| Back to e-WV The West Virginia Encyclopedia

Roane County

Roane County was created by an act of the Virginia legislature on March 11, 1856, from parts of Kanawha, Jackson, and Gilmer counties. The new county was named for Judge Spencer Roane, a son-in-law of Patrick Henry. The citizens of the new county chose New California (later Spencer) as the county seat over Looneyville.

Mapped Points

• Spencer

  Spencer, the county seat of Roane County, hosts West Virginia’s Black Walnut Festival. The town was home to the Spencer State Hospital, which closed in 1989.
  

  

• Walton

  Walton, on the Pocatalico River, is the principal community in the southern part of the Roane County.

• Pocatalico River

  The Pocatalico River passes in a southwestward direction through Roane, Kanawha, and Putnam counties.