For the fifth year in a row, we asked readers to pick

“The Best of Southwest Roanoke County.”

And you sure did! Voting was up 50 percent over last year.

And now, here are the results:

Best reason for living in Southwest Roanoke County

1. Schools

2. People

3. Quality of life

Most fun thing that’s happened in Southwest Roanoke County (new category)

1. Episcopal Diocesan Council

2. Opening of the South County Library

3. Kevin Jones Performing Arts Studio annual free show at the Jefferson Center

Best new thing in SWoCo in the past year

1. Star City Recycling Company

2. Cave Spring Middle School

3. Five Guys Burgers and Fries

(Last year’s winner: South Roanoke County Library)

Read more »

You’ve got just a few days left to vote for your favorites in the 5th annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County Reader Poll.

Voting closes at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll announce the winners on April 19.

We particularly call your attention to some of the new categories this year, including “best hidden jewel in Southwest Roanoke County,” “most fun thing that’s happened in Southwest Roanoke County in the past year,” and “best community service project.”

You can find the ballot here -- or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to “full site” to get it to display.)

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can still download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Salem, and the New River Valley.

What’s the best church outreach program in Southwest Roanoke County?

That’s one of the many categories the 5th annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County reader poll.

Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here -- or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to “full site” to get it to display.)

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Salem, and the New River Valley.

What’s the best student-run organization in Southwest Roanoke County?

That’s one of the ten new categories we’ve added to the 5th annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County reader poll.

What will win there? Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!
You can find the ballot here -- or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to “full site” to get it to display.)

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Salem, and the New River Valley.

What’s the best place to take relatives from out of town in Southwest Roanoke County?

You tell us in the 5th annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County reader poll.

The winner last year and in 2012 was the Mill Mountain Star (OK, technically not in Swoco, but you can see it from here.) In 2011 and 2009, voters picked just plain old Mill Mountain.

What will win there? Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!
You can find the ballot here -- or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to “full site” to get it to display.)

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Salem, and the New River Valley.

What’s the best summer camp for kids in Southwest Roanoke County?

That’s one of the ten new categories we’ve added to the 5th annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County reader poll.

What will win there? Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!
You can find the ballot here -- or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to “full site” to get it to display.)

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Salem, and the New River Valley.

What’s the best community service project by a civic group or other non-profit in Southwest Roanoke County?

That’s one of the ten new categories we’ve added to the 5th annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County reader poll.

What will win there? Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!
You can find the ballot here -- or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to “full site” to get it to display.)

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Salem, and the New River Valley.

We have lots of categories in our annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County reader poll.

But one of our favorites is always “best thing not on this list.”

Last year’s winner in that category was Easy Green Curbside Recycling. In 2011, it was Greener Pastures Curbside Recycling. In 2010, it was Kira*Kira.

What will win there? We have no idea! Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!

You can find the ballot here -- or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to “full site” to get it to display.)

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Salem, and the New River Valley.

What’s the best community event in Southwest Roanoke County?

You tell us in the 5th annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County reader poll.

Last year’s winner was the Cave Spring High School Jazz Cafe. In 2011, voters picked Project Faith, an outreach program at Faith Christian School. In 2010 and 2009, the winner was the annual free show put on by the Kevin Jones Performing Arts Studio at the Jefferson Center. (It’s not in Southwest Roanoke County, but the studio is.)

What will win there? We have no idea! Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!
You can find the ballot here -- or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to “full site” to get it to display.)

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Salem, and the New River Valley.

What’s the best sports moment in Southwest Roanoke County in the past year?

You tell us in the 5th annual Best of Southwest Roanoke County reader poll.

Last year was the first time we asked the question and the winner was Cave Spring’s volleyball team winning the state championship in 2011 (which came in the voting period for the 2012 Best Of.)

What will win there? We have no idea! Feel free to chat up your nominations in the comment field below, just remember to actually cast a vote!
You can find the ballot here -- or in the “best of” banner at the top of the page. (If you’re reading this on a mobile device, you may need to click through to “full site” to get it to display.)

The voting ends at midnight on Sunday, March 10 and we’ll publish the results on April 19.

Want to promote your business or civic group? You can download free promotional materials at roanoke.com/bestof.

Don’t see a category that fits what you want to vote for? You can always cast a vote in “best thing not on this list!”

Here’s who won in 2012 and 2011 and 2010 and 2009.

Got friends in other places? We also have “best of” reader polls going on in Botetourt County, Salem, and the New River Valley.