Buchanan, Virginia
Town
Trinity Episcopal Church in Buchanan, Virginia (1842)
Trinity Episcopal Church in Buchanan, Virginia (1842)
Official seal of Buchanan, Virginia
Seal
Location of Buchanan, Virginia
Location of Buchanan, Virginia
Coordinates: 37°31′31″N 79°41′0″W / 37.52528°N 79.68333°W / 37.52528; -79.68333
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyBotetourt
Government
 • MayorCraig Bryant
Area
[1]
 • Total2.21 sq mi (5.74 km2)
 • Land2.17 sq mi (5.62 km2)
 • Water0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation
850 ft (259 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,196
 • Density540/sq mi (210/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
24066
Area code540
FIPS code51-10744[2]
GNIS feature ID1492652[3]
Websitewww.townofbuchanan.com

Buchanan (/bəˈkænən/ bə-KAN-ən) is a town in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,196 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was the western terminus of the James River and Kanawha Canal when construction on the canal ended.

History

Buchanan was incorporated in 1832.[4] The town of Pattonsburg was founded on the opposite side of the James River (named for Colonel James Patton), and was connected to Buchanan via a bridge.[4] An 1855 gazetteer described Buchanan and Pattonsburg together containing "3 or 4 churches, 1 bank, 1 printing office, and several tobacco factories and mills."[4] Buchanan was named for Virginia colonist John Buchanan (died 1769), a soldier and landowner who built Fort Fauquier on the James River, just south of the town.[5][6]

The Buchanan Historic District, Buchanan Theatre, Greyledge, Lauderdale, Looney Mill Creek Site, and Wilson Warehouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Geography

Buchanan is located at 37°31′31″N 79°41′0″W / 37.52528°N 79.68333°W / 37.52528; -79.68333 (37.525177, -79.683405).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.8 km2), of which 2.2 square miles (5.6 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 2.09%, is water.[9]

U.S. Route 11 runs through the center of town as Main Street. Interstate 81 runs along the northwest side of the town, with access from Exit 167 to the north and Exit 162 to the south, both with Route 11. State Route 43 crosses the James River with Route 11 in the center of town; Route 43 leads northwest up the James River to U.S. Route 220 at Eagle Rock and southeast to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Peaks of Otter.

The swinging bridge across the James River in Buchanan, Virginia. Constructed in 1938, the piers of the bridge were built in 1851.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880414—
189080293.7%
1900716−10.7%
191079210.6%
19208021.3%
19308252.9%
19408685.2%
19501,30049.8%
19601,3493.8%
19701,326−1.7%
19801,205−9.1%
19901,2221.4%
20001,2330.9%
20101,178−4.5%
20201,1961.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2020 census

As of the census[2] of 2020, there were 1,196 people living in the town. The population density was 540 people per square mile (210/km2). There were 596 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 91.9% White, 3.1% Black, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% Other, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

2000 census

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,233 people, 540 households, and 359 families living in the town. The population density was 510.1 people per square mile (196.7/km2). There were 579 housing units at an average density of 239.5 per square mile (92.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 90.84% White, 7.95% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.32% Asian, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.

There were 540 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.6% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $37,443. Males had a median income of $29,405 versus $20,565 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,238. About 6.9% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Buchanan operates a council–manager form of government. Buchanan Town Council is composed of a mayor and four council members who are elected at-large.

Education

The town is served by Botetourt County Public Schools. Public school students residing in Buchanan are zoned to attend Buchanan Elementary School, Central Academy Middle School, and James River High School.

Notable people

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Buchanan has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Edwards, Richard (1855). Statistical Gazetteer of the State of Virginia. Richmond, Virginia: Richard Edwards. p. 189.
  5. 1 2 North American Forts: Southwestern Virginia
  6. 1 2 Robert Douthat Stoner, A Seed-bed of the Republic: a study of the pioneers in the upper (Southern) valley of Virginia, Roanoke: Roanoke Historical Society, 1962
  7. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  8. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Buchanan town, Virginia". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia: Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County, 1745-1800, vol III The Commonwealth Printing Company, Rosslyn VA, 1912.
  12. ↑ A 1932 historical marker, located on the west side of US 52, just south of I-81, reads "Anchor and Hope Plantation—One mile north
  13. ↑ Climate Summary for Buchanan, Virginia
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