river flowing from SW Va. southeast through NE N.C. into Albemarle Sound: c. 380 mi (612 km)
city in SW Va., on this river: pop. 95,000
island off the coast of N.C.: site of abortive English colony (1585-87)
Origin:
< Carolina Algonquian: meaning unknown
See Roanoke in American Heritage Dictionary 4
An independent city of southwest Virginia west-southwest of Richmond. It grew with the coming of the railroad in 1882 and is today a tourist and industrial center. Population: 91,600.