Roanoke

Formed March 30, 1838 (89^th county)

Roanoke County (96,936), Salem (25,347), Vinton (8,055)

The Modern tan brick building was constructed in 1985.  It is sited on Main Street at College Avenue.  United States Highway 460 is Main Street in this part of the town.  VVKR Incorporated are the architects.  There were 1841 and 1910 versions earlier.  The old courthouse sits next door with veteran memorials on the grounds.  The county was organized on March 30, 1838 from Botetourt County as the 89^th county with Salem as the only county seat.  Roanoke County is named for the Roanoke River which is Native American for “shell money.”  It is also the source name for the City of Roanoke.  The county seat was named for Salem, New Jersey.  It is also the source for the City of Salem. 

Roanoke County government consists of a sheriff and 4 Supervisors.  Four Circuit Court Judges and Seven District Court Judges serve Roanoke County and Roanoke and Salem cities and Fifty-nine Magistrate Court Judges serve Roanoke, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Franklin, Henry, Highland, Nelson, Patrick, Pittsylvania, and Rockbridge counties and Buena Vista, Covington, Danville, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, and Waynesboro cities.  The county is located in western Virginia.  Richmond, Virginia is east and Charleston, West Virginia is northwest of the county.  The county center is 3.8 miles South of Salem.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Botetourt, Bedford, Franklin, Floyd, Montgomery, and Craig counties and completely surrounds Roanoke and Salem cities. 

The area of the county is 251 square miles.  It is 79 out of 133 in the state.  It ranks 21 out of 133 in population in the state.  It has a density of 386.2 persons per square mile making it 47 out of 133 in the state.  Roanoke County has 8.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 81 passes northeast to southwest in the county from Botetourt County to Montgomery County.  United States Highway 11 parallels Interstate Highway 81 from Botetourt to Montgomery counties.  United States Highway 220 enters from the north, Botetourt County, and exits to the south, Franklin County.  United States Highway 221 comes from Bedford County and goes southwest into Floyd County.  United States Highway 460 is joined with United States Highway 221 from Bedford County, splits and joins United States Highway 11 into Montgomery County.  The county looks like a molar tooth.  Salem is located near the center of the county although technically not in the county.  Vinton is near the eastern border of the county.  Salem is the county seat and Vinton is the largest city since it is the only incorporated city.  Vinton is 8.3% of the county population.  This county is in the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area.