If you are new to the area or just looking into moving here, welcome! Here is some brief background information about Roanoke that you might find helpful!
Roanoke is located midway between New York, NY and Atlanta, GA. on I-81. The city is the center of one of Virginia’s largest metropolitan regions, and a hub of transportation, finance, and industry for the southwestern part of the state. The city is at the heart of the beautiful Roanoke Valley which is between the Blue Ridge and Virginia Alleghany Highlands. With Roanoke’s position on the East Coast, it has ready access to almost two-thirds of the nations total population, and all within a radius of 500 miles. Roanoke is a thriving community that counts residents inside the city limits at over 97,000 and within the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area the population is more than 303,000. Roanoke is the commercial and cultural hub of much of the surrounding area of Virginia and Southwest Virginia.
Within the Roanoke city limits is Mill Mountain, which stands detached from surrounding mountain ranges. At its top is the Roanoke Star, Mill Mountain Zoo, the Discovery Center interpretive building, and an overlook of the Roanoke Valley. The famous Appalachian Trail runs through the northern section of the county and is only several miles north of the city. In northeast Roanoke County is found Carvins Cove, the second-largest municipal park in America at 12,700 acres. With the Jefferson National Forest and Smith Mountain Lake just several miles from the city, Roanokers and visitors are able to enjoy, hiking, mountain biking, cross-country running, canoeing, kayaking, fly fishing, and other outdoor pursuits.
For those less outdoorsy, Roanoke is home to several artistic, cultural, and historical organizations. Center in the Square is an area of Roanoke undergoing renovation and improvement and will house a Butterfly Habitat, aquariums, dining, a roof-top pavilion, museums, theater, and facility rentals. The Roanoke Children’s Theatre is the city’s professional children’s theatre and is housed within the Taubman Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke. The theatre delivers four shows a year and are geared toward a family audience. Mill Mountain Theatre is a regional theatre located on the first floor of Center in the Square. The Shaftman Performance Hall opened in May 2001 and is located in the Jefferson Center becoming a prominent part of Roanoke’s performing arts scene and hosts performances by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Regardless of your tastes, Roanoke has something for everyone.
