List of neighborhoods in Roanoke, Virginia facts for kids

This is a list of neighborhoods in Roanoke, a city in Virginia. Roanoke has 49 official neighborhoods within its city limits. Each neighborhood has its own unique history and features!

Exploring Roanoke's Neighborhoods

Airport

The Airport neighborhood is in the northern part of Roanoke. It's bordered by Roanoke County, Airport Road, Hershberger Road, and Interstate 581. As you might guess, the main feature here is the Roanoke Regional Airport. Most of the buildings are businesses, especially since the Crossroads Mall opened in 1961.

Belmont

Belmont is in central Roanoke. It's surrounded by the Norfolk Southern train shops, 13th Street, Highland Avenue, and Interstate 581. Many of the buildings in Belmont were built between 1890 and 1950, when Roanoke was growing as a railroad city. Recently, the city has been working to make Belmont even better through a program called Southeast... By Design.

Cherry Hill

Cherry Hill is located in the western part of central Roanoke. Its borders are 31st Street, Shenandoah Avenue, the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, and the city of Salem. This area first grew around the Roanoke Electric Steel plant in the late 1940s. Now, it's more like a typical suburban neighborhood, with most homes built in the 1970s and 1980s.

Downtown Roanoke

Downtown Roanoke is the heart of the city! It's generally bordered by Interstate 581, Elm Avenue, 5th Street, and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. Downtown is known as the main business center for the Roanoke Valley. It's home to the Roanoke City Market, the Downtown Historic District, and many other cool places to visit.

Edgewood-Summit Hills

Edgewood-Summit Hills is in the far west of central Roanoke. It's bordered by Melrose Avenue, Peters Creek Road, the Salem Turnpike, and the city of Salem. This neighborhood is mostly residential, meaning it has a lot of homes. Most of its houses were built between the 1950s and 1960s. Roanoke officially added this area to the city in 1976.

Franklin-Colonial

The Franklin-Colonial neighborhood is generally found between Franklin Road and Colonial Avenue, from Brandon Road to the Roanoke County line. It mostly developed after World War II. This neighborhood has homes, but also businesses along Colonial Avenue and Franklin Road. The Roy L. Webber Expressway cuts through it, and it's also where the Virginia Western Community College campus is located.

Gainsboro

Gainsboro is in central Roanoke. It's bordered by Shenandoah Avenue, 5th Street, Orange Avenue, and Interstate 581. This area started to grow in the 1850s after the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad arrived. It became part of Roanoke in 1882, with most of its growth happening between 1890 and 1940. Gainsboro is important because it was historically the center of Roanoke's African-American community. The famous Hotel Roanoke is also located here.

Garden City

Garden City was added to the city in 1949. It's in the far southeast of Roanoke, bordered by Roanoke County, Mill Mountain, Riverland Road, Yellow Mountain Road, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. This neighborhood began to develop when the American Viscose Plant was built along the Roanoke River in 1917. After it became part of the city, it quickly grew into the suburban area you see today.

Grandin Court

Grandin Court is in southwest Roanoke. It's bordered by Grandin Road, Creston Avenue, Persinger Road, and Roanoke County. This neighborhood grew between 1920 and 1960 and was added to Roanoke in two steps, in 1926 and 1943. Today, it's mainly a residential area. You can find Fishburn Park and Patrick Henry High School here.

Greater Deyerle

Greater Deyerle is in the far southwest of Roanoke. It's bordered by the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, the Raleigh Court neighborhood, Salem, and Roanoke County. This area is named after Benjamin Deyerle, an early architect and builder in Roanoke County. It became part of Roanoke in 1976. Most of Greater Deyerle has developed since the 1950s, with homes and businesses along the main roads.

Harrison

Harrison is in central Roanoke. It's bordered by Orange Avenue, Moorman Road, 5th Street, and 14th Street. This neighborhood is known for the 1914 Harrison School, which was the first school for African-American children in the Roanoke Valley. Today, many of the homes built between 1900 and 1920 are still standing.

Hurt Park

Hurt Park is in west-central Roanoke. It's bordered by 10th Street, 24th Street, the Roanoke River, and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. This neighborhood is famous for its many large mansions. These grand homes were built around the year 1900 for railroad executives.

Kenwood

Kenwood is in southeast Roanoke. It's bordered by Dale Avenue, 13th Street, the Roanoke River, and the town of Vinton. This area first grew around the American Viscose Plant, which was built along the Roanoke River in 1917. Kenwood is a traditional residential area, with most of its houses built between 1920 and 1940.

Loudon-Melrose

Loudon-Melrose is in west-central Roanoke. It's bordered by 14th Street, 24th Street, Orange Avenue, and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. This area started to develop after the Salem-Melrose streetcar line was completed. Many of its buildings date back to the 1920s.

Melrose-Rugby

Melrose-Rugby is in north-central Roanoke. It's bordered by Orange Avenue, Lafayette Boulevard, Interstate 581, and Washington Park. This neighborhood developed between 1889 and 1920 because of the Salem-Melrose streetcar line. It's considered one of Roanoke's first suburbs. Because of its history, Melrose-Rugby was named Roanoke's first Neighborhood Design District in 2002.

Mill Mountain

Mill Mountain is in southeast Roanoke and includes the mostly undeveloped areas of Mill Mountain. Most of this area is preserved as parkland, donated to the city in the 1940s. Mill Mountain is home to both the famous Mill Mountain Star and the Mill Mountain Zoo. It was also once the site of the Mill Mountain Incline, a fun railway that took people up the mountain.

Morningside

Morningside is in southeast Roanoke. It's bordered by 13th Street, Highland Avenue, and the Roanoke River. This neighborhood first grew around the American Viscose Plant, which was built along the Roanoke River in 1917. Morningside has both traditional homes, mostly built between 1920 and 1940, and industrial areas near the old plant.

Mountain View

Mountain View is in west-central Roanoke. It's bordered by Cleveland Avenue, Patterson Avenue, 19th Street, and 10th Street. Like Hurt Park, this neighborhood is known for its many large mansions. These impressive homes were built around the year 1900 for railroad executives.

Norwich

Norwich is in western Roanoke, south of the Roanoke River and north of the Raleigh Court neighborhood. It started as an industrial village in the 1880s. Norwich became part of Roanoke in 1919. Since the 1960s, it has mostly been a residential area, with some industrial buildings mixed in.

Old Southwest

Old Southwest is in central Roanoke. It's bordered by Marshall Avenue, Day Avenue, Jefferson Street, and the Roanoke River. This neighborhood is listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's historically important. Old Southwest was added to Roanoke in 1890 and became a wealthy residential area just south of downtown. Today, it has a mix of businesses and homes.

Raleigh Court

Raleigh Court is in southwest Roanoke, south of the Roanoke River and the Memorial Bridge, and north of the Grandin Court neighborhood. It started to develop significantly in 1906 and became part of Roanoke in 1919. Raleigh Court is considered Roanoke's first suburb, meaning it grew along a streetcar line. Today, it has a mix of uses and is home to the Grandin Village, a popular spot with shops and restaurants.

Ridgewood Park

Ridgewood Park is in the far west of central Roanoke. It's bordered by Peters Creek Road, the Salem Turnpike, Shenandoah Avenue, and the city of Salem. This area was originally farmland. It's now mainly residential, with homes built in the 1950s and 1960s. Roanoke officially added it to the city in 1976.

Riverdale

Riverdale is in far southeast Roanoke. It's bordered by Rutrough Road, the Roanoke River, and the town of Vinton. The parts of Riverdale closest to the old American Viscose Plant have a more traditional residential feel. Areas further out show more modern suburban development.

Riverland/Walnut Hills

Riverland/Walnut Hills is in southeast Roanoke, at the base of Mill Mountain, south of the Roanoke River. Dating back to the 1920s, this neighborhood acts as a gateway from the city to Mill Mountain.

Roundhill

Roundhill is in northern Roanoke. It's bordered by Hershberger Road, Williamson Road, and Interstate 581. Today, this area is a major shopping destination because it's home to Valley View Mall. Homes have been built in the eastern parts of the neighborhood since the 1960s.

Shenandoah West

Shenandoah West is in west-central Roanoke. It's bordered by 24th Street, 31st Street, Orange Avenue, and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. This area is mainly residential and is where the Lansdowne and Melrose Towers public housing communities are located.

South Jefferson

South Jefferson is southeast of Downtown Roanoke. It's generally bordered by the Roy L. Webber Expressway and the Roanoke River. This area used to have warehouses and old industrial sites. Now, it's seeing a lot of new development, including the Carilion Clinic.

South Roanoke

South Roanoke is in southern Roanoke, between Mill Mountain, Franklin Road, and Roanoke County. It's centered around the historic Crystal Springs. South Roanoke was added to Roanoke in 1915. Today, the neighborhood looks much like it did when it was first developed. It remains one of Roanoke's more established and well-off neighborhoods.

Southern Hills

Southern Hills is the southernmost neighborhood in Roanoke. It's located between U.S. 220, Mill Mountain Parkway, and Roanoke County. Southern Hills was added to Roanoke in 1976. It's an area of contrasts, with more homes and businesses along Route 220, but also rural, less developed areas inside.

Villa Heights

Villa Heights is in northern Roanoke. It's bordered by Cove Road, Lafayette Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, and the Roanoke Country Club. Villa Heights was first divided into lots in 1910. The southern part has homes dating back to the 1920s, while the northern part has more modern designs.

Wasena

Wasena is in south-central Roanoke. It's bordered by the Roanoke River, Greater Raleigh Court, and Brandon Avenue. Its name comes from a Native American word meaning "beautiful view." Wasena developed as an early suburb of Roanoke in the 1920s.

Washington Park

Washington Park is in central Roanoke. It's bordered by Orange Avenue, 10th Street, and Interstate 581. This area grew quickly between 1920 and 1960. It's home to Washington Park and the Lincoln Terrace public housing project.

West End

West End is in central Roanoke. It's bordered by Campbell Avenue, Marshall Avenue, 5th Street, 7th Street, 10th Street, and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. Located right next to Downtown Roanoke, this area has many businesses and industrial properties.

Williamson Road

The Williamson Road neighborhood is in east-central Roanoke. It's centered along Williamson Road from Bowman Park to its crossing with Interstate 581. Today, this area is home to the Berglund Center, where the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs professional hockey team plays.