Roanoke

History

Roanoke was occupied by the Creek before treaties to persuade the Native Americans to cede their land, followed by forced migration under the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The area was part of a broad part of upland developed as cotton plantations worked by enslaved African Americans. The area is still quite rural. Initially called High Pine in the 1830s after a nearby creek, it was allegedly burned during an Indian uprising in 1836. Renamed Chulafinee in 1840, it was later renamed again for the hometown of one of the early settlers, Roanoke, Virginia. The city was officially incorporated in December 1890.

Geography

The city is located in the southern part of Randolph County along U.S. Route 431, which is the main route through the city. U.S. 431 leads northwest 13 mi (21 km) to Wedowee, the Randolph County seat, and south 21 mi (34 km) to LaFayette. Alabama State Route 22 also runs through the city, leading west 13 mi (21 km) to Wadley and northeast 9 mi (14 km) to the Georgia state line. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (1.47%) is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  226
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  196
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  194
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  194
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  173
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  165
• Eastern Bluebird

  Sialia sialis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  156
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  146

Largest nearby schools

• Handley Middle School
  Middle · Roanoke · 503 students · 19.3:1 ratio
• Knight Enloe Elementary School
  Elementary · Roanoke · 487 students · 16.2:1 ratio
• Handley High School
  High · Roanoke · 457 students · 16.3:1 ratio
• Rock Mills Junior High School
  Elementary · Roanoke · 167 students · 13.9:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2008-01-04
  14 km N of Hollins, Alabama
• M 2.5 — 2003-10-06
  11 km SW of Talladega, Alabama