Buchanan, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buchanan, Oregon
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Oard's Service in Buchanan
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 Buchanan, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Buchanan, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Harney |
| Named for | William D. Buchanan family |
| Elevation | 4,213 ft (1,284 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 541 |
| Coordinates and elevation from United States Geological Survey | |
Buchanan is a small, unincorporated community in Harney County, Oregon, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Buchanan is located about 20 miles (32 km) east of Burns on U.S. Route 20.
History of Buchanan
Buchanan got its name from the family of William D. Buchanan. He and his sons, Joe and George, started a farm there in 1886. This was part of the Homestead Act, which allowed people to claim and settle on land if they lived on it and improved it.
A post office opened in Buchanan in 1911. Hattie E. Buchanan was the first postmaster, which means she was in charge of the post office. The post office closed in 1919. However, the area around the Buchanan Ranch is still known as Buchanan today.
By 1978, Buchanan had only one store. Today, Buchanan uses a Burns mailing address. The community has a business that includes a tractor repair shop, a gas station, a gallery, and a free museum. All these are located inside the only building in the community.
Old School and Stage Stop
The community's school once stood along Little Rock Creek. This site is now the Buchanan Springs Rest Area on U.S. 20. It is about a mile northeast of the current community.
William Buchanan and his sons also ran a stage stop on a hill north of present-day Buchanan. A stage stop was a place where stagecoaches could stop to rest horses and allow passengers to eat. This stop served the route from Vale to Burns. Meals for stagecoach passengers cost 50 cents. Those traveling with their own horses paid 35 cents for themselves. They also paid 25 cents per horse for feed and water. Later, Thomas Buchanan ran this stage stop.
Transportation
In the 21st century, Buchanan is a stop on the Eastern POINT bus line. This is an intercity bus service that connects different cities. The bus travels between Bend and Ontario. The bus makes one stop per day in each direction in Buchanan.
Education
Students in Buchanan attend schools within two different districts. For grades K-8 (kindergarten through eighth grade), Buchanan is part of Harney County School District 4 (Crane School). For high school, students attend Harney County Union High School District 1J (Crane Union High School).
