Roanoke Region

Riverdale is a neighborhood in southeast Roanoke, Virginia, in the United States. The neighborhood lies along the south bank of the Roanoke River. It is bordered by the neighborhoods of Morningside on the west, Kenwood on the north, Garden City on the south and the town of Vinton on the east. The neighborhood is predominantly residential in character, and its development patterns are typical of those experienced for an American city during the early to mid-20th century.

The American Viscose Plant Historic District is an industrial park and historic district located in Roanoke, Virginia. The site is the location of the former American Viscose Corporation rayon processing plant that once employed over 5,000 and for a time was reportedly the largest rayon producing mill in the world. The plant's construction began in 1916 with the building of the first of what became three large processing plants of two spinning units each; the second began construction in 1921 and the third in 1925. With the plant's viability decreased by newer facilities elsewhere and rayon's usage supplanted by nylon and other synthetic fabrics, the factory closed in 1958. The property was purchased by an assortment of Roanoke investors in 1961 and has been operated as an industrial park since. The district consists of 20 contributing resources, including 16 buildings, two structures, and two sites. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. As of 2023, it was in the early stages of redevelopment into a mixed-use district of residential and commercial use.

Morningside is a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood located in east, central Roanoke, along the north bank of the Roanoke River. It borders the neighborhoods of South Jefferson and Riverland/Walnut Hills on the west, Kenwood and Riverdale on the east, Belmont on the north and both Garden City and Mill Mountain on the south. In being the location of the former American Viscose plant, the Morningside neighborhood exhibits both industrial characteristics as well as development patterns typical of those experienced for an American city during the early 20th century.

The Roanoke Star, also known as the Mill Mountain Star, is the world's largest freestanding illuminated man-made star. It was constructed at the top of Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia in 1949 by the local merchants association to draw publicity and trade to the city. The star was initially intended to be lit only during Christmas seasons, but was popular enough with the citizens of Roanoke that it is illuminated every night year-round. It stands 88.5 feet (27.0 m) tall and weighs 60,000 pounds (27,000 kg), rests 846 feet (258 m) above the city of Roanoke, and is visible for 60 miles (97 km) from the air. Its 2,000 feet (610 m) of neon tubing are typically lit entirely in white, but have the ability to shine solely in red (historically for tragic events), or in red, white, and blue (for patriotic holidays). The star has become a symbol of Roanoke and the source of its nickname "Star City of the South", and it along with its accompanying scenic overlook are popular tourist destinations in the area.

Buena Vista is a historic plantation house located in Roanoke, Virginia. It was built about 1840, and is a two-story, brick Greek Revival style dwelling with a shallow hipped roof and two-story, three-bay wing. The front facade features a massive two-story diastyle Greek Doric order portico. Buena Vista was built for George Plater Tayloe and his wife, Mary (Langhorne) Tayloe. George was the son of John Tayloe III and Anne Ogle Tayloe of the noted plantation Mount Airy in Richmond County and who built The Octagon House in Washington D.C. The property was acquired by the City of Roanoke in 1937, and was used as a city park and recreation center.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.Earlier History There are handwritten notes on the deed card that describe a much earlier history of the property. “The first building on this tract was log and frame. In 1853 a brick building was built by Geo. P. Tayloe. In 1889 George P. Tayloe enlarged and modernized the present building. David Bryan, Sr. will called this building the mansion house. The Tayloe papers refer to it as Roanoke – and later as Buena Vista. This tract was originally called the “Bottoms” and at the lower end was the Totera town visited by Batts Wood and Fallam in Sept 1671.” Ownership History

The Riverland Historic District encompasses an early 20th century neighborhood on the south side of the Roanoke River in Roanoke, Virginia. The area consists of a portion of the residential area bounded on the south by Walnut Avenue SE, on the east by Arbutus Avenue SE, and on other sides by the river. Most of the included properties are either on Arbutus Avenue or Riverland Street, with some also on Piedmont Street and Walnut Avenue. The neighborhood is one of closely spaced residential properties built to provide housing for workers in nearby businesses. It was developed by the Highland Land Company, and was mostly built out between 1900 and 1930.The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

The Mill Mountain Zoo is a zoo located atop Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia, United States. When it opened in 1952, the zoo was operated by the City of Roanoke. In 1976, the city turned its operation over to the Roanoke Jaycees. The Jaycees operated the zoo until 1988 when its operation was handed over to the non-profit Blue Ridge Zoological Society (BRZS). The BRZS still serves as the operator and fund raiser for the zoo.

Riverland/Walnut Hills is a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood located in southeast Roanoke south of the Roanoke River. It borders the neighborhoods of South Jefferson and South Roanoke on the west, Morningside on the east and Mill Mountain on the south. The neighborhood is divided into the Walnut Hill area at the base of Mill Mountain, and the Riverland area along the Roanoke River, with Virginia State Route 116 running through the entire area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Riverland/Walnut Hills has a population of 1,033.

Roanoke City Firehouse No. 6 is a historic fire station located in the Belmont neighborhood of Roanoke, Virginia. It was built in 1911, and is a two-story, three-bay, hipped-roof building. in an effort to blend the station into its residential surroundings, it was constructed to resemble an early-20th century American Foursquare dwelling embellished with Classical Revival details. A wide center bay and two large double doors distinguish it from the homes in the neighborhood. The station was one of three with the same design that were built by architect Homer M. Miller and all put into service on the same day in September of 1911. As of 2023, one of the other two stations survives and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 as City of Roanoke Fire Station No. 5. The three stations were the first in Roanoke to be built for and equipped with motorized firefighting equipment. They were integrated into the neighborhoods they were built to serve, limiting their need to travel farther than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in response to a call.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. After ceasing operation as a firehouse in 1979, the building was converted to use as a community center, and later as a satellite police station.

Garden City is a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood located far southeast Roanoke, abutting Mill Mountain. It borders the neighborhoods of Morningside and Riverdale on the north, and Mill Mountain and Southern Hills to the west. The eastern border is shared with Roanoke County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Garden City has a population of 2,981 residents.

Fallon is a Roanoke, Virginia neighborhood located in southeast Roanoke. It borders the neighborhoods of Hollins on the north, Kenwood to the south and Belmont on the west. The eastern and part of the northern border is shared with the town of Vinton. Today the neighborhood is bisected by Virginia State Route 24 (Dale Avenue) and is bordered by Tinker Creek to the east.

The Roanoke Valley ( ROH-ə-nohk) in southwest Virginia is an area adjacent to and including the Roanoke River between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian Plateau to the west. The valley includes much of Roanoke County, as well as the two independent cities of Roanoke and Salem.