[4] By the late 18th century, settlers began moving into the area and in 1797, the Gish family established a gristmill on Glade Creek.

In the late 1870s and early 1880s, the Gish family led a movement to establish a town around the train depot site.

The town shares a substantial portion of its western border with the neighboring city of Roanoke.

The southern border of Vinton consists of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of lakefront in the Roanoke River Gorge.

This lake, however, which was created by the 1904 construction of the hydroelectric Niagara (so-called) dam, is not visible from any inhabited part of the town, is difficult to reach, and is little used.

The Vinton side of the lake consists of a steep, wooded cliff 150 feet (46 m) in vertical height.

Vinton's highest point is on Olney Road, at an elevation of 1,265 feet (386 m), which affords a good view of the adjacent city of Roanoke.

The park includes fields for baseball, football and soccer, a playground area and picnic shelter.

Emergency medical services are provided by the Vinton First Aid Crew and Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department.