Biggest sources of immigrants to Roanoke
Nearly 14% of the United States population is composed of immigrants. But in reality, the vast majority of Americans today are here because of relatives who immigrated from other countries some time in the last several hundred years.
And while the distinctive American culture and spirit is the result of blending many diverse cultures and histories, the United States has for centuries had an up-and-down relationship with immigration.
Each era of immigration has been met with reductive ideas and resistance, whether the backlash was directed toward the Chinese, Irish, Italians, or Mexicans. Immigration laws have targeted specific groups at various times, stoking intolerance and preventing people from truly joining American society. Over time, however, as laws changed to be more equitable and immigrants found their footings, we have reaped the rewards of innovation in business, music, art, literature, dance, food, societal norms, entertainment, and sports—all while realizing a greater understanding of and respect for different cultures, religions, and ideas.
Stacker compiled a list of the countries most immigrants to Roanoke come from, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Countries are ranked by highest number of foreign-born residents who lived in Roanoke as of 2019's five-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out more about the immigrant community in your home city.
#40. Laos
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 70
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 181,546
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #42 most common country of origin
#39. Greece
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 81
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
National
- Number of residents: 129,765
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #51 most common country of origin
#38. Iran
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 82
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 382,260
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #23 most common country of origin
#37. Panama
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 83
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 103,299
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #58 most common country of origin
#36. Singapore
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 84
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 34,014
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #101 most common country of origin
#35. Ethiopia
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 90
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 249,777
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
- #34 most common country of origin
#34. Spain
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 95
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.6%
National
- Number of residents: 115,113
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #55 most common country of origin
#33. Sudan
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 98
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 46,716
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #87 most common country of origin
#32. Russia
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 106
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.7%
National
- Number of residents: 391,641
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #22 most common country of origin
#31. Netherlands
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 118
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
National
- Number of residents: 85,161
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #69 most common country of origin
#30. Bolivia
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
National
- Number of residents: 78,927
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #72 most common country of origin
#29. Colombia
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 154
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
National
- Number of residents: 761,374
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #12 most common country of origin
#28. Egypt
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 157
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 191,452
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.4%
- #40 most common country of origin
#27. Japan
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 169
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.1%
National
- Number of residents: 345,140
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #29 most common country of origin
#26. Venezuela
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 171
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 349,720
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.8%
- #27 most common country of origin
#25. Ecuador
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 177
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 438,474
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #19 most common country of origin
#24. El Salvador
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 182
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.2%
National
- Number of residents: 1,381,008
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.1%
- #5 most common country of origin
#22 (tie). Brazil
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 189
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 433,479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #20 most common country of origin
#22 (tie). Trinidad and Tobago
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 189
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 230,035
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #37 most common country of origin
#21. Jamaica
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 190
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
National
- Number of residents: 741,386
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
- #13 most common country of origin
#20. Congo
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 211
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 30,496
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.1%
- #106 most common country of origin
#19. Guatemala
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 212
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.4%
National
- Number of residents: 979,098
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.2%
- #10 most common country of origin
#18. Peru
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 225
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
National
- Number of residents: 451,076
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.0%
- #18 most common country of origin
#17. Afghanistan
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 231
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 101,548
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #59 most common country of origin
#16. Iraq
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 241
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
National
- Number of residents: 225,038
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.5%
- #38 most common country of origin
#15. South Korea
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 248
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.7%
National
- Number of residents: 1,044,634
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
- #9 most common country of origin
#14. Nepal
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 284
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.9%
National
- Number of residents: 140,904
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.3%
- #49 most common country of origin
#13. Pakistan
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 293
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.0%
National
- Number of residents: 376,127
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.9%
- #25 most common country of origin
#12. Haiti
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 308
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.1%
National
- Number of residents: 672,655
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #15 most common country of origin
#11. Vietnam
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 360
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.4%
National
- Number of residents: 1,336,988
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.0%
- #6 most common country of origin
#10. United Kingdom
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 381
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.6%
National
- Number of residents: 698,612
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.6%
- #14 most common country of origin
#9. Germany
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 402
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.7%
National
- Number of residents: 560,368
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.3%
- #17 most common country of origin
#8. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 479
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.2%
National
- Number of residents: 103,938
- Percent of foreign born residents: 0.2%
- #57 most common country of origin
#7. Canada
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 550
- Percent of foreign born residents: 3.7%
National
- Number of residents: 808,566
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.8%
- #11 most common country of origin
#6. Cuba
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 592
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.0%
National
- Number of residents: 1,289,875
- Percent of foreign born residents: 2.9%
- #7 most common country of origin
#5. Honduras
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 665
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
National
- Number of residents: 651,123
- Percent of foreign born residents: 1.5%
- #16 most common country of origin
#4. Philippines
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 752
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.1%
National
- Number of residents: 1,983,939
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.5%
- #4 most common country of origin
#3. China
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 928
- Percent of foreign born residents: 6.2%
National
- Number of residents: 2,162,395
- Percent of foreign born residents: 4.9%
- #3 most common country of origin
#2. India
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,141
- Percent of foreign born residents: 7.7%
National
- Number of residents: 2,561,906
- Percent of foreign born residents: 5.8%
- #2 most common country of origin
#1. Mexico
Roanoke, VA Metro Area
- Number of residents: 1,582
- Percent of foreign born residents: 10.6%
National
- Number of residents: 11,250,541
- Percent of foreign born residents: 25.6%
- #1 most common country of origin
