Roanoke

Pop : 2005 (estimate) 92,983

Roanoke is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The city of Roanoke is adjacent to the city of Salem and the town of Vinton and is otherwise surrounded by, but politically separate from, Roanoke County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 94,911.[3] The city is bisected by the Roanoke River. Roanoke is the commercial, cultural, and medical hub of much of the surrounding area of Virginia and southern West Virginia.

http://www.images4webs.com/images/roanoke/roanoke_cityscape_600.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/188/378578817_3d45fde9d7_b.jpg

4.5/10 :)

5.5/10

Almost nothing

That first picture looks kinda funny though

UHHHH you never heard of this place? well ill tell you why. Its population is way under 100,000. I dont know ANY cities in Europe with a pop under 100,000 with a skyline like that. So all in all i think the skyline isnt all that bad..and if you add in the factor of population..i give it a 8/10

The skyline lacks the cluster effect but has some diversity in it. The Architecture is fairly nice.

5/10

5/10 One of my friends from South Africa stayed in Roanoke and he loved it there.Maybe I must come and visit the city.

;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

Well yes many people have never heard of it...but it is a wonderful city...not bad for it's size. Roanoke is known as the Capital of Southwest Virginia (my home). My spouse's mother lives in Roanoke and my folks live 2 hours down I-81 in Bristol VA/TN. I give it a 6.5. Just mins from Downtown is the Blue Ridge Parkway...once you travel it who cares about a skyline! the area is beautiful!

Nice area but this is about skylines. There isn't much of one.

4/10

Originally posted by jtown,man

UHHHH you never heard of this place? well ill tell you why. Its population is way under 100,000. I dont know ANY cities in Europe with a pop under 100,000 with a skyline like that. So all in all i think the skyline isnt all that bad..and if you add in the factor of population..i give it a 8/10

Well, there is Jena, Germany with a population of 99,783

http://www.imb-jena.de/~gmueller/jena/Images/Dsc03523.jpg


I think this skyline is much better....

greetings from germany

Yea, artec....that is a awesome skyline! thanks for the pic. That one building there doesnt look like it belongs!

:down: 3.5/10

BTW, jtown,man. Jena's skyline sure is better then Roanoke's.

Jena has a building, not a skyline.

Mmm that's OKAY for a city that size in North America.

6.0

Wow, a very nice city !
6.0/10

Very nice, I like the way its structured, and the buildings are placed very nicely, I like the tallest too, 8/10

As someone who regretfully visits Roanoke on a daily basis since I go to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg just 30 miles away, I must say that for a city of its size it's skyline is not that dreadful. However, the city itself is...it's a dead railroad hub with nasty cracked out drag queens, high unemployment, and a plethora of white trash...although when occasionally wasted downtown the Texas Tavern is the place to make an appearance--while all the tranny hookers are leaning over into oldsmobiles for malt liquor on Salem Avenue, you can get two dogs walkin' (hot dogs with chilie) without fear of an attack. I give this skyline two cracknails up ;)

P.S. Charleston, WV has about the same size skyline with only 52,000 people in the city and 300,000 in its metro.

http://wvlightning.com/asp/medsize/wv-93002b.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/charleston/downtown2.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/asp/medsize/wv-92302h.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/charleston/cityusa.jpg
http://wvlightning.com/charleston/downtown3.jpg

I dont know where you get the idea Charleston is such an awesome city, but its NOT! Its a bore! Nothing to do. That fits the state of West Virginia-BORING. And Roanoke's Metro has 100,000 people less than Charlestons; and Roanoke is well known for its EXCELLENT transportation; as it is the hub for Southwest/Southside Va.

Wow, Roanoke is better than Charleston. I learn something new every day. I think I'll go start a thread about how Worcester, MA is amazing because it's better than Springfield, MA. Or maybe New Haven vs. Bridgeport? New Haven...hands down. :)

Oops, all of those cities are twice the size of Roanoke and Charleston. Okay, how about Lowell, MA vs. Pawtucket, RI? Both those cities have better skylines than Roanoke or Charleston.

I didn't mean to make this a contest.
Oh, and did I say Roanoke was perfect? NO. It has its faults like any other city.
Anyways, I know you're just a jackass, so I'm done arguing. You don't have to defend Charleston; it can do that for itself. You just make it look worse.

Is the city in Virginia?

Because you forgot to tell what state Roanoke is in.
I think that is important, as most people don´t know.

Anyway, there is a cathedral and at least two nice highrises so it is not bad at all for its size.

The City of Roanoke is located in Southwest Virginia. In an area called the NRV. New River Valley

4

Okay, let me get some decent photos for everyone.

The Famous Mill Mountain Star, the largest man made star in the World.
It sits 1,000 feet over the city, and can be seen from a 60 mile radius. It glows red white and blue at night.
http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/Pictures/015/015_roanoke_star1.jpg


Roanoke-
http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/Pictures/015/015_roanoke_overlook2.jpg
http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/Pictures/015/015_roanoke_overlook4.jpg

And the famous Mill Mountain Overlook, 1,000 feet above the city.
http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/Pictures/015/015_roanoke_overlook3.jpg

This is the skyline taken from a nearby mountain:
http://members.cox.net/kayko531/blue/RVsa_wact2b.JPG

http://members.cox.net/kayko531/blue/RVsa_wact2b.JPG

Very Nice Shot! Finally, a photo showing how Roanoke is really in a valley.
And how you can rise over a 1000 feet, and still be in the ity; basically in downtown.

Why thank you. I was just testing a new camera.

I couldn't get Hotel Roanoke in the shot, though. The best view includes the Hotel, St. Andrew's AND the tower.

This place is emblematic of all that is wrong with US diffuse development. An environmental nightmare that extends from Charlotte to Atlanta!

This place is emblematic of all that is wrong with US diffuse development. An environmental nightmare that extends from Charlotte to Atlanta!

Would you mind explaining your reasoning for this?

Oops, all of those cities are twice the size of Roanoke and Charleston. Okay, how about Lowell, MA vs. Pawtucket, RI? Both those cities have better skylines than Roanoke or Charleston.

You know, you're absolutely right. Why I can just hear those folks in Attleboro now just seething at the attention Pawtucket gets for its Ab-Fab skyline! I think Providence is green too!!

P.S.: This thread is great - most of these have so little humor. The stuff about the crackhead drag queens is so on target. (You should visit Madison, WI some time).

BTW: I think Fredricksburg, MD is better than either Charleston or Roanoke, so there!

Would you mind explaining your reasoning for this?

Sprawl, gas guzzling sprawl, low density, lifeless development. Cheeeeeeeep subdivision construction. Did I say sprawl? Did I mention the total lack of development standards? Did I mention the gas-guzzling SUVs?

The fact that I'm having to "explain" this says everything.

I went to Roanoke once and, when I wasn't sleeping, I enjoyed myself. The countryside is beautiful but the city lacks any beat. There's an illuminated star on a hill where you can get a nice view of the town. That actually might be where the first pic was taken.

Charleston, WV may have as many buildings with half the population, but that city has lots of state offices, etc. to house. That's also why Richmond has a beefier skyline than many cities its size.

Oy. Sorry, the page hadn't finished loading posts before I commented on Mill Mountain. So there you have it.

Sprawl, gas guzzling sprawl, low density, lifeless development. Cheeeeeeeep subdivision construction. Did I say sprawl? Did I mention the total lack of development standards? Did I mention the gas-guzzling SUVs?

The fact that I'm having to "explain" this says everything.

Low density development? What do you expect? It's a city of 93,000. Do you expect New York Density? That statement is so stupid.

Sprawl? Not really. The city is around 41 Square Miles; outside of that, sprawl is not bad at all.

Learn how to spell Cheap if you're going to use it as an invalid statement.

Gas-Guzzling SUVS? Show me a city without them. It's definetely not Baltimore.

Charleston has a metro of over 300,000. Roanoke's is barely over 200,000.
It is, like stated before, the capital of the State. That greatly adds density to the skyline.

Lammius-Come back to Roanoke and I'll give you a tour of the vibrant downtown.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Roanoke has been named an All-American City 5 times now, and the best city numerous times, in its population category.

Roxbury, go back to your sandbox and play; you're annoying the adults.

I agree with your assessment on the sprawl there, JRQ. It's in a small valley so there's not much room to spread out. Also, if you travel by on nearby I-81 you're likely to not have any clue you're passing anything significant. There's almost no development that far out.

One of my next trips to Virginia I might consider swinging down to Roanoke. I visit Harrisonburg and Norfolk several times a year. Roanoke isn't <i>too</i> far from Hburg, is it? like 1 or 2 hours?

It's about 2 hours from Roanoke. I loved Harrisonburg; such a cool city.

What can you say?

Nothing tall. Not much of a skyline. A few nice midrises though.

4.5

Are we judging the skylines by the population in the city? Because most places would get a very low vote.
Roanoke-93,000

Not bad. I like the star.

Wow ..i had to go all the way back to November to retrieve this thread.

Roanoke is a very nice city...stop through once a few years ago when U. of Mobile played Liberty in Lychburgh.

5/10

Quite flat skyline ;) But the tallest building is interesting. 5/10

7/10

http://richmondcitywatch.com/albums/album48/065_roanoke006.sized.jpg
http://richmondcitywatch.com/albums/album48/065_roanoke011.sized.jpg
http://richmondcitywatch.com/albums/album48/065_roanoke017.sized.jpg
http://richmondcitywatch.com/albums/album48/065_roanoke018.sized.jpg
http://richmondcitywatch.com/albums/album48/065_roanoke026.sized.jpg
http://richmondcitywatch.com/albums/album48/065_roanoke034.sized.jpg

Roanoke looks to be a vital city (one that's obviously alive), and that's really what's important. I think it has a nice skyline for its size, although it's something of a discredit that most of its taller buildings appear to be newer and boxy. More prominent historic skycrapers would add a lot to the skyline. Roanoke is very lucky though to boast both the Hotel Roanoke and St. Andrew's Cathedral. All in all, I think I'll give it a 7.

6.5/10

You can approach this in one of two ways:

Either by relating Roanoke to the Grand scheme of skylines, in which case, its utter pish and gets a 3/10

Or by considering it has a pop of under 100k. Now it becomes quite impressive. For its pop, it gets a 7/10

So I give it a 5/10 overall (I even rounded up for you :)). It really isn't that much to look at, but i know cities with double the population and half the skyline that Roanoke sports.

One little bit of advise though, if you post a skyline thread of a city that doesnt really have one, then you should be prepared to receive a great deal of crap from those who are too simple/uneducated to take in all the surrounding circumstances when they open their mouths and hurl abuse...

I didn't make the thread ;). But, yes, you're totally correct.

Well, there is Jena, Germany with a population of 99,783

http://www.imb-jena.de/~gmueller/jena/Images/Dsc03523.jpg


I think this skyline is much better....

greetings from germany
a little late BUT WRONG!! source, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jena says that the population is over 100,000--IN APRIL 2003, before you posted that....Roanoke has a great skyline considering its population and there about 3 midrises and a highrise planned, light rail, new art musuem(approved), and village clusters to be presented to city council for approval in december 2005

Whoever thought one of these polls would become a flame war...

I've been there a couple of times, and found it quite pleasant. The skyline is not Baltimore, but nice for a city of this size. 5

This is a nice stopover if you are travelling the Blue Ridge Parkway.

To the other poster: It's either Fredericksburg, Virginia , or Frederick, Maryland

7/10

good for its size 4/10

4/10, because it's a small city

6/10

This is one of my favorite places. The food, atmosphere, scenery, everything is great. The downtown is very much alive and active with a very impressive market area and artist galleries. To the people from Roanoke.... The New Yorker and Macadoos (sp?) are two of my all time favorite places to eat! I give it a 10

4/10

It's is rubbish, 4/10. It has not really a skyline, and yes it's small, but not impressive at all. After Jena, I can give you another example of an European city with a small population; Leeuwarden: 91,365.

Can't beat this.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/253/averoachmea3largekc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

A- Learn to use proper English please, if you plan on insulting my city.

B- Jena, Germany has a tower, not a skyline.

C- Your city's skyline looks extreme boxy and un-urban. Nice lego-imitation, but no.

D- My city is an older city, with an older, well-kept, urban skyline. Take it for what you will, but I would take my city over your suburban skyline anyday.

Any more comments? Fell free to send me a PM, and I'm sure it will be settled. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut. :)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Roanokeaerial.jpg

:):)

A- Learn to use proper English please, if you plan on insulting my city.

B- Jena, Germany has a tower, not a skyline.

C- Your city's skyline looks extreme boxy and un-urban. Nice lego-imitation, but no.

D- My city is an older city, with an older, well-kept, urban skyline. Take it for what you will, but I would take my city over your suburban skyline anyday.

Any more comments? Fell free to send me a PM, and I'm sure it will be settled. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut. :)

A - English is not my first language, I'm following classes at school, but only for four year now. It's understandable, and has nothing to do with this at all! :bash:

B - Jena has one major tower and 2 midrises, which are both as tall/taller as your midrise. The major tower is taller than the major tower of Roanoke.

C - This is what we call modern, mate. And btw, diffirent continent, diffirent style.

D. - You are talking shit! Leeuwarden was founding in around 1200. And Leeuwarden is not a suburb.

:righton:

I specifically said suburban s-k-y-l-i-n-e, not city, no matter what continent, or time. Roanoke has towers dating back to the 1920's, and up to the 90's, with a new museum of modern art downtown opening soon.

I'm not a rude person, but don't come onto a skyline thread and call someone's city rubbish. If you care to continue, I'll just ask a mod. to step into the situation.


Thanks for the photo, Nikom.

8/10- very well kept and nicely developed for its pop.

I specifically said suburban s-k-y-l-i-n-e, not city, no matter what continent, or time. Roanoke has towers dating back to the 1920's, and up to the 90's, with a new museum of modern art downtown opening soon.

I'm not a rude person, but don't come onto a skyline thread and call someone's city rubbish. If you care to continue, I'll just ask a mod. to step into the situation.


Thanks for the photo, Nikom.
I never called your city rubbish. I meant skyline. OK, never said specificly the skyline, but I thought you would understand that.

But OK, no more words about this. :)

6/10

Wachovia Tower-
http://www.faison.com/files/92/WachoviaTwrVA.jpg
http://www.kantor.com/photos/roanoke/Wachovia%20Tower.jpg

http://www.johnsmilitaryhistory.com/downtown52c.jpg

http://www.schuminweb.com/images/photography/2003/urban-roanoke/34.jpg

http://www.anartistview.com/Roanokepictures/Jeffersonstpreview.jpg

http://members.trainorders.com/varailfan/images/recent/21806/17M.jpg

5/10

I must say I'm very surprised to see Roanoke listed here.. I live in Salem :)

7/10 not bad a few nice towers

10/10 My aunt lives there and i think it has a beautiful skyline!!!Pretty good for a population of 90,000 yeah 90,000!Not 100,000!Did some stupid person just say this is in Europe!!!Well anyway Roanoke is a well-known city in the U.S. and half of u never heard of it???Its know as the prettiest city in the state of Virginia because it is surronded by the Blue Ridge Mountains...

5/10

i almost went to ROANOKE!!!
almost! to swim there!
so i'll give my first 10!

and Jena has not a skyline! has A building!!
in brazil we have cities with less than 100,000 that has a better skyline then jena
- balneário camboriú - 90,000
- brusque - 80,000
- joaçaba - 25,000
this three cities are located in the state os Santa Catarina (southern brazil)

10/10

i'm dreaming in live there

Roanokes nice, but i don't know about its skyline

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/1804704597_195b935e4a_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/356584874_7d0b9dc30b_o.jpg
from flickr

2.5/10 Not much there.

6/10. The scenery around the city is nice.

6 or 7 out of 10. Beautiful scenery!

6.5/10 ;)

Roanoke's Mill Mountain Star in the background
http://visitroanokeva.com/images/imageLib/L1032.jpg

Can you tell Roanoke was a major railroad hub?
http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwedo/archweek/2005/roanoke/img/Roanoke_Streetcars_duplicat.jpg

I get a bit dizzy....(thats not me, btw ;))
http://visitroanokeva.com/images/imageLib/L1030.jpg

3/10

5/10

5/10... not a great skyline...

I think all pictures are wonderful, thanks for the pictures. :)

A- Learn to use proper English please, if you plan on insulting my city.

B- Jena, Germany has a tower, not a skyline.

C- Your city's skyline looks extreme boxy and un-urban. Nice lego-imitation, but no.

D- My city is an older city, with an older, well-kept, urban skyline. Take it for what you will, but I would take my city over your suburban skyline anyday.

Any more comments? Fell free to send me a PM, and I'm sure it will be settled. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut. :)

agree with you!!! roanoke roxxxx

i'm brazilian

Not for me. 5

I am from Roanoke and I have a few pictures of the area:

This first pic is from the web, I think it is credited on the picture

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g304/540BOY/C020259.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g304/540BOY/101_0383-1.jpg

This next pic was taken from the roof of a condominium in the downtown Market area.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g304/540BOY/101_0386-1.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g304/540BOY/downtown1003.jpg



Overall, I would rate the skyline currently a 5, and once the museum is complete, I would move the rating to a 7. I think Roanoke has room for improvement (obviously) but it seems as if much of Roanoke is too conservative or anti-progressive. Everytime an idea for change is presented, it gets shot down by people who want to keep the "Good Ol' Roanoke" feeling, i guess.

5/10

8/10

8/10

A couple more picturess of Roanoke.
As has been stated before, Roanoke is a smaller city with a population of about 90,000, so its skyline is not going to be something from a major city, but its nice nonetheless.
Its a nice place. I enjoy living here.

Roanoke is (or was) a major transportation hub for SW VA as evidenced by this section of rail tracks in downtown...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/3055776979_576928200b.jpg

This is the Wachovia tower, 93m, completed in 1991
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/2843253648_3e34af3f19.jpg

Skyline from a distance with the moutains in the background
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/3103682074_c276bfd721.jpg

Wachovia tower with the historic Hotel Roanoke on the right side of the picture
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2386213294_b760b3edea.jpg

Aerial view (a lot of in-fill going on now...notice in this pic, in the right lower corner, the construction of the new art museum).
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2472797384_d9ba20b74f.jpg

ALL PICTURES ABOVE CREDITED TO konrad_photography on flickr

Roanoke at night
http://pictureroanoke.com/v-web/gallery/albums/Roanoke-at-Night/CRW_5030_001.sized.jpg
Credit on the photo.

St. Andrews
http://pictureroanoke.com/v-web/gallery/albums/Roanoke-at-Night/CRW_5216.sized.jpg

Downtown low rises architecture (notice the newly restored neon signage)
http://pictureroanoke.com/v-web/gallery/albums/Roanoke-at-Night/CRW_0682.jpg

http://pictureroanoke.com/v-web/gallery/albums/Roanoke-at-Night/CRW_1736.jpg

Following photos credited to:Tim Hursley


Aerial view of new Art Museum
http://www.taubmanmuseum.org/IMAGES/play/photos/92639c-TimHursley_big.jpg
http://www.taubmanmuseum.org/IMAGES/play/photos/92629c-TimHursley_big.jpg

5.5/10

5 is my score for this pretty city. Been there once and its very pretty. Based on skyline just a 5 though. Much love to Roanoke!!! L.G.N.M

Better than my Australian city. our tallest is 12st! and we have about 80,000! with 120,000 in the 'metro' area! So, I'd give it 6.5

Bumping this up to 6 because the size of the city must be accounted for as well. Every skyline can't be New York City. Isn't that what makes the differences special? This small city has pretty views and unique style for its size, 6 for Roanoke,Virginia!! L.G.N.M

Looks like a slew of apartment buildings along with an office building or two. Not a skyline. But I gave it a 3 for the effort.

Not Good, not bad 5,5/10

7/10

6/10

5/10

7. Regards.

6/10

Roanoke's Mill Mountain Star in the background
http://visitroanokeva.com/images/imageLib/L1032.jpg

Can you tell Roanoke was a major railroad hub?
http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwedo/archweek/2005/roanoke/img/Roanoke_Streetcars_duplicat.jpg

I get a bit dizzy....(thats not me, btw ;))
http://visitroanokeva.com/images/imageLib/L1030.jpg

6/10

7/10

A few more, courtesy of flickr:

Roanoke, Virginia

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/104/291797169_13910d5d61_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4175034898_473e37e21c_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/3031207767_410694ed74_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2877223979_57f6fc5426_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/3458237934_35b16b5770_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2167747264_e9146e6a9b_b.jpg

big enough city for its population.
it has good development.

_______________________
Thread:Vancouver & Burbs (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=973646&page=5")

http://s001.radikal.ru/i195/1002/be/511fb72530b8.jpg

I've always like the skyline. One day maybe they'll be a new tallest :)

7/10

-dp-

6,5/10

5/10, not bad but could use improvement.

Some good news for the city: the population, according to the US Census Bureau, has risen to 97,032. After a good period of decline, these numbers are good to see.

nice but your skyline is small^^

4/10 Looks to dry and pale

Is a good skyline for a city of this size.......6/10

4/10

Shoot me now for the largest Pano on SSC lol....I just thought it was too cool to pass up.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6053/6324940191_e1a8a710c7_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6895840533_f3a3a3c12c_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6577885111_403fcd36e5_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/6917332817_b71158e01f_b.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2764/4094211975_b27f2687df_o.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6810037183_4b852bcdeb_b.jpg

5/10

Ah, Roanoke. Spent a LOT of time there as a college student.

For the size of the city itself (barely 100K, if that), I give the skyline a 7. Seen better, but also seen much worse.