Buchanan County, Virginia

Not to be confused with Buchanan, Virginia.
Buchanan County, Virginia

Buchanan County Courthouse in Grundy

Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Buchanan County
Location in the state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1858
Named for James Buchanan
Seat Grundy
Largest town Grundy
Area
 • Total 504 sq mi (1,305 km2)
 • Land 503 sq mi (1,303 km2)
 • Water 1.1 sq mi (3 km2), 0.2%
Population
 • (2010) 24,098
 • Density 54/sq mi (21/km²)
Congressional district 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.buchanancountyonline.com

Buchanan County is a United States county located on the western border near the far western end of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is part of the Southwest Virginia region and lies in the Ridge-and-Valley portion of the Appalachian Mountains. Its county seat is Grundy.[1]

Buchanan County was established in 1858 from parts of Russell and Tazewell counties, and it was named in honor of former President James Buchanan. In 1880, part of Buchanan County was taken to form Dickenson County.

As of the 2010 census, the county population was 24,098, and had a double digit percentage population decrease over the last three censuses.[2] In addition, as of 2012, Buchanan was the fifth poorest county in Virginia, when ranked by median household income.[3]

History

President James Buchanan, for whom the county was named

The county was formed in 1858 from parts of Russell County and Tazewell County. It was named for James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States.[4] In 1880 the southwestern part of Buchanan County was combined with parts of Russell County and Wise County to become Dickenson County.

Helen Timmons Henderson (1877–1925)[5] helped participate in the work of the Buchanan Mission School at Council, Va. She and Sarah Lee Fain (1888–1962) of Norfolk became the first two women to be elected into the Virginia General Assembly. They were both Democrats in the House of Delegates. When Helen was in office, the delegates agreed to let 6.2 miles of improved road to be placed from Russell County, across Big "A" Mountain, to Council. Route 80 is also known as "Helen Henderson Highway, In 1876, Grundy was chosen and became the county seat of Buchanan County, it was named in honor of Felix Grundy, a Senator from Tennessee.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 503.8 square miles (1,304.8 km2), of which 502.7 square miles (1,302.0 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6] It is home to Poplar Gap Park.

Districts

The county is divided into seven supervisor districts: Garden, Hurricane, Knox, North Grundy, Prater, Rock Lick, and South Grundy.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18602,793—
18703,77735.2%
18805,69450.8%
18905,8673.0%
19009,69265.2%
191012,33427.3%
192015,44125.2%
193016,7408.4%
194031,47788.0%
195035,74813.6%
196036,7242.7%
197032,071−12.7%
198037,98918.5%
199031,333−17.5%
200026,978−13.9%
201024,098−10.7%
Est. 201423,106[7]−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2013[2]
Age distribution of Buchanan County, Virginia

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 26,978 people, 10,464 households, and 7,900 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 11,887 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.75% White, 2.62% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.33% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,464 households out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,213, and the median income for a family was $27,328. Males had a median income of $29,540 versus $17,766 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,788. About 19.80% of families and 23.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.20% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Board of Supervisors

Garden District: Buddy Fuller (R)

Hurricane District: William P. Harris (D)

Knox District: Trey Adkins (D)

North Grundy District: James Carroll Branham (D) (Chairman)

Prater District: Earl Scott (D)

Rocklick District: Craig Stiltner (R)

South Grundy District: Gary Roger Rife(R)

Constitutional Officers

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Beverly S. Tiller (D)

Commissioner of the Revenue: A. Ruth Horn (R)

Commonwealth's Attorney: Gerald D. Arrington (D)

Sheriff: C. Ray Foster (R)

Treasurer: Bill Keene (D)

Buchanan County is represented by Republican A. Benton Chafin in the Virginia Senate, Republican James W. "Will" Morefield in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican H. Morgan Griffith in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Education

Colleges

Private schools

Public high schools

All public schools in Buchanan County are operated by Buchanan County Public Schools system.

Public elementary and middle schools

Former schools

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ State and County Estimates through 2012. Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2011-07-06.
  4. ↑ Salmon Jr, edited by Emily J.; Campbell, Edward D.C. (1994). The Hornbook of Virginia History: a ready-reference guide to the Old Dominion's people, places, and past (4th ed.). Richmond: Library of Virginia. ISBN 0884901777.
  5. ↑ Sutherland, Elihu Jasper. Some Sandy Basin Characters. Published by Elihu Jasper Sutherland: Clintwood, Virginia, 1962.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

External links

Coordinates: 37°16′N 82°02′W / 37.27°N 82.04°W / 37.27; -82.04

 Pike County, Kentucky Mingo County, West Virginia
McDowell County, West Virginia
   Buchanan County, Virginia  
Dickenson County Russell County Tazewell County
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