Roanoke County Probate Records

The county, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, was established during March of 1838 when an Act of the Virginia Legislature took the southern part of Botetourt County. It was named for the Roanoke River. Later, during 1845, additional territory was transferred to Roanoke County from Montgomery County. Salem was originally the county seat until Salem became an independent city and the Roanoke Court House was removed to the Cave Spring District. Ultimately, the Roanoke towns and cities became a district for the territory known as "Roanoke". Adjoining counties are Bedford, Botetourt (which land was transferred into Kentucky), Craig, Floyd, Franklin and Montgomery Counties. Essentially, genealogists with ancestors in the Blue Ridge Mountains should research all of these counties to understand more about where their ancestors resided, or migrated from.