Places of Virginia

The geography and history of the Commonwealth

Roanoke County, Virginia

Quick answer: Roanoke County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Salem. Its estimated population in 2025 was 97,150, up 0.2% since 2020. It covers about 251 square miles of land.
Typecounty
County seatSalem
Established1838
Population, 2025 estimate97,150
Population, 2020 estimate96,958
Change 2020–20250.2%
Rank by population in Virginia22 of 133
Hay bales and a farm in the misty Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Virginia has 95 counties, and Roanoke County is one of them.[1] The county seat is Salem.[2] The county was established in 1838.[2] The name comes from Roanoke River.[2]

Population of Roanoke County

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Roanoke County at 97,150 in July 2025, up 0.2% from the April 2020 base of 96,962.[1] That made it 22nd of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 87th for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 3,894 births and 6,450 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 2,556.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 1,588. Moves from abroad added 1,127.[1]

Geography

Roanoke County covers 250.5 square miles of land and 0.7 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 79th of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 388 people per square mile in 2025, so it is a mix of towns and countryside. Its geographic center lies near 37.33° N, 80.19° W.[3]

The county borders Bedford County, Botetourt County, Craig County, Floyd County, Franklin County, Montgomery County, the City of Roanoke and the City of Salem.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 29 named streams, 21 named summits, 5 lakes and reservoirs and 8 gaps in the county.[5]

Towns

Roanoke County has one incorporated town: Vinton (7,967), with its estimated 2025 population in brackets.[6] In Virginia, towns remain part of the county around them, unlike independent cities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the county seat of Roanoke County?
Salem.

What is the population of Roanoke County?
About 97,150 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is Roanoke County?
About 251 square miles of land, plus 0.7 square miles of water.

References

Official website: www.roanokecountyva.gov

Boundary on the map: Census TIGERweb. See all counties and cities on the map.