Vinton’s story began long before it officially became a town in 1884. Its history goes back to the mid-1700s, when settlers first came to the area, and even earlier when it was part of an old Native American trail leading to the Carolinas. Settlers were drawn to the Roanoke Valley for its rich soil and plentiful water.

Some of the first settlers in what is now Vinton included Jacob Vinyard, John McAdoo, and brothers Christian and David Gish. In 1797, the Gish brothers built a grist mill on Glade Creek, which gave the area its first name—Gish’s Mill. Later, when Roanoke County was created in 1838, Gish’s Mill became part of it.

When the railroad expanded into the Roanoke Valley, Gish’s Mill became a stop on the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Ohio Railroad. At first, the stop was just a simple boxcar, but after the Civil War, the railroad company built a proper depot. During this time, only a few families lived near Gish’s Depot. The Vinyard family owned much of the land where the Town of Vinton now stands, but other families like the Jones, Funks, Pollards, Pedigos, Walkers, McLeans, and Basses soon moved into the area.

In the late 1870s and early 1880s, the Gish family led efforts to turn the area around the depot into a town. They marked the town’s boundaries, divided it into lots for sale, and built a schoolhouse. Meanwhile, new developments in Roanoke City, which was founded in 1882, brought more people to Gish’s Mill. In 1883, a community meeting was held to discuss officially forming a town. The idea was approved, and the town was named Vinton.

There are two stories about how Vinton got its name. One says the "Vin" came from the Vinyard family, and the "ton" came from the Preston family. Another story claims it was an old Native American name suggested by community leader B.A. Jones because it sounded nice.

Today, TAS Design is proud to be a part of Vinton’s rich history, combining the town’s historic charm with modern design, construction, and renovation services. With strong ties to the area’s past and a focus on the future, TAS Design helps create spaces that honor Vinton’s heritage while embracing new possibilities.