 | History of Roanoke County |  |
Location, Temperature, Environments and Advantages.
The city is situated in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia,
at its junction with the famous Shenandoah
Valley, the Roanoke River flowing along its southern
border. To the Southeast are the Blue Ridge Mountains,
and on the Northwest are the Alleghanies.
From this ideal location the cold winds of winter are
tempered, and during the summer the humidity is
always below the average.
A cooling breeze invariably sweeps down from the
northwest hills at night-fall, insuring comfort and
invigorating rest.
The city's altitude is nine hundred and seven feet.
It is situated in Latitude thirty-seven degrees fifteen
minutes North and Longitude seventy-nine degrees
fifteen minutes West, or about on a plane with southern
Spain.
The temperature rarely rises above ninety degrees
in midsummer, while the winters are generally marked
by an absence of snow or excessive cold.
The climate is equable, severe frosts being of rare
occurrence.
The average mean temperature is fifty-five degrees,
and the average rainfall forty-four inches per year.
The environments of the city are exceptionally
beautiful, the rolling nature of the country and the
adjacent mountains affording a pleasing scene for the
eye to rest upon in whichever direction the traveler
may journey.
Epidemics are absolutely unknown, and the locality
is especially free from sickness; Roanoke's ideal location,
high altitude, fine sanitation, and unexcelled
water supply combining to make the city a most healthful
place for residence.
The death rate during recent years according to
mortuary statistics furnished by the City authorities,
has been only fourteen to the one thousand inhabitants.
These figures include deaths occurring at the several
hospitals to which patients are brought from a large
surrounding district, and where railway employees from
several divisions centering at this point are brought for
treatment when injured.
The streets are well paved or macadamized, and the
city is lighted throughout by electricity.
Every section is supplied with storm-water drains
and sanitary sewers; extensive public improvements
having been made in recent years from the proceeds of
bond issues.
These improvements were made necessary by the
continuous development in all parts of the city.
A first-class telephone service meets all local requirements
and furnishes long-distance connection with every
section of the coun