West Virginia

Roane

14,028
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Roane

Roane, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 5,381. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 14,028.

Its recorded population peaked at 21,543 in 1910, and has since declined by roughly 35 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Guerrilla Raid on Spencer (1862), Skirmish at Spencer (Roane County), and 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202014,028
201014,926
200015,446
199015,120
198015,952
197014,111
196015,720
195018,408
194020,787
193019,478
192020,129
191021,543
190019,852
189015,303
188012,184
18707,232
18605,381
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Roane

Military engagements that took place in Roane, West Virginia.

Guerrilla Raid on Spencer (1862)
1862
Skirmish at Spencer (Roane County)
1862

Historic places in Roane

National Register of Historic Places listings in Roane, West Virginia.

Heck, Albert S., Mansion
Spencer
Chrystal Water and Power Company-Spencer Water and Ice Company
Spencer
Spencer Presbyterian Church
Spencer
Robey Theatre
Spencer
Browse all West Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in West Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more West Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Roane County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Roane County, West 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 Roane

When does Roane first appear in the US census?
Roane, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 5,381.
What is the population of Roane?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Roane had a recorded population of 14,028.
When did Roane's population peak?
Roane's recorded population peaked at 21,543 in 1910.
Were any battles fought in Roane?
2 documented military engagements took place in Roane, including Guerrilla Raid on Spencer (1862), Skirmish at Spencer (Roane County).
How many historic places are in Roane?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Roane, West Virginia.
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