Roanoke (Independent City), Virginia Genealogy

United States

Virginia

Roanoke (Independent City)

Guide to Roanoke (Independent City), Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Virginia Online Genealogy Records

Facts Seat: Roanoke (Indep. City) Organized: 10 Jul 1902 Parent County(s): Roanoke Neighboring Counties Roanoke • Salem (Independent City) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption This page is available for adoption

Independent City Information

Description

The city of Roanoke is located in the western portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia and its name comes from the Indian word "Rawrenock," which means wampum. These were white shell beads worn by native Americans.

Courthouse

Roanoke (Independent City) Courthouse
315 W Church Ave S.W.
Roanoke, VA 24016-5007
Phone: 540-853-2364
Roanoke (Independent City) Courthouse

For additional records, see Roanoke County.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this Independent City.

Boundary Changes

Parent County(s): Created from Roanoke County July 10, 1902. County Seat: Roanoke Independent City Virginia Historical Boundary Changes- list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library Interactive Map of Virginia County Formation History (1790-1897) - animated maps illustrating Virginia county boundary changes

History Timeline

Additional Information
The town first called Big Lick was established in 1852 and chartered in 1874. It was named for a large outcropping of salt which drew the wildlife to the site near the Roanoke River. In 1882 it became the town of Roanoke, and in 1884 it was chartered as the independent city of Roanoke.

History and wars of Roanoke County FS Library History of Roanoke County, Salem, Roanoke City, Virginia and representative citizens, 1734-1900 FS Library A place apart: a brief history of the early Williamson Road and North Roanoke Valley residents and places FS Library Roanoke: story of county and city FS Library Places near the mountains: from the community of Amsterdam, Virginia up the road to Catawba, on the waters of the Catawba and Tinker Creeks, along the Carolina Road as it approached Big Lick and other areas, primarily North Roanoke FS Library Salem and Roanoke Valley: a circular of information, location, railroad facilities, business interests, manufacturing prospects, water power, mineral wealth, fertile lands, healthful climate, social, moral, religious and educational advantages FS Library When past is prologue: a history of Roanoke County FS Library

Resources

Bible Records

For databases and indexes, see Virginia Bible Records.

Biographies

• History of Roanoke City and history of the Norfolk & Western Railway Company FS Library
• Garland, Hugh A. The Life of John Randolph of Roanoke. New York: D. Appleton, 1851. Two volumes. FS Library. Digital version at Internet Archive (two volumes in one).

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Roanoke (Independent City), Virginia online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	Find A Grave VA USGenWeb Tombstone project Virginia Gravestones.org Billion Graves
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Catalog None listed WorldCat None listed
List of Cemeteries in the City	Find A Grave
See Virginia Cemeteries for more information.

Census Records

For databases, indexes, and information online, see Virginia Census.

• Records of the field offices for the state of Virginia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872 - FS Library Collection

Church Records

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

• A history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Virginia Roanoke Mission : with special emphasis of the Church in Roanoke. FS Library Collection

Presbyterian

• Presbyterian churches of Roanoke, Virginia FS Library
  Contains historical information about the following Presbyterian churches from both the city and county of Roanoke: Salem, First, Second, Bethany, Norwich, Vinton, West End, Belmont, Melrose and Raleigh Court.
  

Court Records

Online Court Indexes and Records

• Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery

Chancery order book, no. 1, 1838-1866 FS Library

• Circuit Court

Chancery papers, ca. 1836-1900 FS Library

• County Court

County Court common law order books, 1838-1868 FS Library

County Court papers, ca.1838-1910 FS Library

Judgements, ca.1837-1899 FS Library

Directories

• Roanoke, Virginia, city directory including Salem and Vinton, also a buyers' guide and a complete classified business directory FS Library

Emigration and Immigration

For databases and immigrant groups, see Virginia Emigration and Immigration

Land and Property Records

For land indexes, records, and databases, see Virginia Land and Property, including Colonial and State Land Grants.

Online Land Indexes and Records

• Botetourt County, Virginia, early settlers from the earliest times through 1795, in the area that was Botetourt County in 1782, covers parts of present-day counties of Montgomery, Bath, Giles, Floyd, Alleghany, Roanoke, Craig and Monroe FS Library
• Botetourt County, Virginia, early settlers from the earliest times through 1795, in the area that was Botetourt County in 1782 FS Library
• County Court

Deed books, 1838-1902 ; general indexes to deeds, 1838-1923 FS Library

General index to mixed probate records, 1838-1953; mixed probate records, 1838-1903 FS Library

• Commissioner of the Revenue

Land tax books, 1845-1899 FS Library

Personal property tax lists, 1838-1850 FS Library

• County Surveyor

Surveyors' records of Roanoke County, 1849-1868 FS Library

Local Histories

• Pleasants Lodge No. 63, A.F. A.M

100 years in the Roanoke Valley (a history of the Lodge) FS Library

Maps and Gazetteers

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Click a neighboring county
for more resources

County and state maps, historical and more current, are valuable research tools. For map collections, online and in libraries, see Virginia Maps.

• Botetourt County, Virginia, 1865 and Botetourt and Roanoke counties, 1865-66 land ownership map FS Library
• Roanoke County, Virginia land ownership maps, [186-?] and 1864 FS Library
• Botetourt County FS Library
• An historical map of Roanoke County, Virginia compiled from old maps, historical records and traditions FS Library
• Map of a portion of Roanoke County, Virginia, showing original grants in the area FS Library
• Map of a portion of Roanoke County, Virginia, showing the location and ownership of farms (1825-1875) in relation to a modern map of the area (1960) FS Library

Military Records

Civil War
Since Roanoke was created in 1884 from Roanoke County, see Roanoke County for information about this area in the Civil War.

Newspapers

For online newspaper resources, see the Virginia Newspapers page.

• 1990-present Roanoke Times at Genealogy Bank ($).

Other Records

Inventories, registers, catalogs

• Roanoke and New River Valleys, Virginia, manuscripts: a guide to collections in the United States FS Library

Probate Records

For statewide probate records, indexes, and databases, see Virginia Probate Records.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1652-1900 Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
• General index to mixed probate records, 1838-1953; mixed probate records, 1838-1903 FS Library

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

For additional online collections and the value and use of Virginia's tax lists in your research, see Virginia Taxation.

Vital Records

For additional indexes, databases, and details, see Virginia Vital Records.

Marriage

• 1785-1940 Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
• 1785-1940 Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 at Ancestry ($) — index
• Records of the field offices for the state of Virginia, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872 - FS Library
• United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872
• 1853-1935 Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($)

Death

• 1853-1911 Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911 at Ancestry ($) — index & images

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Roanoke (Independent City). For state-wide facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.

Family History Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

• FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
• FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
  

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

• Roanoke Virginia FamilySearch Center

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Roanoke (Independent City). For state-wide library facilities, see Virginia Archives and Libraries.

Societies

Listed below are societies in Roanoke (Independent City). For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Virginia Societies.

Websites

• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.