Roanoke is a city located in Roanoke Virginia. Roanoke has a 2023 population of 96,875. Roanoke is currently declining at a rate of -1.01% annually and its population has decreased by -3% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 99,875 in 2020.
The average household income in Roanoke is $67,598 with a poverty rate of 18.4%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Roanoke is 38 years, 37.3 years for males, and 39.1 years for females.
Roanoke is an independent city located in the Roanoke Valley. Roanoke serves as a center of commercial activity and culture throughout the region.
Roanoke’s top employer is Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, which employs more than 1,000 people. Other top employers including Roanoke City Public Schools, the City of Roanoke, and Carilion Professional Service, each of which employ at least 1,000 people.
Roanoke saw significant population growth throughout history, primarily due to annexation. Between 1880 and 1890, the population jumped by over 2,000%. The city reached over 50,000 residents in 1950 and doubled that number in 1980. This was when the population peaked before it dropped by 3.8% at the time of the 1990 census. The population continued to fall through 2000 before increasing again at the 2010 census. Current estimates show that the population has risen by 2.7% since the last poll, indicating that efforts made to prevent “brain drain” and other initiatives to transform the city may be successful.
Roanoke was established as a town in 1852. At that time, the town was called Big Lick. The name came because of the outcrop of sale near the Roanoke River that attracted wildlife. The name was changed in 1882 to Roanoke, and in 1884, it was incorporated as a city.
Through its early history, the city grew quite quickly. It was designated as a stop along the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad during the mid-19th century and later, the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. The city saw very prosperous times in the year ahead. In particular, the development of coalfields and the manufacturing of steam locomotives led to the growth of the economy and the population. Today, the coal from Roanoke is used in plants and mills around the world.
Manufacturers in the early 20th century were attracted to Roanoke because of its access to the railroad. However, later in the century, the closing of plants and the conversion of the railroad to diesel resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs.
From the 1960s through the 1990s, the city’s growth slowed significantly, falling below national and state averages. This is primarily due to underemployment and many residents being unable to find satisfactory employment—or “brain drain.” The city has launched initiatives to address this problem, including the creation of a job seeker database and career fairs.
Despite these struggles, Roanoke continues to be a hub of retail and economy within the region. It is home to many businesses and headquarters, including Advance Auto Parts and Carillion Health Center. The city’s surrounding suburbs continue to grow, and according to recent estimates and the last census, the city of Roanoke’s population is once again on the rise.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Roanoke was:
3.13
Average Family Size
2.29
Average Household Size
51.9%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
91.69% of Roanoke residents speak only English, while 8.31% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 4.4% of the population.
18.4%
Overall Poverty Rate
17.37%
Male Poverty Rate
19.33%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Roanoke is Multiple, with 64.26% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Roanoke is Native, with 3.98% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 6.26%. Among those working part-time, it was 21.08%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 29.43%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
34.3%
Overall Marriage Rate
36.1%
Male Marriage Rate
32.7%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
10.36%
Veteran Poverty Rate
20.44%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
64.8%
Labor Force Participation
60.4%
Employment Rate
6.4%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
65.27%
Born in Roanoke
94.38%
Native Born
6.34%
Foreign Born
4.24%
Non Citizen
2.1%
Naturalized
94.38% of Roanoke residents were born in the United States, with 65.27% having been born in Virginia. 4.24% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.