Roanoke

Roanoke extends along the Roanoke River near the Blue Ridge Mountains, with streets laid out in a grid pattern across the valley floor. Downtown sits in a basin surrounded by forested hills that rise on all sides.

The Norfolk and Western Railway moved its headquarters to Big Lick, a small settlement, in 1882 and transformed it into a major rail junction. The town was renamed Roanoke shortly after and grew rapidly through the railway industry.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation displays locomotives and railway artifacts from the era when the town served as a major hub. The Taubman Museum of Art presents works by regional and national artists in a modern building downtown.

Valley Metro runs regular bus routes throughout the town, linking downtown with residential neighborhoods and the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. Most museums and attractions sit within walking distance from the downtown area.

The Roanoke Star on Mill Mountain, lit since 1949, reaches over 100 feet (30 meters) and contains about 2,000 feet (600 meters) of neon tubing. From the platform below the star, you can see the entire valley and surrounding mountain ridges.

Location: Virginia

Inception: 1852

Elevation above the sea: 297 m

Shares border with: Salem, Roanoke County

Website: http://roanokeva.gov

GPS coordinates: 37.27056,-79.94250

Latest update: December 3, 2025 08:39