Virginia

Roanoke

96,929
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Roanoke

Roanoke, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 5,499. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 96,929.

Its recorded population peaked at 199,485 in 1990, and has since declined by roughly 51 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Hanging Rock (Roanoke County), and 76 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202096,929
201092,376
200085,778
1990199,485
1980197,123
1970181,436
1960158,803
1950133,407
1940112,184
1930104,495
192073,237
191054,497
190037,332
189030,101
188013,105
18709,350
18608,048
18508,477
18405,499
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Roanoke

Military engagements that took place in Roanoke, Virginia.

Skirmish at Hanging Rock (Roanoke County)
1864

Historic places in Roanoke

National Register of Historic Places listings in Roanoke, Virginia.

Huntingdon
Roanoke (Independent City)
Apartment Building on Windsor Avenue and Brunswick St.
Roanoke (Independent City)
Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke City Public Library
Roanoke (Independent City)
St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church
Roanoke (Independent City)
Roanoke City Health Center
Roanoke (Independent City)
Roanoke Star
Roanoke (Independent City)
Buena Vista
Roanoke (Independent City)
Harrison School
Roanoke (Independent City)
Burrell Memorial Hospital
Roanoke (Independent City)
American Viscose Plant Historic District
Roanoke
Byrd, William, High School Historic District
Vinton
Henry, Patrick, Hotel
Roanoke (Independent City)
Crystal Spring Steam Pumping Station
Roanoke (Independent City)
Fire Station No. 1
Roanoke (Independent City)
Lone Oaks
Roanoke
Lawson, H.L., & Son Warehouse
Roanoke
Hollins College Quadrangle
Hollins
St. John's Episcopal Church
Roanoke (Independent City)
Southwest Historic District
Roanoke (Independent City)
Salvation Army Citadel
Roanoke
Belle Aire
Salem
Hotel Roanoke
Roanoke (Independent City)
First National Bank
Roanoke (Independent City)
Boxley-Sprinkle House
Roanoke
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Roanoke County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Roanoke County, Virginia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Roanoke

When does Roanoke first appear in the US census?
Roanoke, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 5,499.
What is the population of Roanoke?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Roanoke had a recorded population of 96,929.
When did Roanoke's population peak?
Roanoke's recorded population peaked at 199,485 in 1990.
Were any battles fought in Roanoke?
1 documented military engagement took place in Roanoke, including Skirmish at Hanging Rock (Roanoke County).
How many historic places are in Roanoke?
76 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Roanoke, Virginia.
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