The Roanoke Region A Pictorial Journey Author:Regina Roths, Rena Distasio, Debra Miller, Grace Hawthorn Twenty-five years ago, I blew into town with plans to stay only long enough to convince my new husband that we needed to hurry up back to the big city. As days turned into a quarter century, our roots here spread through the neighborhoods, offices, schools, and fields of play that became the fabric of our lives. — We stayed because the Roanoke Re... more »gion had everything we really needed beauty, opportunity, security, convenience, and community. This book celebrates all that makes the Roanoke Region such a special place to live, work, and play and why its consistently named among the nations best places to live and do business. Recently, a friend who hadnt been to Roanoke since the mid 90s came to visit. He was awed by how much has changed. Impressive capital projects are part of the regions continuing narrative.
Downtown Roanoke is everybodys neighborhood; the entertainment and cultural center of Western Virginia. And the growing fields of healthcare, automotive manufacturing, optoelectronics, and pharmaceuticals are nurturing a workforce that is highly competitive in the global marketplace. Even natives, notoriously tough judges of their hometown, are beaming with pride. The region connects cities, counties, and towns that bring diverse identities, character, and flavor to the hub of Western Virginia. Where people are hard working, caring, and involved. Where the right mix of urban amenities and natural assets combine. Where higher education is creating the foundation for future prosperity. This is the focal point of the western half of Virginia. Natural beauty mixed with a strong corporate climate make the Roanoke Region an enviable place to plant roots. Thats why people from around the world have come to call it home. Whether you have lived here one month or all of your life, you can easily understand the reasons why. Beth Doughty, President