An economic analysis of the 1971 Roanoke, Virginia annexation case

The legal cases presented in the Ivan R. Young vs. City of Salem annexation hearing which began on 19 April 1971 is analyzed on the basis of economic criteria. The hearing was for a consolidated case consisting of five separate annexation cases in Roanoke County, Virginia. Two cases involved areas which had petitioned to be annexed to Salem, two cases involved areas which had petitioned to be annexed to Roanoke, and the other case involved the petition of the City of Roanoke to annex the entire area of Roanoke County. The greater part of the hearing was involved with the city's all-county case.

A review of the arguments used by the city show three primary arguments used. First, Roanoke contended they needed additional land to continue to develop. Second, Roanoke felt that the county residents needed city services. Third, the city claimed there existed a co-unity of interests between the city and county residents which dictated a unity of government.

The analysis shows that the arguments used in this annexation case, which are standard arguments in Virginia annexation cases, are not firmly grounded on economic theory even though they are frequently presented as economic arguments.