Buchanan, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buchanan, Michigan
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| Motto(s):
"Life is better here."
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Location within Berrien County
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 Buchanan, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Berrien |
| Government | |
| • Type | City commission |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.59 sq mi (6.71 km2) |
| • Land | 2.52 sq mi (6.53 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2) |
| Elevation | 696 ft (212 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,300 |
| • Density | 1,705.00/sq mi (658.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49107
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| Area code | 269 |
| FIPS code | 26-11400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1618891 |
Buchanan is a city in Berrien County, Michigan, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,300 people lived there. The city is located in the southeast part of Buchanan Township. It is about 5 miles (8 km) west of Niles.
Contents
History of Buchanan
Buchanan was named after James Buchanan, who was the 15th President of the United States. Many people call it "Redbud City." This is because of the many beautiful redbud trees. These trees have always lined the city streets. They also grow along the main roads leading into the city. Buchanan has been recognized as a Tree City USA for a long time. This award comes from the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Native Americans lived in this area a long time ago. Places like the Moccasin Bluff site show this. The first settlers arrived in 1833. They settled where McCoy Creek meets the St. Joseph River. The village of Buchanan was officially planned in 1842. It became an incorporated village in 1858.
In 1941, an artist named Gertrude Goodrich painted a mural. It was called Production and was in the Buchanan post office. The mural was later painted over. Now, people are working to bring it back to its original look.
On April 12, 1979, a strong tornado hit the area. It damaged farms, houses, and mobile homes. These were just north of the city. No one died, but many homes were badly damaged.
Geography and Land
Buchanan covers a total area of about 2.57 square miles (6.66 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.50 square miles (6.47 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.07 square miles (0.18 square kilometers), is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,702 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,894 | 11.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,994 | 5.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,708 | −14.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,831 | 7.2% | |
| 1920 | 3,187 | 74.1% | |
| 1930 | 3,922 | 23.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,056 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 5,224 | 28.8% | |
| 1960 | 5,341 | 2.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,645 | −13.0% | |
| 1980 | 5,142 | 10.7% | |
| 1990 | 4,992 | −2.9% | |
| 2000 | 4,681 | −6.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,456 | −4.8% | |
| 2020 | 4,300 | −3.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 4,456 people living in Buchanan. There were 1,901 households, which are groups of people living together. About 31.5% of these households had children under 18. The average age of people in the city was 37.6 years old.
Economy and Jobs
Buchanan was once famous for being the home of Clark Equipment Company. This company made truck axles, forklifts, and other large machines. Clark Equipment Company started in 1916. It grew from two other companies in Buchanan. In the 1990s, Clark left the area. This meant the city had to find new ways to create jobs. Many smaller businesses moved into the buildings that Clark had used.
Another important company in Buchanan was Electro-Voice. They made high-quality audio equipment. This included microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers.
Charlie Schmidt's Place, a company that sells merchandise like t-shirts, also has a location in Buchanan.
Arts and Culture in Buchanan
Fun Places to Visit
Pears Mill is an old flour mill. It was built in 1857. It uses the power of McCoy Creek's water to grind flour. The mill is still standing today. You can visit it during the summer months.
The Tin Shop Theatre is a small theater. It is located close to Pears Mill. They put on plays and shows during the summer. Their shows continue into September. They have a variety of performances for all ages.
The Buchanan Art Center is near the old Police Station. It hosts art shows and events all year. They also hold fundraisers to support art in the community.
Red Bud MX is a famous motocross racetrack. It opened in 1973. Every year, it hosts a big race called the AMA Motocross Championship. This event happens around the Independence Day weekend.
There are also many other fun places to visit in the nearby Buchanan Township.
Education for Kids
The schools in Buchanan are part of Buchanan Community Schools. There are two elementary schools: Ottawa and Moccasin. These schools teach students from kindergarten to 4th grade. Students in 5th to 7th grade go to Buchanan Middle School. Older students attend Buchanan High School.
Getting Around (Transportation)
Buchanan is easy to reach by road. It is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of US 12. It is also about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) west of US 31. If you are coming from the Indiana Toll Road (I-80|I-90), it's about 9.3 miles (15.0 km) north of the US 31 exit. I-94 is about 20 miles (32 km) east (take exit 4 via US 12).
For train travel, the closest Amtrak stations are in Niles and New Buffalo. You can also use the South Shore Line train in South Bend, Indiana.
If you need to fly, the South Bend International Airport is nearby. This airport has flights to bigger cities. Some of these cities include Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, and Detroit.
Famous People from Buchanan
Many notable people have connections to Buchanan:
- Peggy Cramer was a baseball player. She played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for the South Bend Blue Sox. She was born in Buchanan.
- Virgil Exner was an important car designer. He designed cars for Studebaker. He lived in Buchanan when he was young. He also graduated from Buchanan High School.
- John Grant is a singer and songwriter. He was born in Buchanan.
- Jack "Sky" Knight was a pioneer in aviation (flying).
- Cary Moon is an urban planner and politician.
- Harry Niles was a professional baseball player. He played for teams like the St. Louis Browns and Boston Red Sox. He was born in Buchanan.
- Jackson Scholz was an Olympic champion. He won the 200-meter sprint in the 1924 Olympics. He was also a successful author. His story was shown in the movie Chariots of Fire. He was born in Buchanan.
- Jay Town was a United States District Attorney. He grew up in Buchanan and graduated from Buchanan High School.
- Hannah Roberts is an American BMX freestyle cyclist. She grew up in Buchanan and graduated from Buchanan High School. She has won three world championships in BMX freestyle. She also won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
See also
In Spanish: Buchanan (Míchigan) para niños
