor to promoting the NewVa regional identity. The NewVa economic strategy and the NCTC define the region as nine counties, five cities, and 23 towns. *Counties **Alleghany **Botetourt **Craig **Floyd **Giles **Montgomery **Pulaski **Roanoke *Cities **Covington **Radford **Roanoke **Salem *Towns **Blacksburg **Blue Ridge **Boones Mill **Buchanan **Cave Spring **Christiansburg **Clifton Forge **Cloverdale **Daleville **Ferrum **Fincastle **Hollins **Iron Gate **Laymantown **New Castle **North Shore **Pearisburg **Penhook **Pulaski **Rich Creek **Rocky Mount **Troutville **Union Hall **Vinton **Westlake Corner

Economy and Major Industries

The Roanoke Region has a diverse economic base that includes finance, service, retail, transportation, manufacturing, health care and life sciences. Alongside Montgomery County, the region is also a major technology and research hub, home to

and several technology companies. The region serves as the medical, cultural, retail, media, and commercial center for nearly a million people, and is the largest place for employment opportunities in western Virginia.

Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate

Several banks and insurance providers are headquartered (or regionally headquartered) in the region, including: *

Atlantic Credit and Finance The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe and ...

(Headquarters) *

BB&T BB&T Corporation (previously known as the Branch Banking and Trust Company) was one of the largest banking and financial services firms in the United States, based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 2019, BB&T announced its intentions to merge ...

(Regional headquarters) *

Bank of America The Bank of America Corporation (often abbreviated BofA or BoA) is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered at the Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bank ...

(Regional headquarters) *

Bank of Botetourt A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Because ...

(Headquarters) *

Bank of Fincastle A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Because ...

(Headquarters) *

Brown Edwards Brown is a color. It can be considered a composite color, but it is mainly a darker shade of orange. In the CMYK color model used in printing or painting, brown is usually made by combining the colors orange and black. In the RGB color model ...

(Certified public accounting firm headquarters) *

Delta Dental of Virginia Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), a letter of the Greek alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * D ( NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta") * Delta Air Lines, US * Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 Delta may als ...

(Virginia headquarters) *

First Citizens Bank First Citizens Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Its primary subsidiary is First Citizens Bank. It is on the list of largest banks in the United States. As of December 31, 2019, the company operated ...

(Regional headquarters) * Goodman & Company (Regional office of one of the largest Virginia-based certified public accounting firms) *

Hometown Bank Hometown, HomeTown, or Home Town may refer to: *A hometown, the town where someone lives or the town that they come from, typically their place of birth. *In developing nations particularly: native place, village of origin in newly urbanized socie ...

(Headquarters) * KPMG (Regional office) * Shenandoah Life Insurance (Headquarters) *

SunTrust SunTrust Banks, Inc. was an American bank holding company with SunTrust Bank as its largest subsidiary and assets of US$199 billion as of March 31, 2018. The bank's most direct corporate parent was established in 1891 in Atlanta, where it was h ...

(Regional headquarters) *

Valley Bank Valley National Bancorp, doing business as Valley Bank, is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, with approximately $43 billion in assets. Its principal subsidiary, Valley National Bank (also doing business as Vall ...

(Headquarters) *

Wachovia Wachovia was a diversified financial services company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before its acquisition by Wells Fargo and Company in 2008, Wachovia was the fourth-largest bank holding company in the United States, based on total asset ...

Securities (Regional headquarters) The region is also home to top ranked Virginia Tech's

Pamplin College of Business The R.B. Pamplin College of Business (commonly known as Pamplin College of Business or Pamplin), is Virginia Tech's business school. Founded in 1965, it has more than 41,000 alumni. The current Dean is Robert Sumichrast. In 1986 the college was ren ...

and

Radford University Radford University is a public university in Radford, Virginia. It is one of the state's eight doctorate-granting public universities. Founded in 1910, Radford offers curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, graduate programs incl ...

College of Business and Economics.

Transportation

The first major industry in the region was the railroad industry. The transportation and transportation-related manufacturing industries have since grown and include: *

Altec Industries Altec may refer to: *Altec Lansing, an American audio electronics company *Aerospace Logistics Technology Engineering Company (ALTEC), an Italian center for engineering and logistics services *Latin American Alliance for Civic Technology (ALTEC), ...

— Aerial devices for utility and telecommunications trucks *

Advance Auto Parts Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (Advance) is an American automotive aftermarket parts provider. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, it serves both professional installer and do it yourself (DIY) customers. As of July 13, 2019, Advance operated ...

— Automotive aftermarket parts; Former headquarters * Cardinal Rubber & Seal — Hydraulic, rubber, plastic hoses, belting and packing *

Corning, Inc. Corning Incorporated is an American multinational technology company that specializes in specialty glass, ceramics, and related materials and technologies including advanced optics, primarily for industrial and scientific applications. The co ...

— Substrates and cellular ceramic supports for catalytic converters *

Dynax America The Minolta A-mount camera system was a line of photographic equipment from Minolta introduced in 1985 with the world's first integrated autofocus system in the camera body with interchangeable lenses. The system used a lens mount called A-mou ...

— Automatic transmission clutch disc plates *Graham White — Components for rail, trucks, and buses * Metalsa — Heavy truck parts *

Norfolk Southern The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad in the United States formed in 1982 with the merger of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, the company operates 19,420 route miles (31, ...

— Railroad *Salem Preferred Partners — Hydrogen generating fuel modules *Salem Vent — Metal stamped components for heavy truck cabs *

TMD Friction TMD may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Team Deathmatch, in gaming * Telemundo, an American Spanish-language television network * The Medic Droid, a band * Truly Madly Deeply (song), "Truly Madly Deeply" (song), by Savage Garden Military * Texa ...

— Brake friction components *

Virginia Forge Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are s ...

— Wheel hubs for auto industry * Volvo North America — Heavy truck assembly plant *Westport — Axle assemblies for Volvo trucks *

WestRock WestRock is an American corrugated packaging company. It was formed in July 2015 after the merger of MeadWestvaco and RockTenn. WestRock is the 2nd largest American packaging company. It is one of the world's largest paper and packaging companie ...

— High performance friction papers for automatic transmissions * Yokohama Tire Corporation — Passenger and light truck tires

Health Care and Life Sciences

The health care and life science industries are anchored by the

Carilion Clinic Carilion Clinic, formerly known as Carilion Health System, is a Roanoke, Virginia-based non-profit integrated health care organization that provides care for nearly one million Virginians and West Virginians. Carilion owns and operates seven hosp ...

, one of the largest health care companies in Virginia and the region's largest employer, and Virginia Tech, both of which recently partnered to establish the

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is a public, medical school at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) located in Roanoke, Virginia. The medical school is associated with a university-level research insti ...

. Also, Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech, and the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with College admission ...

have collaborated in establishing the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Other major health care related firms include: *Accellent – Medical devices *American Biosystems – Direct-fed microbials used in waste treatment, feed and aquaculture products *Attention Point – R&D of assessment tools for the diagnosis of ADHD *Emtech Laboratories – Hearing care products *Excel Prosthetics – Custom-made prosthetics and orthotics *Foot Levelers – Custom orthotics, pillows and exercise equipment for spinal stabilization *

Intrexon Precigen, Inc (formerly Intrexon Corporation, NASDAQ: PGEN) is an American biotechnology company. Its president and CEO is Helen Sabzevari. Intrexon was founded in 1998, and is headquartered in Germantown, Maryland. With a suite of proprietary an ...

– DNA control systems to enhance safety and outcomes of biological therapeutics *Ion Healthcare – Products and services for sleep apnea diagnosis *Keraderm – Medical device to treat nail infections *Luna Innovations – Biotech instrumentation, nanotechnology *McAirlaid's – Non-woven composite materials for absorbency end uses *Microscope.com – One of the largest Internet retailers of microscopes in the world *Nature Diagnostics – Performs genetic diagnostics of agriculture products *Novozymes Biologicals – Enzymes for industrial cleaning, odor control, turf/plant health *OcuCure Therapeutics – Ophthalmic eye drops to treat age-related macular degeneration *Pixel Optics – Spectacle lenses for the correction of presbyopia *Plastics One – Cochlear implants, other medical devices *Precision Fabrics – Surgical drapes *ProGenetics – R&D, production of biologically produced therapeutics *Revivicor –Regenerative medicine, R&D of treatments for diabetes and whole organ transplantation (xenotransplantation, stem cells) *Schultz-Creehan – Contract R&D, materials science, and industrial engineering *Smart Perfusion – R&D of organ perfusion and transplant systems *Surgical Tools – Distributor of high-quality German surgical tools *TechLab – Develops, manufactures, distributes intestinal diagnostic assays *Virginia Prosthetics – Custom-made prosthetics and orthotics *Wireless MedCARE – Wireless and web-connected medical devices and applications

Geography and Climate

The Roanoke Region covers approximately of land, and approximately . of water. The region is located within the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. The ...

, specifically the Blue Ridge and

. There are also two major rivers, the

James River The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 to Ches ...

and the Roanoke (Staunton) River, that pass through the Roanoke Region. There are several small lakes, including

Lake Moomaw Gathright Dam is an earthen and rolled rock-fill embankment dam on the Jackson River north of Covington, Virginia. The dam is tall and long and has a controlled spillway within the structure's southern portion. It creates Lake Moomaw, which has ...

and Carvins Cove, as well as one major lake,

. The region is in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forest biome. Smith Mountain Lake, the

, the Appalachian Trail, the rivers and streams,

Dixie Caverns Dixie Caverns is a commercial show cave located in the Riverside community of Roanoke County, Virginia, USA, four miles west of Salem. The cave is a limestone solution cave. Description and access Visitors may explore the caverns in a 45-min ...

, the Botetourt County blueways, and the mountains attract thousands of visitors to the region each year. The climate of the Roanoke Region is humid subtropical with four distinct seasons. The average temperature in January is ; July is 75.6 degrees. The average yearly rainfall is and snowfall is 27.2 inches.NOAA, Climate-Charts, 2008

History

Early History

The earliest history of the Roanoke Region exists as archaeological evidence of

Native American Native Americans or Native American may refer to: Ethnic groups * Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian peoples of North and South America and their descendants * Native Americans in the United States * Indigenous peoples in Cana ...

tribes which settled by the

, which takes its name from the Algonquian word for the shell "money" found in the waters. In the mid-1770s, Scotch-Irish and German settlers reached the upper

traveling on the

Great Wagon Road Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

down the

Shenandoah Valley The Shenandoah Valley () is a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Rid ...

from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...

. Settlers also followed the

from eastern Virginia. As tradesmen and farmers moved into the region, new counties and communities were established.

Botetourt County Botetourt County ( ) is a US county that lies in the Roanoke Region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located in the mountainous portion of the state, the county is bordered by two major ranges, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Mounta ...

was established in 1770, carved out from

Augusta County Augusta County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The second-largest county of Virginia by total area, it completely surrounds the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. Its county ...

. The county was named for the popular governor of the

Virginia Colony The Colony of Virginia, chartered in 1606 and settled in 1607, was the first enduring English colony in North America, following failed attempts at settlement on Newfoundland by Sir Humphrey GilbertGilbert (Saunders Family), Sir Humphrey" (hist ...

Lord Botetourt Baron Botetourt ( ) is an abeyant title in the Peerage of England. It was created by writ of summons on 19 June 1305. It became abeyant in 1406, was recalled from abeyance in 1764 for Norborne Berkeley. However, it became abeyant again on his de ...

. The county's boundaries extended west all the way to the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it ...

including most of

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virgini ...

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the ...

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...

, and

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...

. The town of Fincastle in Botetourt served as the gateway to the

American West The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...

and was the starting point for

Lewis and Clark Lewis may refer to: Names * Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Lewis (surname), including a list of people with the surname Music * Lewis (musician), Canadian singer * " Lewis (Mistreated)", a song by Radiohe ...

's famous exploration of the

Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase (french: Vente de la Louisiane, translation=Sale of Louisiana) was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from the French First Republic in 1803. In return for fifteen million dollars, or app ...

. Botetourt's early role is preserved in the Fincastle Courthouse, designed by

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the nati ...

. Formed from parts of

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst ...

and Henry County and named for

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin ( April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a m ...

, Franklin County was established in 1785. It produced one of the nation's most respected leaders, eminent black educator

, who was born April 5, 1856, on the Burroughs Plantation, approximately sixteen miles northeast of Rocky Mount. His childhood was spent as a

slave Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

, and he lived in a one-room cabin. After

emancipation Emancipation generally means to free a person from a previous restraint or legal disability. More broadly, it is also used for efforts to procure economic and social rights, political rights or equality, often for a specifically disenfranchi ...

and a successful quest to educate himself, Washington established a new black school in 1881 in

Tuskegee, Alabama Tuskegee () is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. It was founded and laid out in 1833 by General Thomas Simpson Woodward, a Creek War veteran under Andrew Jackson, and made the county seat that year. It was incorporated in 1843. ...

. Known as the

Tuskegee Institute Tuskegee University (Tuskegee or TU), formerly known as the Tuskegee Institute, is a private, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama. It was founded on Independence Day in 1881 by the state legislature. The campus was d ...

, the college helped Washington achieve his goal of educating his people to provide opportunities. His birthplace is preserved today as the Booker T. Washington National Monument. Alleghany County was formed out of Botetourt in 1822 and named for the

. During the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polic ...

, the county provided much-needed iron resources for the Confederate troops; Longdale Furnace provided the iron for the .

Roanoke County 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 ...

was formed from Botetourt in 1838, taking its name from the Roanoke River. The county eventually annexed additional territory in 1845 from

, and historic Salem continues to serve as the county seat. The town of Salem, established in 1802, served travelers on the Great Wagon Road and was located on two stagecoach lines. It was the major center of activity in the Roanoke area until the mid-1880s. In 1847, the Virginia Institute, a boy's preparatory school, moved to Salem from Staunton and was renamed

Roanoke College Roanoke College is a private liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia. It has approximately 2,000 students who represent approximately 40 states and 30 countries. The college offers 35 majors, 57 minors and concentrations, and pre-professional p ...

. Salem became an independent city in 1968. Towns formed within what is now the City of Roanoke in the first decades of the 19th century. Antwerp was subdivided in 1801, followed by Gainesborough in 1825 (the present Gainsboro neighborhood) and Old Lick in 1834. The Gainesborough settlement remained the most populous community until 1874 when the town of Big Lick was chartered. The unique name was derived from salt marshes that attracted wildlife to the area. This tiny village of less than five hundred people was to become the town of Roanoke in 1882 and in 1884, the city of Roanoke. The new town was located along the old

Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad (AM&O) was formed in 1870 in Virginia from three east–west railroads which traversed across the southern portion of the state. Organized and led by former Confederate general William Mahone (1826-1895 ...

, later to become the

Norfolk and Western Railway The Norfolk and Western Railway , commonly called the N&W, was a US class I railroad, formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It was headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, for most of its existence. Its motto was "Precisi ...

The History of Transportation

With the Great Wilderness Road and Botetourt County serving as the gateway to the American West, the Roanoke Region was always an intersection for travel and transportation. In the 1850s, the region became a major hub for the nation's developing railroad system. The

Virginia and Tennessee Railroad The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad was an historic gauge railroad in the Southern United States, much of which is incorporated into the modern Norfolk Southern Railway. It played a strategic role in supplying the Confederacy during the American ...

(V&T) came to Big Lick, linking Lynchburg to

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city i ...

and transforming the region. A system was developed to link three railroads across the southern tier of Virginia to form the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad (AM&O). When the Shenandoah Valley Railroad linked

Hagerstown, Maryland Hagerstown is a city in Washington County, Maryland, United States and the county seat of Washington County. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census was 43,527, and the population of the Hagerstow ...

to the AM&O in Roanoke in 1882, it became the

Norfolk & Western Railway The Norfolk and Western Railway , commonly called the N&W, was a US class I railroad, formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It was headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, for most of its existence. Its motto was "Precisi ...

. This marked the beginning of a period of rapid growth for the City of Roanoke which was called "the magic city" during this time. The Town of Vinton also was incorporated at this time. To further enhance Roanoke's reputation as a rail hub, The

Virginian Railway The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The VGN was created to transport high quality "smokeless" bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to port at Hampton Roads. History ...

was built in the early 20th century along the Roanoke River and merged with Norfolk & Western in 1959. In Alleghany County, the

Virginia Central Railroad The Virginia Central Railroad was an early railroad in the U.S. state of Virginia that operated between 1850 and 1868 from Richmond westward for to Covington. Chartered in 1836 as the Louisa Railroad by the Virginia General Assembly, the railr ...

had extended its track from Staunton to the Jackson River in 1857. After the Civil War, the railroad expanded west to connect with the

Covington and Ohio Railroad Covington and Ohio Railroad was part of a planned railroad link between Eastern Virginia and the Ohio River in the 1850s. The mountainous region of the Allegheny Front (eastern side) of the Appalachian Plateau between an existing canal, railroad ...

and in 1868 the two lines merged to form the

Chesapeake and Ohio Railway The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P. Huntington, it reached from Virginia's capital city of Richmond ...

(C&O). The railroad established a depot and named it Clifton Forge, the only town in the United States to bear its name. When the track to

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, a ...

was completed in 1881, the town boomed as a railway hub and remains as the region's only stop on the

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. States and nine cities in Canada ...

line. Access to the coalfields of Southwest Virginia made N&W prosperous, transporting the world-famous

Pocahontas Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, known as Matoaka, 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman, belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter o ...

bituminous coal Bituminous coal, or black coal, is a type of coal containing a tar-like substance called bitumen or asphalt. Its coloration can be black or sometimes dark brown; often there are well-defined bands of bright and dull material within the coal seam, ...

which fueled half the world's navies. N&W became famous for manufacturing steam locomotives in the

Roanoke Shops 250px, Norfolk Southern Roanoke Shops in 2004. The Roanoke Shops (also called the East End Shops) is a Norfolk Southern workshop and maintenance facility in Roanoke, Virginia. Between 1884 and 1953, the shops produced 447 steam locomotives, all f ...

. C&O Railway was eventually obtained by

CSX Transportation CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles () of track. ...

, merging the railways of Clifton Forge with the larger system that exists today. Interstate highways also have made a significant impact on the region.

Interstate 81 Interstate 81 (I-81) is a north–south (physically northeast–southwest) Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at I-40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island ...

runs from Canada to

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to ...

paralleling the Alleghany Mountains in Virginia.

Interstate 64 Interstate 64 (I-64) is an east–west Interstate Highway in the Eastern United States. Its western terminus is at Interstate 70 in Missouri, I-70, U.S. Route 40 in Missouri, U.S. Route 40 (US 40), and U.S. Route 61 in Missouri, ...

runs from

Chesapeake, Virginia Chesapeake is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 249,422, it is the second-most populous independent city in Virginia, tenth-largest in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 90th ...

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, whic ...

. An excellent transportation infrastructure has been a hallmark of the Roanoke Region for more than 150 years.

Present

In Franklin County, a 1960s era project to build the hydroelectric

Smith Mountain Dam Smith Mountain Dam is a concrete arch dam located on the Roanoke River in Virginia, creating Smith Mountain Lake. The dam was built by Appalachian Power (a division of American Electric Power) between 1960 and 1963 for the purposes of pumped-storag ...

created the largest lake in Virginia,

, which is an economic powerhouse for the region. The lake's and of shoreline are dotted with luxury homes and condominiums. It is popular for recreation and recognized for boating, skiing, and fishing. Bassmasters tournaments are televised nationally from the lake. The region combines a host of well-known nature-based attractions such as the

Appalachian Trail The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian ...

, and Jackson and James Rivers with a growing and sophisticated business community.

Culture

The Roanoke Region has a diverse culture. There are a number of music and performing arts venues and groups, a prospering arts community and lively nightlife, and a unique set of outdoor opportunities.

Arts, Theater and Music

The region boasts a thriving arts community with more than 40 art galleries throughout the area. The

Taubman Museum of Art The Taubman Museum of Art, formerly the Art Museum of Western Virginia, is an art museum in downtown Roanoke, Virginia, United States. It was designed by architect Randall Stout. History In 1947, the Roanoke chapter of the American Association ...

in downtown Roanoke City is a work of modern architecture. The museum that recently hosted

Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil (, ; "Circus of the Sun" or "Sun Circus") is a Canadian entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world. Located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul on 16 ...

and features numerous exhibits. The colleges in the region all each maintain museums and galleries, capturing the work of students, faculty, and regional, national, and international artists. The communities in the region each have art festivals and shows. The Roanoke Region is home to professional live theater. The

Mill Mountain Theatre Mill Mountain Theatre (MMT) is a professional equity theatre located in Roanoke, Virginia. Originally opening as Mill Mountain Playhouse as a “not-for-profit, non-Equity resident stock theatre”, the location burned down in 1976, leading to a r ...

offers several shows a year including classics and originals. The

Roanoke Civic Center Berglund Center (originally called the Roanoke Civic Center) is a 10,500-seat multi-purpose arena located in the Williamson Road neighborhood of Roanoke, Virginia. It was built in 1971. It was the former home to the Roanoke Dazzle basketball team ...

also regularly features traveling Broadway shows and a variety of other famous plays. Community theater and college theater are also prevalent in the region. The region has a long history in music and is a featured stop along Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, also known as the Crooked Road. There are several venues throughout the region that host nationally and internationally recognized music acts, including the Roanoke Civic Center, the Jefferson Center, the Salem Civic Center, Roanoke College Gymnasium, and Lane Stadium at Virginia Tech. Smaller venues also host traveling music acts as well as the growing local music scene.

Education

There are 11 institutes of higher education in the Roanoke Region. Colleges and universities include: :*

ECPI University ECPI University, or East Coast Polytechnic Institute, is a private, for-profit educational institution based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It provides undergraduate- and graduate-level education in an accelerated format. ECPI University has six ...

Ferrum College Ferrum College is a private college in Ferrum, Virginia. The college was established in 1913 as the Ferrum Training School (also referred to as the Ferrum Institute by its board of trustees) for primary and secondary education to serve the mountai ...

Hollins University Hollins University is a private university in Hollins, Virginia. Founded in 1842 as Valley Union Seminary in the historical settlement of Botetourt Springs, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women in the United States ...

:* Radford University Carilion (formerly Jefferson College of Health Sciences) :*

Mountain Gateway Community College Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC, formerly Dabney S. Lancaster Community College) is a public community college in Clifton Forge, Virginia. It is part the Virginia Community College System. Academics MGCC offers a wide variety of credit ...

(formerly Dabney S. Lancaster Community College) :*

National College National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

Southern Virginia University Southern Virginia University (SVU) is a private liberal arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia. The college, though not officially affiliated with a particular faith, embraces the values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS C ...

Virginia Western Community College Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) is a public community college in Roanoke, Virginia. It is part of the Virginia Community College System. Students As of 2013, Virginia Western has over 12,000 students enrolled in the college and over ha ...

The

Roanoke Higher Education Center Roanoke may refer to: Places *Roanoke Colony, a former English colony that mysteriously disappeared *Roanoke Island, the location of the Roanoke colony in present-day North Carolina * Roanoke River, flowing through Virginia and North Carolina and ...

, located in

Downtown Roanoke Downtown is the central business district of Roanoke, Virginia, United States. Located geographically at the center of the city, Downtown began its development with the completion of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad in 1882. Today the Downtown cor ...

, is the satellite campus for a number of Virginia colleges and universities.

References

External links

Roanoke Regional PartnershipRoanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional CommissionRoanoke Valley Convention and Visitors BureauNewVa Corridor Technology CouncilRoanoke Regional Chamber of CommerceNew River Valley Economic Development Alliance
*
The Roanoke Times
' {{coord missing, Virginia Regions of Virginia