Template:Wp-Roanoke County, Virginia-History

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The county was established by an act of the Virginia Legislature on March 30, 1838, from the southern part of Botetourt County.^[1] It was named for the Roanoke River, which in turn was derived from a Native American term for money. 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.