Born and Raised in Roanoke
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8/25/2020
I was born and raised in Roanoke County (Oak Grove subdivision), departing in 1989 for a job in Texas. So my perspective on the area is dated, but might be valuable as historical perspective relative to more current viewpoints.
While Roanoke (City/County) was somewhat diverse in terms of overall percentages during my youth, the racial groups were not well integrated. My suburban corner of Roanoke County was predominantly white while Roanoke City had a larger black population. Lack of racial integration does not automatically correlate to racism, but it certainly makes it easier to indoctrinate youth in that foul mindset.
Like most other places in the South, Roanoke has a diversity of viewpoints, and there were certainly pockets of Deep South white supremacy and redneck intolerance and ignorance evident in my youth. I hope that Roanoke has evolved a bit over the past few decades, although change can be slow in the South.
Roanoke has suffered from a gradual loss of middle-class industrial jobs since I was young. The Carillion health care system appears to have largely taken over Roanoke City, but the N&W railroad jobs and General Electric jobs have mostly disappeared. As a result, Roanoke now depends mostly on lower paying service sector jobs - retail, restaurant, etc. Roanoke also attracted “phone bank” and “mail in” companies capitalizing on a cheap labor pool with few alternatives. Northerner retirees also began to move in to take advantage of the low housing prices and low cost of living. Family farms on the hills and mountains were quickly converted to upscale suburban neighborhoods that did not mesh all that well with the lower key, lower standard of living local residents. Overall, though, the pace of change In Roanoke has been relatively slow and it still seems like home when I return.
Roanoke offers wonderful access to nature with richly forested mountains, beautiful lakes and many rivers and creeks in which to play. It is a place of four full seasons with occasionally bitter cold and occasionally oppressive heat, but predominantly a pleasant range of temperature and weather supporting a variety of sports and activities.
Roanoke seemed a bit “sleepy” from a teenager’s point of view. But, as I look back from the mindset of a parent, the lack of “excitement” translated to safety and security. You had to work to get into trouble - in general, trouble did not come looking for you. The schools were good and there are many good local colleges, including Roanoke Community College. My eldest sister went there for two years.
I have no doubt that people will have vastly differing opinions regarding Roanoke and the surrounding areas. That is likely because the area and the people vary quite a bit depending on where you live and where you work. My personal opinion is that Roanoke is a great place to raise a family, although your kids may have to leave the area to pursue a career.
Edward | Houston, TX