ROANOKE - THE STAR CITY
If you've never been to Roanoke or have only briefly visited and didn't have time to scope out one of America's best-kept secrets, you might think "we all" (like "y'all") are just this little dot you see here on this map from wikipedia:
Roanoke City is actually part of the area called The Roanoke Valley (and you can see the night skyline here below with one of our major arteries, I 581):
For anyone and everyone interested in finding a blend of the rural with some metro flavor within minutes of either one, Roanoke could be your new home or a place for an extended stay. BestPlace.net ranks Roanoke, VA as the 11th best place to live in the USA - which is one of the reasons I moved here, myself... http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/bestplaces05_list.aspx
The city's population as of 2007 is 91,552 people and the median home price at around $185,600 according to BestPlaces. Per our RVAR MLS statistics, the average sale price in 2008 for the entire region, which includes the Roanoke Valley and some outer counties, is $202,751. As far as the city itself, $173,133 is the number I calculated averaging out our sales in the city year-to-date 2008 from RVAR MLS data.
According to BestPlaces.net, Roanoke's cost of living is 21.94% lower than the US average, its Public Schools spend $6,486 per student, $428 more than the US average, and there are 14 students per teacher in Roanoke.
Now mind you, I do not have children, so I am only going by this published report. I will say that I know a few parents and a few teachers in Roanoke, and I haven't heard any complaints from either - yet. (I suppose this blog entry may start a discussion!!)
The website also points out that our unemployment rate as of 2007 was 3.60% while the US average was 4.60% for that year, and that Roanoke jobs have increased by 1.99%.
What I know as a resident myself is that there is definitely something for everyone here in Roanoke. First of all, we have a regional airport (here's a link - http://www.roanokeregionalairport.com/) which I have found to be a pleasant experience to navigate. No extreme waiting and no harassing feeling getting through to the boarding gates. The best part about flying in and out of Roanoke is the terrific views of the Appalachian Mountains.
Which brings me to the most important information about Roanoke - it's about the VALLEY!! Yes, nature lovers, this place is for you. From downtown, no matter what direction you head, you're going to run into BIG BEAUTIFUL HILLS! It doesn't matter whether you like to hike, bike or just sit back and look, this part of the country was meant for anyone who loves seeing a mountain landscape around them. Even from our Downtown residential and office lofts, the view is awesome.
Just nearby also, the Blue Ridge Parkway can wind you around to places where you can stop to look out and even catch a stream to fish at. There's hunting (so I hear) but since I'm a little like comedian Ron White, I rather stay indoors at 4 am with the heat up and my blanket over my head. Of course, further out east of the Valley, another big attraction is Smith Mountain Lake. SML is not only a popular recreation place, but boasts a residential and business community with much of its real estate being waterfront property.
What you might also want to know about Roanoke Valley is that our climate stays pretty tame. We get tons of sunshine year-round. There is little humidity in the summer. The winters are not harsh. When it snows, it's usually in the outer counties, but not so much inside the Valley nearer to the metro area. You definitely have all four seasons. Our autumn change comes later than what you may see up North by about two to four weeks.
Yes, there are the big corporations here (Norfolk Southern, Wachovia, Sun Trust, GE, UPS, and more), retail businesses (shopping centers, big-box stores, strip malls), a great nightlife, and the Arts. Actually, there is more by the way of Arts and Entertainment here than what I'm accustomed to in Central NJ. (I will expound on that in another post.) We have two huge healthcare systems, which likely are Roanoke's biggest employers: Carilion and Lewis-Gale.
So I'm told, we have a harder time keeping young people around Roanoke. In answer to that, several organizations had sprung up in the recent past to plan for a better youthful future, and that includes the young-at-heart. NewVa Connects (http://www.newvaconnects.org/) and Valley Forward (http://www.valleyforward.net/artman/publish/) initiate new ways to improve the quality of life around the Roanoke Valley. Check out their websites to learn more.
However, what I do hear is that many college grads actually wind up coming back to the Roanoke area after making their way in busier metropolises outside of SW Virginia.
But even here in Roanoke, our higher education system keeps many young adults from having to look outside for opportunity. Locally, we have Roanoke College, Hollins University, Virginia Western Community College, and Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Of course, as you Hokie fans know, Virginia Tech is just down the road off I 81 in nearby Blacksburg in the New River Valley. The Christiansburg-Blacksburg area is also a major employment hub for many of us in and around Roanoke, especially for the Information Technology sector.
This is our Official Logo:
This is our Official Seal:
Thanks for visiting. Join me next time for more details about our great city and the Roanoke Valley...
Ron Bergeron, REALTOR (R)
KL Recknor Real Estate Company, Roanoke, VA - A Trusted Name in Real Estate in the Roanoke Valley for over 24 Years!
All graphics & pics (except my signature!!) copyright of Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Roanoke
