Community Profile for Roanoke, VA
ADVANTAGES - DISADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN COMMUNITY | CENSUS ANALYSIS | CLIMATE & TOPOGRAPHY | COUNTY SEAT | CULTURAL ACTIVITIES | HOUSING | INDUSTRIAL BASE | MISC. QUESTIONS | RECREATION | RELIGION | SCHOOLS | SHOPPING & RESTAURANTS
Community Profile Description


The Roanoke Valley is a metropolitan area of more than 300,000, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Roanoke has amenities that you'd expect from a dynamic urban center, without losing the charming feeling of a smaller place. Expansion Management named Roanoke Valley one of its Five-Start Communities for quality of life. The ranking is based on a reasonable cost of living, affordable housing, low crime, excellent transportation access, good public schools, proximity to community colleges and universities, and educated workforce and low taxes.




  • Mild weather and four seasons


  • Bike the Blue Ridge Parkway and hike the legendary Appalachian Trail


  • Boating, camping, swimming at Smith Mountain Lake, 500 miles of shoreline


  • Theater, symphony, ballet, opera, fine arts, and museums


  • Two hours to ski resorts, with chalets or five-star lodging


  • US Department of Education has recognized Roanoke Valley Schools for being among the nation's best.


  • Roanoke County, Roanoke City and Salem City school systems have Advanced Placement classes and the international Baccaulareate program.


  • Nationally ranked & internationally acclaimed colleges and universities


  • The National Civic League named Roanoke an All-American City six times
ADVANTAGES - DISADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN COMMUNITY Top
1.) Advantages
>> Roanoke's cost of living is consistently low year-to-year by the standards of ACCRA. With a US standard of 100.0, Roanoke compares at an impressive 6% lower.


2.) Disadvantages
>> NO ANSWER GIVEN


CENSUS ANALYSIS Top
1.) City Population
>> 91552


2.) Metro Name
>> Roanoke Valley


3.) Metro Population
>> 318483


4.) County Name
>> Roanoke


5.) County Population
>> 90482


6.) Annual Growth/Decline Rate in Community?
>> NO ANSWER GIVEN


7.) Demographic age and income distribution of community?
>> Median age: 40 Median household income: $61, 686


8.) What % of the community is minority?
>> 15%


8.) Nearest cities of major population centers:
>>
  • Richmond, VA
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Greensboro, NC


    • CLIMATE & TOPOGRAPHY Top
    1.) Climate - Opinion
    >> Four seasons, with generally mild winters and warm summers. The mean annual temperature is 56 degrees, with 102 clear days and 41.3 inches of rain on average each year and 26 inches of snow on average each year.


    		2.) Topography
    >>
  • Beautiful valley surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountains
  • Appalachian Trail
  • Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Smith Mountain Lake
  • Jefferson National Forest


    • COUNTY SEAT Top
    1.) County Seat
    >> Salem, VA


    CULTURAL ACTIVITIES Top
    1.) Ballet
    >> yes


    2.) Off-Broadway Plays
    >> yes


    		3.) Other (Name)
    >>
  • Two Civic Centers
  • Jefferson Center
  • Rke Symphony Orchestra
  • Center in the Square


    4.) Symphony
    >> yes


    • HOUSING Top
    1.) Describe available housing
    >> Settle into a country estate, or a sidewalk-and-old oaks neighborhood; or consider a downtown loft apartment or a lakefront home. Farmhouse, townhouse, suburban lawns, historic homes and contemporary designs.


    2.) Beach Housing
    >> no


    		2.) Lake Housing
    >> yes


    3.) Average Price $
    >> 0221431


    4.) Name of Nicest development(s)
    >>
  • Fairway Forest
  • Hunting Hills
  • Steeple Hunt of Canterbury Park
  • The Orchards
  • Ashley Plantation
  • Highland Manor
  • The Homeplace - Salem
  • Santilane
  • Ashley Plantation
  • Kingston Court
  • Strawberry Mountain
  • Old Mill Plantation
  • Longridge
  • Plantation Grove
  • The Hill
  • The Lawn
  • Ruslyn Farms
  • Stonegate
  • Hidden Ridge
  • Mason's Crest
  • The Preserve at Two Ford


    • INDUSTRIAL BASE Top
    1.) Agriculture (what kind(s)?)
    >> Orchards and Dairy Farming


    2.) Are any companies considering a move to the region? If so, list.
    >> NO ANSWER GIVEN


    3.) Evaluate the economy.
    >> NO ANSWER GIVEN


    4.) Has any industry been recently attracted?
    >> NO ANSWER GIVEN


    		5.) List the top employers
    >>
  • Carilion Health System
  • Roanoke City & County Schools
  • Wachovia
  • Norfolk-Southern Railway
  • The Kroger Company
  • Advance Auto Parts
  • Allstate Insurance
  • ITT Night Vision
  • Yokohoma Tire
  • City of Roanoke
  • General Electric
  • County of Roanoke


    6.) Unemployment Rate (increasing / decreasing)?
    >> within national average


    7.) What is being done to attract new industry?
    >> NO ANSWER GIVEN


    • MISC. QUESTIONS Top
    1.) Location Name
    >> Southwestern Virginia


    2.) Describe the looks of the area / town
    >> Beautiful valley surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains.


    		3.) Miscellaneous Comments
    >> NO ANSWER GIVEN


    RECREATION Top
    1.) Are there any annual events sponsored by the community which stimulates local, state, or regional interest?
    >>
  • Festival in the Park
  • Vinton's Dogwood Festival
  • Virginia State Chili Cookoff
  • Strawberry Festival
  • Local Colors Festival
  • Roanoke Valley Horse Show
  • Miss Virginia Pageant
  • Salem Fair
  • Olde Salem Days
  • Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival


    2.) Country Clubs
    >> yes


    3.) Fishing
    >> yes


    4.) Golf Courses
    >> yes


    5.) Gymnastics / Ballet
    >> yes


    6.) Indoor Pools
    >> yes


    7.) Number of Local Theaters
    >> 10


    8.) Number of Recreational Parks
    >> NO ANSWER GIVEN


    		• 9.) Other Recreation Comments
    >> NO ANSWER GIVEN


    10.) Racquetball Courts
    >> yes


    11.) Recreational Lakes / Beaches
    >> yes


    12.) Snow & Water Skiing
    >> yes


    13.) State Parks
    >> Smith Mountain Lake State Park


    14.) Tennis Courts
    >> yes


    15.) What is available for children?
    >>
  • Organized sports
  • Mill Mountain Zoo
  • Science Museum of Western Virginia
  • Virginia's Explore Park


    16.) YMCA / YWCA
    >> yes


    • RELIGION Top
    1.) Denominations Available
    >> Other, Judaism, Hindu, Buddhist, Baptist, Lutheran, Protestant, Catholic, Salem, VA


    SCHOOLS Top
    1.) Areas schools excel at: (ie, science, math, music, etc)
    >> Science, technology, the arts, joint high school/college academic credits, sports.


    2.) Elementary and High Schools
    >> yes


    3.) Gifted programs in schools
    >> Advanced placement; dual-enrollment for International Baccalaureate; wireless laptops; Roanoke Valley Governor's School


    4.) Junior Colleges
    >> yes


    		5.) Other
    >> Roanoke Higher Education Center, a $19 million project that opened Fall 2002, is home to 16 entities and the site for continuing education and workforce training opportunities.


    6.) Private Schools
    >> yes


    7.) Universities (Please list)
    >> 20 colleges and universities within a 60-mile radius of Roanoke, including:

  • Virginia Tech
  • Radford University
  • Roanoke College
  • Hollins University
  • Ferrum College
  • Washington & Lee
  • Lynchburg College
  • Liberty University
  • Virginia Military Institute
  • Jefferson College of Health Sciences


    • SHOPPING & RESTAURANTS Top
    1.) Shopping Mall(s) - Closest
    >>
  • Valley View Mall
  • Tanglewood Mall
  • West Village


    		• 2.) Quality Restaurants
    >>
  • Alexander's
  • Frankie Rowland's Steak House
  • The Metro
  • Carlo's Brazilian International Cuisine
  • 1st & 6th
  • Lucky's
  • Billy's Ritz
  • Blue Apron
  • Table 50
  • 202 Market Restaurant