Buchanan, Virginia Facts for Kids

Buchanan is a small town in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. Its name is pronounced "buh-KAN-uhn." In 2020, about 1,196 people lived there. Buchanan is part of the larger Roanoke area. It was once the end point of the James River and Kanawha Canal, a big waterway project.

History of Buchanan, Virginia
- Historic Places in Buchanan
Geography and Climate
- Buchanan's Climate
Population and People
- 2020 Census Information
Education in Buchanan
Town Services
Transportation Options
Notable People from Buchanan
See also

History of Buchanan, Virginia

Buchanan became an official town in 1832. Across the James River, another town called Pattonsburg was founded. It was named after Colonel James Patton. A bridge connected these two towns.

In 1855, Buchanan and Pattonsburg together had several churches, a bank, a printing office, and places that made tobacco and ground grain. Buchanan was named after John Buchanan. He was a soldier and landowner who built a fort nearby in the 1700s.

Historic Places in Buchanan

Several important old places in Buchanan are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Buchanan Historic District, which is a whole area with many old buildings. Other notable spots are the Buchanan Theatre, Greyledge, Lauderdale, the Looney Mill Creek Site, and the Wilson Warehouse.

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

Geography and Climate

Buchanan is located at about 37.5 degrees North latitude and 79.6 degrees West longitude. The town covers about 2.21 square miles (5.74 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Buchanan's Climate

The weather in Buchanan has hot and humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. It means the area gets a good amount of rain all year.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	414	—
1890	802	93.7%
1900	716	−10.7%
1910	792	10.6%
1920	802	1.3%
1930	825	2.9%
1940	868	5.2%
1950	1,300	49.8%
1960	1,349	3.8%
1970	1,326	−1.7%
1980	1,205	−9.1%
1990	1,222	1.4%
2000	1,233	0.9%
2010	1,178	−4.5%
2020	1,196	1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 Census Information

In 2020, the town had 1,196 people. There were about 540 people living in each square mile. Most residents were White (about 91.9%). Other groups included Black people (3.1%), American Indian (0.3%), and Asian (0.3%). About 3.7% of the population identified with two or more races.

Education in Buchanan

Students in Buchanan attend schools run by Botetourt County Public Schools. Younger students go to Buchanan Elementary School. Middle schoolers attend Central Academy Middle School. High school students go to James River High School.

For higher education, the closest colleges are in nearby towns. These include Hollins, Lexington, and Roanoke.

Town Services

The town of Buchanan manages its own water system. It also operates its own sanitary sewer system. These services are important for the daily lives of the residents.

Transportation Options

Airports Near Buchanan

The closest airport with flights for travelers is the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. It offers commercial air service for the area.

Roads for Travel

U.S. Route 11 runs right through the middle of Buchanan. It is known as Main Street in town. Interstate 81 is a major highway that passes along the northwest side of Buchanan. You can get onto Interstate 81 from exits 167 (north) and 162 (south), both connecting to Route 11.

State Route 43 crosses the James River with Route 11. Route 43 goes northwest towards U.S. Route 220 at Eagle Rock. It also goes southeast to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Peaks of Otter.

Railroad Lines

Two different railroad lines run through Buchanan. These are the CSX operated James River Subdivision and the Norfolk Southern operated Roanoke District. If you want to take a passenger train, the closest station is in Roanoke.

Notable People from Buchanan

Many interesting people have connections to Buchanan:

Mary Johnston was a novelist and worked for women's rights.
Matthew Ramsey is a songwriter. He is also the lead singer of the country-rock band Old Dominion.
Hughie Thomasson was a musician. He was a member of the bands Outlaws and Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was born in Buchanan.
James Patton was the first sheriff of Augusta County. He owned a small stone house near Buchanan around 1750.
John Buchanan lived for many years at the Anchor and Hope Plantation, just west of town.

Buchanan, Virginia facts for kids

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