Roanoke County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, its population was 96,929. Its county seat is Salem, but the county administrative offices are located in the census-designated place of Cave Spring.
Roanoke County is part of the Roanoke metropolitan area, and is in the Roanoke Region of Virginia.
The independent cities of Roanoke and Salem (incorporated as such in 1884 and 1968 respectively) are inside the boundaries of Roanoke County but are not a part of the county. The town of Vinton is the only municipality in the county. While significant areas of the county are rural and mountainous, most residents live in the suburbs near Roanoke and Salem in the Roanoke Valley.
History
thumb|left|State [[historical marker for Roanoke County, Virginia]]
The county was established by an act of the Virginia Legislature on March 30, 1838, from the southern part of Botetourt County. 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.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water.
Districts
The county is governed by a Board of Supervisors with one representative elected from each of the five magisterial districts: Catawba, Cave Spring, Hollins, Vinton, and Windsor Hills. Vinton is an incorporated town with an elected town council and town manager.
Adjacent counties and cities
- Bedford County - east
- Botetourt County - northeast
- Craig County - northwest
- Floyd County - southwest
- Franklin County - southeast
- Montgomery County - west
- Roanoke - center (enclave)
- Salem - center (enclave)
Nationally protected areas
- Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
- Jefferson National Forest (part)
Major highways
- (Canceled)