|
|
- source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
- source: Family History Library Catalog
- the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth" — of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. The 2005 census estimate placed the population at 88,172. Given current trends, the population of Roanoke County may exceed the city of Roanoke around 2010. The independent cities of Roanoke and Salem (incorporated as such in 1884 and 1968 respectively) are located within the boundaries of Roanoke County, but are not a part of the county. The incorporated town of Vinton is the only incorporated municipality with the county. While significant areas of the county are rural and mountainous, most residents live in suburbs near Roanoke and Salem in the Roanoke Valley.
History
- the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia
The county was formed in 1838 from the southern part of Botetourt County. It was named for the Roanoke River. Additional territory was transferred to Roanoke County from Montgomery County in 1845. Salem was originally the county seat. When Salem became an independent city, by agreement with the county the Roanoke County Courthouse remained in Salem and the two localities share a jail. However, the County Administrative Offices were moved to the Cave Spring District. Accordingly, the Board of Supervisors now sits in the county, not Salem, and, thus, there is no incorporated municipality within the county that is formally designated as the "County Seat." As a result, many sources, including official government sources, still list Salem as the seat of Roanoke County.
Timeline
| Date | Event | Source
|
| 1838 | County formed | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
|
| 1838 | Court records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
|
| 1838 | Land records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
|
| 1838 | Marriage records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
|
| 1838 | Probate records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
|
| 1840 | First census | Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
|
| 1853 | Birth records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
|
| 1980 | No significant boundary changes after this year | Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
|
Population History
- source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
| Census Year | Population
|
| 1840 | 5,499
|
| 1850 | 8,477
|
| 1860 | 8,048
|
| 1870 | 9,350
|
| 1880 | 13,105
|
| 1890 | 30,101
|
| 1900 | 15,837
|
| 1910 | 19,623
|
| 1920 | 22,395
|
| 1930 | 35,289
|
| 1940 | 42,897
|
| 1950 | 41,486
|
| 1960 | 61,693
|
| 1970 | 67,339
|
| 1980 | 72,945
|
| 1990 | 79,332
|
Note: Montgomery. See also notes C33 and C34.
Research Tips
|
