Roanoke's history began in the 1740s when Mark Evans and Tasker Tosh came from Pennsylvania and took up land close to the salt licks where the Indian and animal trails crossed in the center of the valley. The first village in the Roanoke Valley was called Gainsborough (1834), and soon after became known as Big Lick. Roanoke County was formed out of Botetourt County in 1838 and had a population of around 5,000. In 1852, the railroad came into the valley, but missed Big Lick. So, the town moved itself close to the tracks and took the name with it. The previous town of Big Lick became Old Lick, and, in 1874, the new center was chartered as the town of Big Lick. Seven years later, the Shenandoah Valley Railroad came into the town and Big Lick was then renamed Roanoke. The name came from the Indian word "Rawrenock", which was a name for the shell beads that were worn by the Indians and were traded regularly.
By 1882, Roanoke had become a crossroad for the railroad, which soon changed its name to Norfolk and Western Railway. Because of its rapid growth, it was chartered as the City of Roanoke in 1884. Roanoke is still a center for transportation, distribution, trade, manufacturing, health care, entertainment, recreation, attractions, and conventions, and has been awarded the title of "All-American City" on three occasions. Roanoke's population (which includes most of the surrounding cities and towns) has grown to 283,218.
Roanoke has also been named the "Festival City" because of the many festivals held here throughout the year. Some of these are Festival in the Park (which is offers a little bit of everything from concerts to sporting competitions that take place all over the city), Downtown Roanoke's Railway Festival, Henry Street Festival, Vinton's Dogwood Festival (state flower, you know), The Virginia Championship Chili Cook-off (which, sadly, I missed this year and will miss next year as well...Chase has been looking forward to this one for a long time), and the Strawberry Festival (which happens around the same time as the Chili Cook-off so you can normally get some chili and strawberry shortcake all within a short walk of each other).
My favorite part of the city is it's most visible attraction...the Mill Mountain Star. It's a 88.5-foot-high illuminated steel and concrete star that was placed high atop Mill Mountain in 1949, and is considered the World's Largest Man-made standing illuminated Star (even though those blasted Texans tried to outdo us). It uses 2000 feet of neon tubes and 17,500 watts of power. It stands there as a "symbol of the friendliness, industrial and civic progress of Roanoke". Press releases began to identify Roanoke as the "Star City of the South" because on some night you can see the star's glow for a 60-mile radius. I have come to love this star over the years (as my parents and Chase can tell you) and my signal after many long drives to Roanoke in my 14 years of being away, that I am finally home (that is, if I got in before midnight because that is when Roanoke "goes to bed" and turns off the star). Again, blogger is being picky about which pictures it wants to upload, so please check out pictures of the Star at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill_Mountain_Star .
By far, the best thing in Roanoke, though, are my parents. :-) I will miss them VERY much while I am galavanting through Europe, but will try as hard as I can to return to see them at Christmas time.
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